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

Posts Tagged ‘women’

Fox Chase Hosts 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania

Posted By on November 17th, 2011 at 8:59 am | 0 comments.

The PBCC was pleased to bring our traveling photo exhibit, 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania to Fox Chase Cancer Center last month. Fox Chase Cancer Center President & CEO Michael Seidel, M.D., Ph.D. welcomed all to Fox Chase for the opening reception. Joanne Grossi, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Lori Goldstein, M.D., Associate Professor & Director of the Naomi and Phil Lippincott Breast Evaluation Center spoke at the reception.

Breast cancer survivor and Philadelphia County exhibit participant Judi Blue shared her story with the audience. PBCC President & Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy invited all survivors to join her and Judi to celebrate the courage, hope and dignity with which they have faced breast cancer in a powerful ceremony at the podium.

The 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania traveling photo exhibit is funded by the PA Department of Health.

2011 Conference Highlights

Posted By on November 17th, 2011 at 8:58 am | 0 comments.

Pennsylvania’s First Lady Susan Corbett, Honorary Chair of the Conference, shared her experience as the daughter of a breast cancer survivor in her keynote address. Thomas Frazier, M.D. and Mimi Barash Coppersmith were each presented with the Pink Ribbon Award for their contributions to the fight against breast cancer, and each spoke about why they are passionate about this battle. The big surprise of the day was the $100,000 research grant presentation to Dr. Craig Meyers.

Our Grassroots Partners were honored at our Evening Reception the evening before the Conference, and our Shining Light Award Winners, Rob Ziemba and Jon Jehrio,shared why they partnered up with the PBCC and how they turned their passion for hockey into a way to support the cause. Potamkin Award winner, Susan M. Domcheck, M.D., told attendees about the important research she has conducted at the Plenary Session the morning of the Conference.

New book a compilation of stories about life and hope with breast cancer

Posted By on November 8th, 2011 at 9:54 am | 0 comments.

2011 PA Breast Cancer Coalition ConferenceHARRISBURG, Pa. – “Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life” (ISBN 978-0-9701379-7-5) by 10-year breast cancer survivor Tammy Miller offers hope and laughter from personal stories of battling breast cancer. Miller compiled over 120 entries from women and men whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

Throughout her own diagnosis, Miller used her sense of humor on her journey. She went through her first breast cancer surgery wearing a clown nose and shoes while carrying a kazoo. For her second, she wore a pink feather boa. Miller’s sense of humor and optimism made her journey a memorable one for those around her.

Referencing “Pink Ribbon Stories,” Miller says “there are stories that will warm your heart; make you laugh; cause you to pause for reflection; and others that simply tell a story of a courageous journey through life. There are words and stories to encourage, inspire and make you smile. This book is one way I can show those who are battling breast cancer that they are not alone.”

“Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life” is available online at http://pbcc.me/PinkRibbonStories or through your favorite e-reader’s store. Proceeds benefit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

About the Author:

Tammy Miller is an international speaker, author and speech coach. Her speaking topics include humor and healing, presentation and communication skills, brain aerobics, motivation and achieving goals. She is the owner of Tammy Speaks, LLC of Port Matilda, PA, and she enjoys helping others build their communication skills and achieve their goals in life. As an author, Tammy has written, “The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery,” about her personal journey of using humor to deal with her cancer diagnosis. And, “My Life is Just Speech Material… And, So is Yours,” is a valuable guide to discovering what to say and how to say it with your next presentation. She can be reached at www.tammyspeaks.com.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith
717-721-2580 x109
Kevin@PABreastCancer.org

PBCC Awards $100,000 Research Grant at Conference

Posted By on October 19th, 2011 at 9:14 am | 2 comments.

Those who were expecting a day of educational and motivational workshops, exciting speakers and inspirational stories, got that and more at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference this year! The PBCC awarded an additional $100,000 grant to researcher Dr. Craig Meyers in order to further his breakthrough research that may ultimately hold the key to a cure.

Dr. Meyers, a researcher at Penn State College of Medicine, and his team were among those surprised by the grant award. His initial discovery of a virus that kills breast cancer cells in a laboratory setting was funded by a grant from the PBCC’s Refunds for Research program. PBCC President & Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy described the discovery as “what the world has been waiting for.” The PBCC’s $100,000 contribution will enable the research to continue while additional funding is sought to continue the study.

In addition to the surprise grant award presentation, the conference provided the hundreds of attendees with the opportunity to take part in educational workshops, listen to knowledgeable speakers, recognize outstanding awardees, enjoy a delicious luncheon, and browse vendor tables. Thank you to PBCC Conference Honorary Chair First Lady Susan Corbett, our 2011 award recipients, and all the sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for joining us in making history at this year’s conference!

PBCC Conference Contest

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:07 pm | 0 comments.

