Special Breast Cancer Awareness Month Resource Guide
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Pink Hope Inside: Area support groups champion awareness
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Important facts about breast cancer Gannett
More than 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Here is what you need to know about the disease: What is breast cancer?
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It is a cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and the glands. The disease does not discriminate, affecting men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. How common is the cancer? It is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. About one in every eight women will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives. Two-thirds of them will be over 50 years of age. About 900 men in the U.S. develop breast cancer each year. What causes it? Breast cancer is a complex disease with many interrelated factors and doctors still have much to discover about it. However, factors that seem to play a role include family history of the disease, diet high in fat, childlessness or first child after age 30, and, being over the age of 50. What are the warning signals of breast cancer? Breast changes that persist, like a lump that does not disappear within a month, thickening, swelling, dimpling or skin irritation are among symptoms. Also, discharge from the nipple, pain, tenderness and discoloration. How worried should I be about a lump in my breast? Eight of 10 breast lumps are not cancerous, and breast lumps change throughout a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. Only your doctor can tell if a lump is cancerous. But, because 70 percent of breast cancers are detected by women themselves, breast self-examination — to detect lumps and changes — is critical. What is breast self-examination? BSE should be done once a month, two or three days after the end of a woman’s period. The inspection involves inspecting your breasts for anything unusual and searching for lumps. Ask
your doctor for detailed advice on how to BSE or visit the American Cancer Society Web site, www.cancer.org. What other methods of early detection are there? The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and other health organizations recommend mammography — low-dose X-ray examination — for many women. The recommendations for mammography vary between organizations. The cancer society, which has among the most stringent recommendations, believes women over 50 years of age should have a mammogram every year and those from 40 to 49 years of age should have one every two years. Women 20 to 40 years of age should have a professional physical examination of the breast. Women 35 years or older with a personal history of breast cancer should also routinely be tested. Mammography can reveal tumors too small to be felt by palpation. How is breast cancer treated? There is a wide range of therapies for women, with many choices. Surgery can vary from simple local removal of the tumor to mastectomy — removal of the entire breast. There is still no consensus on the most effective surgery to prevent recurrence. Some studies suggest local surgery combined with radiation may be as effective as mastectomy. After surgery, treatments may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone manipulation. What is metastatic breast cancer? The term indicates that the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body such as bone, lung, liver or brain. Is there any good news with regard to breast cancer? Some breast cancers are 100 percent curable. If a cancer does recur, it often can be held in check for several years. Also, new surgical techniques allow breast reconstruction after mastectomy, using an artificial breast implant. Such techniques have become an important part of treatment and rehabilitation; most insurance companies no longer consider them cosmetic but pay for them.
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Wellness From Page 11 to cover co-payments. Often, one of the first steps is looking into whether a client qualifies for such benefits as disability or Medicare/Medicaid. Such programs will be of no use if he or she hasn’t applied for help, so Cancer Wellness Foundation staff members work with clients to ensure they receive what they are eligible for. Other services include: clothing, wigs and such medical devices as wheelchairs; nutritional counseling and meeting special needs (including liquid supplements for tube-feeding patients); and referral to other community resources that might provide spiritual or personal counseling, hospice services, nursing homes, home health care, insurance assistance and such government agency assistance as Medicare, Medicaid and the Social Security Administration. The foundation partners with other groups to meet the needs of their clients. Still, to continue to serve and expand its programs, the foundation depends on financial support from grants and donations from corporations, individuals and government agencies, Bruchis said. But one of the greatest challenges for the organization is its identity. “We’re all under this ‘cancer’ umbrella (referring to such organizations as the American Cancer Society and other local groups), and we work together, but we are not all one organization,” she said. In fact, many people assume that the foundation is part of the Montgomery Can-
