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

Posts Tagged ‘diagnosis’

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!

Survivor Spotlight: Dr. Marybeth Miller

Posted By on March 15th, 2011 at 8:54 am | 4 comments.

Dr. Marybeth Miller has a demanding job, teaching physical education to teachers-in-training at Slippery Rock University. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, she was determined to get back to work teaching physical education to future educators as soon as possible. An avid cycler, she knew that being in good physical shape would enhance her recovery. So she approached the preparation for her treatment regimen like an athlete in training for a competition, creating her own wellness campaign she calls Cycling for Surgery.

Dr. Miller shared her story at the recent PBCC exhibit opening at Slippery Rock University, saying “If my experience can play a part in modeling courage and perseverance, then let me lead.” She is grateful to the faculty who supported her, the students who shared their compassion, and the family who were there for her when she needed them.  Her advice: make your best decision, go with it, and then move forward with a positive attitude.

Click here to read survivor stories from previous issues of Pink Link and our quarterly print newsletter, FrontLine.

Refunds for Research: Dollars DO Make a Difference

Posted By on March 15th, 2011 at 8:53 am | 0 comments.

Advancements in breast cancer treatment and diagnosis – such as the lymph node removal study mentioned in the President’s Corner – happen because of the work of dedicated researchers. In PA, their work is made possible in part thanks to state taxpayers’ contributions to the Refunds for Breast Cancer Research program.

It is easy to make a difference, and every contribution helps. Whether your state return is $5 or $500, you can make an impact by checking line 35 on your PA-40 state income tax form. You can impact research happening here in Pennsylvania with the click of your mouse or the stroke of your pen.

President’s Corner: Clinical Trial Breakthrough May Mean Less Surgery

Posted By on March 15th, 2011 at 8:52 am | 6 comments.

Removal of lymph nodes may not decrease recurrences or increase overall survival rates for some women, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association study.  The study results are particularly promising for some women with early-stage breast cancer, although we caution that for others, more research is needed.

The study’s results show promise particularly for those women with tumors less than 5 centimeters and no more than two positive sentinel nodes who are undergoing lumpectomy followed by radiation. The study did not provide enough data to make a determination on treatment for those under age 50 or those with particularly aggressive cancers. As with all treatment decisions, be sure to talk with your doctor to determine the best plan for you.

Patient Advocacy in 2010: It was a busy year

Posted By on January 5th, 2011 at 10:02 am | 4 comments.

Today is only the third working day of 2011 and we have already talked with three women, all with different issues they need help with. One hasn’t had a mammogram in several years and has no insurance, another is a Medicare patient overwhelmed with co-pays for medical bills, and another is paying over $1,000 a month for insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

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

2010 Evening Reception at the Harrisburg HiltonAlso 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.

Shopping Resources for Breast Cancer Patients

Posted By on January 4th, 2011 at 9:02 am | 6 comments.

One of the most commonly-requested items here at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition is a list of shops and boutiques across the state that sell wigs, prostheses, and other breast cancer-related items.   For many women who have been newly-diagnosed, this is one of their first questions.

We currently have a list of about 20 boutiques, shops, salons and websites that sell various products geared toward cancer survivors.  They are located from Allison Park to Abington, from Latrobe to Lancaster, and beyond!

If you know of a boutique or shop in PA (or a website with an online store) that sells mastectomy products and/or wigs, please comment below with the name of the company or its website and we’ll investigate it.   If it meets our criteria, it’ll be added to our resource list.

The more we have on our list, the better the chances that one of these shops will be within driving distance of each woman who needs to purchase something!  Thanks for sharing your finds with the 103,000 women in Pennsylvania battling breast cancer!

Insurance Guidebook Saved Breast Cancer Patient $10,000

Posted By on December 17th, 2010 at 10:10 am | 2 comments.

When a newly-diagnosed women or a friend orders one of our FREE Friends Like Me care packages, he or she may request a phone call from our Patient Advocate (that’d be me). We have often thought that the contents of the package may answer many of her questions, so we allow some time for her to receive and review it before I call. This week we learned just how true that is.

I called a woman in Wayne County who received her package after Thanksgiving. She is quite an advocate in her own path to treatment and recovery. She has been researching prescription assistance programs and other community resources. When we were just about to end our conversation, she mentioned that part of her education was to read our insurance guidebook Breast Cancer: Covered or Not?, which was included in her Friends Like Me care package.

Of particular interest to her was the information on pages 102 and 103 about checking for hospital billing mistakes. So she took out her stack of mounting medical bills and sure enough…there was a double billing mistake to the tune of $10,000!

Her hospital acknowledges the mistake and is working to correct it. When she said “Your organization has already saved me $10,000,” it really made our day.

If you or someone you know can use advice in relation to breast cancer treatment and insurance, order your FREE copy of Breast Cancer: Covered or Not? today!  You can also request a Friends Like Me care package be sent to a recently diagnosed woman in Pennsylvania!

Year End Giving: Pink Style

Posted By on December 14th, 2010 at 4:09 pm | 0 comments.

With the holiday season here and the white stuff flying from the sky, 2011 is knocking on our door.  Many take time off from work or school to spend time with family and friends during this time.  The staff at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) also spends time with their loved ones, but we always think about those who may have something else on their mind.

Breast cancer doesn’t take time off for the holiday or even a coffee break.  When you gather with your loved ones to celebrate the end of 2010 and the start of a new year, consider paying-it-forward to the women and families in Pennsylvania who are battling breast cancer.  Without the support of individuals like you, the PBCC wouldn’t be able to offer educational programming, advocate for legislation, or offer many of the patient resources available to new or recently diagnosed women.

Georgette Williams, a three year breast cancer survivor, has taken a stand and asked you to help the 103,000 women living with breast cancer in Pennsylvania.  Check out Georgette’s brief comments and consider a gift to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition today.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u97kiLoB-t4&w=450&h=283]