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

Archive for the ‘Pink Link’ Category

Thank You Heather Hibshman, Welcome Jennifer Pensinger

Posted By on August 16th, 2012 at 9:56 am | 0 comments.

When the PBCC began nearly 20 years ago, we were a small organization with a large mission: finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to. At the time, we had just a few employees to help us achieve that goal. Heather Hibshman is one of those people whose hard work and dedication allowed us to grow strong in our first few years.

We were blessed to have her enthusiasm and dedication, and she rose through the ranks of the organization to eventually become our Executive Director. She earned many accolades for her tireless work. Thank you, Heather, for your 18 years of leadership and service to the PBCC and best wishes in your next endeavor! You will be truly missed.

I am pleased to announce that our Program Director, Jennifer Pensinger, has jumped in to the Executive Director role. Jennifer, who reached her 10th anniversary with the Coalition on August 5, brings great leadership, passion, and a thorough knowledge of the PBCC as an organization. We are thrilled that she accepted the position and look forward to her many contributions as Executive Director.

Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer®: Home Run Derby in Review

Posted By on August 16th, 2012 at 8:59 am | 0 comments.

All across PA last month, batters swung for the fences with their friends and family cheering them on in the Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® Home Run Derby. Now that the last bat has been swung, we can take a look back at the heavy hitters who made the 2012 derby a smashing success. Click here for a highlight video. Check out our top ten teams, our top three individuals, and some of the records that were broken this year!

Top 10 Teams

  1.  Furlong Boys Team 2—2,105 points (Reading winners!)
  2. Neuman’s Crew – 2,050 points (Washington Winners!)
  3. PeoplesBank Team 3—1,895 points (York Winners!)
  4. Cross’ Crusaders – 1,795 points
  5. TESCO Tools Team 2 — 1,760 points (Erie Winners!)
  6. Furlong Boys Team 1 – 1,745 points
  7. Community State Bank of Orbisonia – 1,580 points (Altoona Winners!)
  8. Icing on the Lake Team 2 — 1,575 points
  9. Guns of Roses Team 1 – 1,560 Points (Lancaster winners!)
  10. UTI Power-1,545 points

 

Top 3 Individual Batters

  1.  Bill Klenoshek – 675 points
  2. Blair Beer — 400 points
  3. Jeffrey Lengle – 375 points

Records Broken:

This year we had a record 40 home runs throughout the derby! 20 of those homers came from three heavy hitters – John Furlong from the Furlong Boys had a record 8 home runs in Reading, Joe Oliphant from Neuman’s Crew had 7 in Washington, and Kevin “Bubba” Becker from the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute team had 5 in Reading! These batters each broke the 2011 record for most home runs by an individual.

Gloria Ferri – Survivor Spotlight, Carbon County

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 9:59 am | 0 comments.

I was 60 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought it couldn’t happen to me. That was 22 years ago. My doctor had scheduled a mammogram for me and that mammogram saved my life. I wouldn’t have known about the cancer until it was too late. Sometimes women tell me that they don’t want to have a mammogram because they’re afraid it will hurt. I tell them that one little hurt is going to save you a big one later on.

When I was first diagnosed, Pat Halpin-Murphy hadn’t created the PA Breast Cancer Coalition yet. But once it got started, the PBCC invited me to represent Carbon County in the traveling photo exhibit. I agreed right away. I’m always willing to help with anything. I know that Pat and the PBCC have been working tirelessly and will always keep going to help other women.

Through surgery and radiation treatments, I had faith. And I kept my sense of humor and kept busy. That will get you through difficult times. I love to crochet and have made many bride dolls, and I wanted to do something special for the PBCC. So I made a pink doll and attached 67 roses to the train to represent the women in the 67 counties from the exhibit, and I added pink beads in memory of those we have lost. I was happy to be able to present the doll to Pat at the recent exhibit opening at the Hazelton Health & Wellness Center. Quite a few friends have asked me to make one for them but I won’t make another one like it. It’s one of a kind, just like Pat is.

Over the years I’ve seen a lot of changes, like digital mammograms and other advances. I see many more women getting mammograms now and talking openly about their breast cancer. It’s really good to see that.

Hazleton Hosts 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 9:58 am | 0 comments.

The Hazleton Health and Wellness Center hosted the 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania traveling photo exhibit last month. An opening reception featuring a number of speakers kicked off the exhibit’s stay in Luzerne County. The reception concluded with a moving recognition of all breast cancer survivors in attendance.

Joining Pat Halpin-Murphy in speaking at the exhibit were Jim Edwards, CEO of the Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Joanne Grossi, regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; State Senator John Yudichak, State Representative Tarah Toohil, and breast cancer survivor and Luzerne County exhibit participant Beverly Hernandez.

New Treatment Better Controls Growth in Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 9:57 am | 0 comments.

