Finding a cure now...so our daughters won't have to.

Author Archive

Hey Scranton Baseball Fans! We’ve Got a Deal for You!

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:07 am | 0 comments.

Are you a baseball fan in the Scranton area? Don’t miss out on this offer by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. We have a limited number of complimentary tickets available to the June 4 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees game. If you are interested in attending, email PBCCtickets@gmail.com with your mailing address and how many tickets you’d like. Ticket requests limited to four per person.

The first 100 tickets include a buffet and seating in one of the club level party boxes. 75 tickets are also available in the lower level. Both ticket levels include a free Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees baseball hat! Due to limited quantities, tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

Martin’s ‘Chips in for a Cure’ for Mother’s Day

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:06 am | 2 comments.

A favorite snack is coming back to do even more good for the PBCC! Martin’s Potato Chips is bringing its pink ribbon bags back to the shelves for a Mother’s Day promotion. Look for the special bags of the Kettle Cook’d Potato Chips in a store near you between May 2 and May 14. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these special bags will be donated to the PBCC.

Martin’s has donated over $84,000 to the PBCC through the sale of the pink ribbon bags of their most popular product, the Kettle Cook’d Potato Chips. The company was recognized as a 2010 Pink Ribbon Award recipient last year at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Conference. We are thankful for all their continued efforts!

Need Help Getting Health Insurance or Services? Call PA Health Law Project

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:05 am | 0 comments.

The PA Health Law Project is a statewide center devoted to helping low income, elderly, and disabled Pennsylvanians access quality health care. If you are having trouble applying for Medical Assistance (MA), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or if there are no health care providers in your health plan who can meet your needs, contact the PA Health Law Project to learn how they can assist you.

PHLP’s team of 8 attorneys, 3 paralegals, a physician and a social worker help thousands of people each year. They answer questions, provide advice, negotiate agreements, and represent clients at administrative hearings and in court. PHLP services are free to qualified individuals.

The PA Health Law Project has participated in the PBCC’s seminars about the Commonwealth of PA’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment program (BCCPT) across the state and at our annual conferences. Their expertise about accessing quality health care is invaluable.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the PA Health Law Project helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or visit www.phlp.org.

Connie Dunklebarger Cooks Up a Recipe for Research

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:04 am | 0 comments.

Breast cancer survivor and PA Breast Cancer Coalition friend and volunteer Connie Dunklebarger had a recipe for fundraising success when she compiled and sold her cookbook, I Want That Recipe, to raise money for research. She cooked up a $10,481 donation to present to the PBCC along with her husband, Ed Dunklebarger, President and Vice Chairman of Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc.

Connie shared her breast cancer journey for a Survivor Spotlight feature in a previous issue of the PBCC’s print newsletter, FrontLine. She is also an accomplished singer who has performed the National Anthem at the WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State, which benefits the PBCC in part. Special thanks to Connie for her continued valuable support of the PBCC!

Knock It Out of the Park in July, We’ll See You in October!

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:03 am | 0 comments.

It’s not just the weather heating up! Excitement surrounding the Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer Home Run Derby is at a fever pitch with the first crack of the bat just under 3 months away. While the dates are set, the lineup isn’t –so won’t you join us this July as a batter, sponsor, volunteer or spectator?

With 11 dates set at locations across the state, there’s bound to be an opportunity to get involved near you. As a special bonus, if you are one of the first eleven teams to register before the end of April, you get two free registrations for our Annual Conference in October! What a great way to see firsthand the strength and courage of breast cancer survivors and the commitment of advocates. Use the registrations for members of your team or for the breast cancer survivor or advocate in your life that inspired you to step up to the plate and take a swing!

Survivor Spotlight: Barbara Eyrich

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:02 am | 12 comments.

When Barbara Eyrich volunteered at the PBCC’s 2008 Home Run Derby in Reading, she couldn’t anticipate she would be diagnosed with breast cancer two years later in May 2010. Barb originally heard about the PBCC through a women’s group she belonged to and was excited to read about the Derby. The following year she learned that Harleysville Savings Bank, where she is a loan officer, had teams participating in the Home Run Derby in Allentown.