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cer Center. It’s true that the foundation rents space in the cancer center’s Carmichael Road, and the foundation’s largest number of clients are treated at the cancer center, but the foundation is independent. Incorporated in February 1997 as the Montgomery Cancer Wellness Foundation, the organization has expanded its coverage
LAW OFFICES OF JUDY H. BARGANIER, P.C. H. Darr Beiser Gannett/USA Today
Caring for someone with breast cancer
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Living day to day with breast cancer You may have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. This is no doubt an emotionally difficult time. You are likely experiencing feelings of fear and uncertainty. It is important for you to understand breast cancer, and also to keep in mind that there are things you can do to help manage your cancer: ᔢ Share your feelings with family and friends. Advertiser
ᔢ Join a breast cancer support group. ᔢ Take time away from focusing on cancer each day by enjoying your favorite activities —
unwind with a book, watch a movie, practice yoga. ᔢ Eat healthy meals and stay
as physically active as you can. ᔢ Rest frequently. ᔢ Talk with your doctor about
Family members and friends can play a vital role in helping patients with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and treatment. Here are just some of the ways you can help: ᔢ Go with the patient to their doctor visits. Listen and write down any information the doctor provides. Ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to a loved one’s health. ᔢ Help to keep track of any side effects the patient may be experiencing and report them to the patients doctor. ᔢ Assist with any insurance issues that may come up. ᔢ Give practical support to the
patient. Volunteer to run errands, do cooking, housekeeping, etc. ᔢ Prioritize enjoyable time together with the patient. ᔢ Communicate with the patient as openly as possible. Listen when the patient wants to talk about his or her cancer and/or treatment. ᔢ When caring for a loved one with breast cancer, it’s important to take care of yourself as well. Remember to enjoy healthy meals, stay physically active, take regular walks, practice yoga, etc. Take a break from the disease each day by enjoying some of your favorite pastimes, such as watching a movie or reading a book. ᔢ Reach out to your family and friends for support or seek out support services for partners, family and friends of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Source: Women of Hope — Teri Greene
PLEASE JOIN US
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER! 350 LEAVELL CIRCLE AT MELROSE MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 M 334-271-7110 • WWW.JUDYBARGANIER.COM
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treatment options that are right for you.
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A tile mural for the Oncology on Canvas, sponsored by the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama, shows at Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery.
Experts offer coping tips to patients, caregivers Here are some coping tips, both for those facing breast cancer treatments and surgery and for family members and friends who may be caring for them:
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area during the past decade and now reaches thousands of individuals across central Alabama. Clients are referred to the foundation by area oncology doctors and health-care professionals who recognize the financial struggle their patients are facing, she said. Once a social worker has met with a cli-
ent to determine the individual’s needs, the foundation can identify the best options and provide appropriate services. “It sounds obvious, but we have to make sure that resources are used appropriately,” she said. “We’re not the only foundation out there and don’t want to milk the system dry.”
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Hope
Hope 2010 calendar, which features photos of 12 members. The calendars are $15 and available from Women of Hope members and at the Hope House, with proceeds going to the organization.
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Women of Hope hosts topic-oriented events like the recent “HER2 Story: Living with, through and beyond HER+2 breast cancer,” aimed specifically at women diagnosed with Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (about 25 percent of breast cancers are in this category).
It has been a busy year for Women of Hope.
Ashmore said the organization is determined to forge new paths when it comes to the realities of living with breast cancer and surviving it.