What did your experience with breast cancer teach you? Did it teach you about your own strength? What did you learn about the people around you? Were you inspired to become an advocate or make a career change? Share your story with the PBCC. In 500 words or less, tell us about your experience and you could be selected to be featured in one of the PBCC’s upcoming newsletters. One grand prize winner will receive two registrations to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference. Email your story to contests@pabreastcancer.org by October 3 for consideration for our grand prize.

CancerCare

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:04 pm | 0 comments.

CancerCare is a national nonprofit organization that provides free professional support services to cancer patients, caregivers, and family members. They offer counseling, support groups, educational workshops, community programs, and publications that may be of use to anyone affected by cancer. They also provide financial assistance as it relates to certain treatment-related costs for eligible individuals.

CancerCare has a comprehensive user-friendly website that may help answer many questions you may be facing as a patient, caregiver, or family member coping with cancer. Among the website’s resources are a list of inspirational stories and a Q&A section that focuses on a particular cancer related topic each month.

Survivor Spotlight – Heather Stempka, Erie County

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:03 pm | 0 comments.

Following her second breast cancer diagnosis at 33 years old, Heather Stempka wanted to reassure other young women that they didn’t have to take the breast cancer journey on their own. She co-founded Linked by Pink, which is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about breast cancer in young women, particularly those who were diagnosed under the age of 45, and that provides resources to them.

While Linked by Pink is based in Erie, PA, Heather has used social media outlets like Facebook to broaden the horizons for the organization. Heather will be presenting the “Advocacy Using Social Media” workshop at the 2011 PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference on Tuesday, October 11.

Heather’s passion for helping people led her back to school to finish her degree in psychology with a minor in crisis counseling. She will graduate next summer from Liberty University.

Linked by Pink offers $500 medical grants to assist women battling breast cancer. Currently, the grants are only available to those who live within a 45 mile radius of Erie, PA, although they hope to extend their reach further in the future. For information on how to apply for these grants, visit the Linked by Pink website.

Cancer Clinical Trials Cooperative Groups Undergo Restructuring

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:02 pm | 0 comments.

By: Barbara C. Good, Ph.D.    It is not only private citizens who are undergoing belt tightening in these difficult economic times.  The National Cancer Institute (NCI), which has for years funded clinical trials carried out by the 10 adult cancer cooperative trials groups, recently determined that there be only four such groups from this point forward into the foreseeable future.  At this time, the previous groups are coming to agreements among themselves about which groups will merge together to meet this mandate.

Government-funded clinical trials will continue, but the manner in which they are carried out, how exactly the different groups’ methods of operation will be melded, and issues such as the particulars of data analysis and sample storage are as of now under consideration by the group chairs.

Under the new system, it is critical that NCI-sponsored trials continue to attract patient participants.  The federal government, unlike private industry, can for the most part conduct these studies without the burden, real or perceived, of financial interest being a driving factor.  Government-sponsored clinical trials have led to many of the advances in cancer treatment made over the past 40 years, including, in breast cancer trials, the option of lumpectomy and radiation instead of mastectomy, the common use of chemotherapy for treatment, and the use of tamoxifen as a preventive agent for women at high risk. Click here for more information about the current state of the clinical trials cooperative groups. Or, for more information on clinical trials in general, click here.

Check Your Calendar for PBCC Conference

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:01 pm | 0 comments.

Is Tuesday, October 11 circled on your calendar? If not, there’s still time to join hundreds of breast cancer survivors and advocates at the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference in Harrisburg for an unforgettable day full of educational workshops, engaging speakers, a delicious luncheon, and many new friends. Register now using coupon code PINK to save $10 off your $85 registration fee.

Help us honor the achievements of our 2011 Conference Award Recipients, who have each made significant contributions in the fight against breast cancer in their own way – whether it be through research or treatment of the disease, or through advocacy and fundraising. Choose from 13 workshops with topics varying from cutting edge research to advocacy. Browse our exhibitor tables and get a head start on holiday shopping.

With something for everyone, you don’t want to miss the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference. Register now. Click here.

Share Your Story and Win

Posted By on September 19th, 2011 at 2:00 pm | 0 comments.

As breast cancer survivors, we each have a story. Most have a similar beginning – usually with the words, “You have breast cancer.” But what happens next is what makes each of us unique. How we respond, what we must do, what decisions we make – no two journeys are the same. We at the PBCC want to hear your stories.

We want to share them with other breast cancer survivors, advocates and family members. We are holding a contest for survivors to submit their stories, which we may feature in an upcoming Survivor Spotlight in either our Pink Link or FrontLine newsletters. One grand prize winner will receive two FREE registrations for our 2011 PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference, and everyone will receive a free gift for submitting their story. Entry details can be found here.