With such a large state to work in, we are tasked with what seems impossible with eight full-time employees. Volunteers make the mission of the PBCC achievable. In 2011, we had 302 individuals from all over PA give up their time for a greater good. Jobs included reviewing Refunds for Breast Cancer Research grant applications, presenting or moderating a workshop at our conference, staffing an information table at a health fair, speaking at a fundraiser, shagging baseballs at a Home Run Derby, assembling and customizing Friends Like Me Care Packages, and many more.

The only thing we can say (and we say it every day): thank you. Thank YOU for donating your valuable time to the mission of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. In total, we had 1738.5 hours logged by volunteers across the state. That is OUTSTANDING! Volunteers saved the PBCC $37,134.36 in 2011! I don’t need to tell you that this is incredible!

Thanks to people like you, we are able to keep our doors open and serve the women and families of this great state! Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved at various events across Pennsylvania. If you don’t already receive our monthly e-newsletter Pink Link, sign up! And if you’re interested in volunteering, complete our interest survey and we’ll be in touch!

Here’s to 2012!

Over 60 women were assisted by our patient advocacy efforts.  Nearly 1,000 breast cancer survivors, advocates, health care professionals, and community and corporate leaders attended the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference in October. $100,000 was given to Dr. Craig Meyers at the Penn State College of Medicine to further his promising research into a virus that kills breast cancer cells that could potentially lead us to a cure. Grassroots Partners raised over $425,000 to enable us to continue our efforts on behalf of women and their families.

In 2012, we remain committed to representing, supporting and serving breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania. We renew our commitment to the goal of finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.  Please join us!

To be eligible to receive a FREE Friends Like Me Survivor Care Package, the recipient may not have received a PA Breast Cancer Coalition Friends Like Me Care Package or a Survivor Care Package in the past. (No need to worry, the PBCC will verify that information.)

The survivor must live in Pennsylvania and have been diagnosed prior to November 9, 2010. If the recipient was diagnosed after November 16, 2010, please request one of our Friends Like Me Care Packages designed specifically for the needs of a newly-diagnosed woman. Our Friends Like Me Care Packages are available throughout the year at no cost to the sender or the recipient of the package.

This past year, 75 women with breast cancer, or their friends or family members, called the PBCC for help. Often they sounded exhausted and told us that they’d already tried a number of other places and expected that we wouldn’t be able to help them. That just makes us more determined to find the resources they need.

Over half of the questions we hear are about medical bills and co-pays or mammograms. Of the 75 who called,

• 21 needed financial help with medical bills
• 20 needed mammograms and were uninsured or underinsured
• 9 had questions about BCCPT (free treatment program) or other coverage
• 6 needed help paying for prescriptions
• 3 were breast cancer patients on the verge of losing their insurance
• 3 had general questions or concerns about breast cancer
• 2 needed lymphedema supplies
• 2 wanted a referral for a specialist or a hospital
• 2 needed to know where to get prostheses
• 1 needed a follow-up mammogram, which her insurance wouldn’t cover
• 1 was awaiting diagnosis and was exploring coverage options ahead of time
• 1 was looking for information about home health care
• 1 had questions about legal issues of an employer not allowing time off for treatment

Also in 2010 we added this question to our online Friends Like Me care package order form: “If this is a self-request, would you like the PBCC’s patient advocate to call you?”

Usually, we find that the information included in the Friends Like Me care package answers all of the questions a survivor may have. But all the recipients we talk with say that the phone call is one more reminder that she is not alone, the PBCC is here for her.