In January, Women of Hope hosted its inaugural “Pink Ribbon Gala,” a formal affair the organization plans to repeat annually to raise both funds and awareness at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. July marked the grand opening of Hope House, the first “home” for Women of Hope, housing its offices, the Hope library and the Hope Chest showroom, which features breast cancer information and gifts. It’s open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, or by appointment. The house, at 1601 Walnut St. in the Mulberry district, was a gift to the organization from the family of member Janet Jefcoat. Mark Williams contributed and laid concrete; Charles Loftin volunteered his services as electrician; and Alice
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Breast cancer survivor and author Brenda Ladum speaks at the Women of Hope luncheon on Oct. 1 at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church. McMullan of The Hen Pen joined Women of Hope members in hours of work to bring the old house back to life. The group kicked off this month with its
annual Signature Luncheon, complete with a fashion show from Henig Furs, a book-signing with survivor/author Brenda Ladun and the debut of the Women of
For instance, in November, Dr. Michael Krychman of The Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine will present a topic that Ashmore said she hasn’t seen addressed locally: sexual concerns of breast cancer patients and survivors. That’s just one example of concerns and questions that impact breast cancer survivors every day but are seldom discussed, Ashmore said. And that’s what Women of Hope is all about — sharing information, and support, that those affected by breast cancer might otherwise never find.
Women Of Montgomery Embracing and Nuturing Hope Of Prevention and Eradication of Breast Cancer
Women of Hope (WOH) is composed of a group of compassionate individuals who have come together to form an organization that supports the various needs of breast cancer survivors and their family members. Women of Hope serves as an avenue of commitment and a stabilizing force for families struggling with the challenges of maintaining their normal routines while facing this dreaded disease The goal of Women of Hope is to give HOPE where there may not be any and to show patients and families that there is life after breast cancer. Many of our members have first-hand knowledge having faced breast cancer themselves. This experience provides us with the insight necessary to most effectively utilize our resources to reach many women who seek support.
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Women of Hope aspires to educate, promote awareness, and provide hope and encouragement for families coping with breast cancer. Women of Hope (WOH) offers breast cancer support group meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each month, free of charge, to all breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, or anyone interested in becoming a part of our compassionate journey. Meetings are held at Frazer United Methodist Church, Room 8114 at 5:30 p.m.
In memory of those we have loved, In honor of our loved ones today, And in Hope for those we will love in years to come!
CONTACT US TODAY (334) 220-4599 women of hope@charter.net www.womenofhope.info
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At the first luncheon there were about 175 attendees. At this year’s signature luncheon there was more than double that number of attendees.
UCLA School of Medicine that showed patients receiving regular intervention — health education, help with problem-solving skills, stress management and psychological support — not only had lower rates of depression, fatigue, confusion and mood disturbance and higher rates of energy. And most importantly, they were also more likely to live longer.
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Fact or fiction? Beware breast cancer myths MYTH: No one in my family has ever had breast cancer, so I don’t really need to be concerned. TRUTH: Your risk is greater if a close relative has had breast cancer. But as many as 80 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women who do not have a family history of the disease. MYTH: If I’m going to get breast cancer, there’s nothing I can do about it. TRUTH: Yes, there are things you can do. While we still don’t how to prevent breast cancer, we do know that early detection can improve a woman’s chances of beating this disease. A mammogram can find a tumor much earlier than you or your doctor can feel it. When breast cancer is found early, while it is small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment is highest. Early detection also means that a woman’s chances for saving her breast are better because doctors may be able to remove the tumor and only a small area of nearby tissue. You can also take steps to reduce your risk of the disease, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and limiting alcohol intake. MYTH: These tests cost a lot, and I can’t afford a mammogram. TRUTH: Medicare, Medicaid, and al-
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
montgomeryadvertiser.com/cancer most all insurance companies cover mammograms. Some low-cost mammogram programs are also available. These are often promoted during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every October. Some doctors, hospitals, or clinics may also lower their fees for women who cannot afford the usual charge. Also, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost screening and follow-up treatment for lowincome, uninsured, and underinsured women, with a high priority on reaching racial and ethnic minority women. Contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about special low-cost programs in your community. MYTH: Since mammograms are Xrays, the radiation could be dangerous. TRUTH: In the past 20 years, both the equipment and how mammograms are done have greatly improved. Today, the
A mammogram can find a tumor much earlier than you or your doctor can feel it. When breast cancer is found early, while it is small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment is highest.