So she and her daughter switched their volunteer efforts to the 2009 Lehigh Valley Home Run Derby. Last summer, Barb returned to the Home Run Derby just one month after having breast cancer surgery. She loves being involved in the event, lining up batters for their photos and helping to keep the day running smoothly.

She is just about finished with radiation now and says that having a positive attitude throughout has allowed her to focus on the end result. Her husband and children have been her biggest supporters and she is very grateful to them. Join Barb at the Home Run Derby at Coca-Cola Park on July 6th!

2011 Refunds for Research Awardees Announced

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:01 am | 0 comments.

Through the generosity of Pennsylvania taxpayers, the PBCC’s Refunds for Breast Cancer Research program awarded grants to three PA based cancer researchers to further their study. Melanie Flint, Ph.D., Steffi Oesterreich, Ph.D., and Azadeh Stark, Ph.D. each received $50,000 to continue their respective research endeavors to unlock more of the mysteries of breast cancer.

Dr. Flint and Dr. Oesterreich are both researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Dr. Stark is employed by the Center for Health Service Research at Geisinger Medical Center. This is the first PBCC Refunds for Research grant award for all of the three recipients.

Many thanks to each Pennsylvania taxpayer who has contributed all or part of his or her state income tax refund to support the Refunds for Research program to help bring us closer to our goal of finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.

President’s Corner: 3-D Breast Scans Aid in Early Detection, Lessening False Positives

Posted By on April 15th, 2011 at 9:00 am | 0 comments.

Recently approved by the FDA, 3-D breast scan systems provide radiologists with a clearer, spatially accurate representation of breast tissue to accompany the image provided by a mammogram. The 3-D reconstruction will make it easier to detect and identify possible malignancies in the breast tissue that may not have been visible prior to the 3-D technology.

The 3-D scan will provide radiologists with the ability to better analyze tumors found in the breast and help reduce the likelihood of false positives. A recent Philadelphia Inquirer article on the topic provided insights by radiologists familiar with the 3-D breast scan technology, formally called “tomosynthesis”. They showed that the 3-D breast scan will allow them to see any tumors more clearly than mammography alone. However, it is important to note that at this stage, the 3-D scan would not be a replacement for the traditional 2-D mammogram; rather, it would be used in conjunction with a traditional mammogram to provide a clearer picture of the inside of the breast. It is also important to remember that the 3-D scan provides a higher dose of radiation than do currently used mammograms, and the long-term effects of it on the breast are unknown.  Any woman considering this procedure should review it with her physician.

Information on cutting-edge breast cancer news and research will be available at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Conference on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in Harrisburg. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Register today to join us for this inspirational and educational gathering of breast cancer advocates and survivors.

Has Your Daughter Been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer?

Posted By on March 15th, 2011 at 8:57 am | 0 comments.

A breast cancer diagnosis is stressful not only for the patient but for everyone who cares about her. Mothers of daughters with breast cancer face the challenge of wanting to protect their child while having no control over what is happening. This is also a time when the daughter needs emotional support from her mother.

In 1995,  Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer (MSDBC) emerged from one mother’s experience. Charmayne Dierker and her daughter Lillie Shockney founded MSDBC, which provides free services for mothers who have daughters battling breast cancer.

Click here to order a free booklet or to be matched with a mother volunteer whose daughter is close in age to your daughter and has had the same type of breast cancer and same treatment. Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, M.A.S. has presented her widely popular Humor and Healing workshop at five PBCC annual conferences. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 at the age of 38.

Lady Lions Roar Against Breast Cancer: Featured Grassroots Partner

Posted By on March 15th, 2011 at 8:56 am | 0 comments.

The Penn State Lady Lions roared past Northwestern in front of a crowd of nearly 12,000 at the 2011 WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State game! Check out the video below to see a recap from this exciting day. This incredible event honored the 352 breast cancer survivors in attendance with an inspirational halftime celebration on the court and a reception following the game.

Proceeds from the game and the online auction are still being tallied, but will be shared among a number of breast cancer organizations including the PBCC. Our thanks to the Lady Lions and Penn State for such a tremendously powerful event!