A recent study showed that trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), a new treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, worked better to control the cancer growth than the current standard treatment of chemotherapy with capecitabine (Xeloda) and lapatinib (Tykerb). HER2-positive means that the breast cancer has too much of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

T-DM1, the new drug found to be more effective in controlling the cancer growth, is a combination of a drug that targets HER2 and one that is similar to chemotherapy. The study of nearly 1,000 patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer showed that cancer worsened three months later in patients receiving T-DM1 than in patients receiving the standard therapy. In addition, T-DM1 has few side effects, namely low levels of platelets and signs of liver function problems. These side effects went away with a break in treatment.

More information on the study can be found here.

Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Law

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 9:56 am | 0 comments.

The recent Supreme Court decision upheld major provisions of the Affordable Care Act. What does this mean for women with breast cancer? Now, any new health plan must provide mammograms without any cost to the patient. Starting in 2014, the following provisions go into effect:

-          No pre-existing conditions

  • Insurers will no longer be able to exclude breast cancer survivors from coverage or charge them a higher premium by defining breast cancer as a pre-existing condition.

-          No caps

  • Insurance companies cannot impose lifetime caps now or starting in 2014 annual dollar caps.

-          No cancellation

  • Insurers can no longer cancel a breast cancer survivor’s insurance policy when she or he gets sick and needs it most.

Countdown to the PBCC Conference

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 9:55 am | 0 comments.

The countdown to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference is on! With less than 100 days to go until we gather at the Harrisburg Hilton on Tuesday, October 9th to officially kick off our 20th year, there has never been a better time for YOU to get involved! We have many great opportunities for individuals and businesses to make a big impact at our conference.

New this year is an individual fundraising opportunity – which allows you the chance to spread the word about the PBCC to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues while raising funds to help us continue our work for breast cancer survivors and their families. Those who raise additional funds will receive additional PBCC merchandise.

There are many great sponsorship opportunities still available for those businesses and individuals who want to get involved with the conference and reach out to the nearly 1,000 attendees that are expected. Check out the opportunities still available.

Survivor Spotlight: Gail Hibshman

Posted By on June 15th, 2012 at 9:02 am | 0 comments.

“There are only two kinds of women in the world: those who fear breast cancer and those who have it.” … Lt. Van Buren of TV’s Law and Order

In 1999 I fell into both categories. What showed up in my mammogram looked like salt sprinkles which are calcifications. My doctors offered me two choices, a mastectomy or lumpectomy with six weeks of radiation. Then it was time to call my daughter-in-law Heather. Heather said I should get a second opinion. I went to Fox Chase Cancer Center where they strongly recommended the mastectomy. My head was spinning. I didn’t have any knowledge about this so listened to the people who did.

My advice is to always have someone else in the room with you when you’re going to hear about treatment options. I was in a fog but my husband Glenn wrote everything down and read it back to me later. I had the mastectomy and I use a cotton-filled prosthesis. It feels like rice pillows and I’m comfortable with that.

Glenn always made me feel attractive and desirable and that nothing had changed. I don’t know what I would have done if he looked at me differently. My sons were a huge support to me and I can never thank them enough.

I’ve learned these lessons:

Give yourself the gift of savoring the moment. Smell a rose, hug a pet, kiss your husband.

Don’t live in the land of “what if?” because “what if’s” don’t prepare you for the future. Most “what if’s” never happen.

Open yourself up to other women. Their beauty, strength, and caring will lift you up.

I retired from teaching English at Cornwall Lebanon School District in 2003. Now I work with Three Dog Landscaping, a family business. I love reading, taking day trips, and spending time with my 6 year-old granddaughter Molly.

PBCC Board Member Dr. Andrea Mastro Receives $500,000 Grant

Posted By on June 15th, 2012 at 9:01 am | 0 comments.

Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Mastro of Pennsylvania State University for her continuous work in searching for a cure! After submitting a proposal to the Department of Defense, Dr. Mastro was awarded the Breast Cancer Research Program’s Idea Award along with a $500,000 grant. The award emphasizes innovation and high-impact research that not only challenges the scientific community, but addresses the primary goal to end breast cancer.

Dr. Mastro also received a PBCC Refunds for Research Award in 2003 and has been an active member of the PBCC Board since 2005.

67 Women, 67 Counties Visits Cumberland, Bradford, and Luzerne Counties

Posted By on June 15th, 2012 at 9:00 am | 0 comments.

PBCC’s traveling photo exhibit, 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania, continued its spring tour at Central Penn College in Cumberland County and Guthrie Clinic in Bradford County. Check out this video highlighting the exhibit. Currently, the photo exhibit can be seen at the Hazleton Health & Wellness Center in Luzerne County through June 24th.

All locations held opening receptions where local leaders, doctors, breast cancer survivors and exhibit participants spoke about the importance of the exhibit and its message of early detection and awareness. If you are in the Hazleton area, stop in and see this educational work of art that focuses on each woman’s personal perspective on battling breast cancer.