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

Breaking Records at the Reading Phillies

Posted By on July 18th, 2012 at 12:58 pm | 0 comments.

Temperatures were rising in Reading, but despite the heat, the First Energy Stadium was the setting of a record-breaking 21 home runs at our third home run derby of the season, including an incredible 8 individual home runs from John Furlong and 5 individual home runs from Kevin Becker. A total of 13 teams and 27 volunteers, along with 3 individual batters came out to the Reading Phillies to Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® with the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

Check out the batting totals for the day, along with the list of home run hitters:

Home Run Hitters:

Special thanks to all of our batters & volunteers, as well as the energetic friends, family and coworkers who came out to cheer on the teams. Even Screwball came out to show his support for breast cancer awareness!  Together, you made the day a huge success. Additional thanks to the incredible staff at the Reading Phillies for their help in putting this day together, and to our media partners of Blue Ridge Cable 11 news for covering the event.  View all of the Reading photos here. Next stop: Erie SeaWolves on Thursday! Remember to follow us live on Twitter (@PBCC) for live coverage of all of our home run derby events.

 

Posted in: Events, Home Run Derby, Volunteer
Tags: #PBCCderby, Awareness, baseball, bat, batter, breast cancer, home run, Reading, Reading Phillies, swing, teams, Volunteer

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.

Posted in: Pink Link, Survivor Spotlight, Traveling Photo Exhibit
Tags: breast cancer, survivors

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.

Posted in: Pink Link, Traveling Photo Exhibit
Tags: breast cancer, survivors, women

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.

Posted in: Medical, Pink Link
Tags: medical

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.
Posted in: Legislative, Pink Link
Tags: breast cancer, doctors

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.

Posted in: Annual Conference, Pink Link
Tags: breast cancer, conference

First Home Run of the Season at York Revolution

Posted By on July 16th, 2012 at 1:08 pm | 0 comments.

Sovereign Bank Stadium’s 37.7 foot wall at the York Revolution didn’t stop our batters from hitting it out of the park at the Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® home run derby on Thursday, July 12. A total of 12 teams and 20 volunteers helped make our second home run derby of the season a huge success; AND we found our first home run hitter, Brad McCullough of PeoplesBank Team 3, at the event. Congratulations to Brad for his home run and high score of 525 points!

Check out the breakdown of team scores at York Revolution:

 

 

Additional thanks to the staff and players of the York Revolution, and to our media partners who showed up at the stadium: the York Dispatch and FOX43 news. Be sure to tune in to FOX43 on Friday, July 20th at 10:00 pm to catch coverage of the home run derby. View all of the York Revolution photos here. Next up: Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer at the Reading Phillies. Follow the action LIVE on twitter (@PBCC) and look for the recap here on our blog!

Posted in: Events, Home Run Derby, Volunteer
Tags: #PBCCderby, Awareness, baseball, bat, batter, event, home run, News, survivor, swing, teams, Volunteer, women, York

Lancaster Home Run Derby Postponed

Posted By on July 14th, 2012 at 7:56 am | 0 comments.

Attention Lancaster Barnstormers volunteers & participants: today’s derby has been cancelled due to weather. The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 28th. Batting timeslots will remain the same and volunteering shifts will also remain the same. Thank you!

Posted in: Home Run Derby, Volunteer

5th Annual Home Run Derby a Hit at the Harrisburg Senators

Posted By on July 13th, 2012 at 9:12 am | 0 comments.

Harrisburg BattersOnce again, Harrisburg brought our largest Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® home run derby with 26 teams, 1 single batter and over 35 energetic volunteers! On Tuesday, July 10th, we kicked off the 5th annual home run derby season at the Harrisburg Senators’ Metro Bank Stadium where people of all ages came out to enjoy this exciting day. Special thanks to the Harrisburg Senators staff and everyone who made this day such a success!

Take a look at our high scores and team photos from our first of eight across the state this year:

 

Thanks again for your support! Stay tuned to see if we get any home runs at our next location: York Revolution’s Sovereign Bank Stadium! View all of the Harrisburg photos here.

Posted in: Events, Home Run Derby
Tags: #PBCCderby, Awareness, baseball, bats, breast cancer, free, fundraiser, Harrisburg, home run, swing, women

Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer® Slides into Action

Posted By on June 28th, 2012 at 4:09 pm | 0 comments.

The PBCC held a special event at the Harrisburg Senators Metro Bank Park to announce our 5th Annual Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer home run derby series, coming to eight minor league baseball stadiums this July. Senator Mike Brubaker from Lancaster County, PBCC’s President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy, and Harrisburg Participant Rob Ziemba rallied together along with mascots Rascal and Downtown to kick-off of the event series and celebrate the past successes of the event.

Starting off on July 10th in Harrisburg, the PBCC will be counting grand slams, adding up points and crowning a winning team, all in the name of breast cancer awareness and support. Grab a group of friends, family or coworkers and be a part of this unique series of events. Visit www.PAHomeRunDerby.org to view the full schedule of events and sign up to participate. Hurry, we hit the road in just 12 short days!

Posted in: Events, Home Run Derby