MYTH: If I get a mammogram, I’m going to find breast cancer.
level of radiation is very low and does not significantly raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
The doctor may also use a thin needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. This test is called a biopsy and it is the only way to know for sure whether or not the changes are caused by cancer. A specialist called a pathologist looks at the sample under a microscope. But even if you are told you need a biopsy, remember that more than 80 percent of lumps or suspicious areas will not be cancer.
MYTH: I heard mammograms hurt and can be embarrassing. TRUTH: When you get a mammogram, you stand beside the machine and a specially trained technologist helps place your breast on a metal plate. A second plate made of plastic is placed on top, and for a few seconds, the top plate is pushed down and flattens the breast to get a good, clear picture. The technologist usually takes two pictures of each breast. Many women may feel some discomfort, but it is for a very short time. To reduce discomfort, try to avoid scheduling your mammogram during the week before or during your period, when your breasts are most tender. Tell the technologist if you have any pain.
TRUTH: Only two to four mammograms out of every 1,000 will lead to a cancer diagnosis. Only about 10 percent of women need more tests. If a suspicious area is found, your doctor will order more tests. Another mammogram may be done, focusing more pictures on the area of concern.
MYTH: I’ve lived this long without getting breast cancer. Why should I bother with a mammogram? TRUTH: Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. More than two out of every three breast cancers diagnosed each year occur in women older than 55. Even if you’ve been through menopause, you still need a mammogram. — Source: The American Cancer Society
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Risk From Page 13 like (the drug) Tamoxifen, which would actually prevent the cancer.” Sandberg acknowledged that such a drug has potential side effects, so “you have to balance the risks versus the benefits and talk it through with the patient. Their anxiety level comes into account — all that kind of stuff — but you have to at least be able to tell that patient that it is an option.”
Bring in specialist In addition to having one-onone discussion with patients, Cantor said she’ll probably enlist a specialist to help advise patients who turn up with atypical cells. “In my heart of hearts, I would want to send a patient to a breast surgeon or an oncologist if atypia showed up because I always think two minds are better than one,” she said. “... Decisions would be made based on her (the woman’s) individual needs.” Cantor also would counsel them on lifestyle habits and how best to try to minimize their breast-cancer risk, she said. “It really just all depends on at what age and what phase of her life are we having this discussion.” Drosman thinks patients benefit from learning they have atypical cells. “When these people find out that they have issues and then they go on and they get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or they go on and have additional testing done ... we’ve done something positive for them that wouldn’t have been able to be done before,” he said. “I don’t know if it leads to unnecessary testing. I don’t even know if it leads to worrying. I’m just thinking about the positive things.”
Sunday, October 11, 2009 But Chagpar notes, “We do not have long-term data on how it (Halo) affects insurance status. We do not have long-term data on how it affects patients in terms of their psychological (well-being) and quality of life. We do not have long-term data on whether, in fact, this saves lives. We do have long-term data from eight randomized controlled trials that mammography saves lives.” The American Cancer Society recommends mammograms annually from age 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer. The Halo test — which is not part of the society’s guidelines — is aimed at a broader group of women.
Before mammogram age “This is something to do before that mammogram age at least — in addition to the monthly breast exam,” said Cantor, who also offers the test to women 40 and older. Summers, a reading teacher, requested the Halo test after seeing a reference to it at Cantor’s office. But she also is vigilant about getting more standard screenings and checks, such as mammograms and clinical breast exams. Summers had a lump removed in the mid-’80s that was benign, so “ I have my breasts checked every six months (in a clinical breast exam) and a mammogram done in April or May.” Summers also does self-exams, which is how she recently found a knot underneath her arm. She reported the knot to a surgeon, who identified it as a sweat gland. To her, the Halo test is “another chance on catching the possibility of some cancer cells showing up and having it taken care of right away,” she said. Note: This story was originally published Oct. 4, 2007
From Page 7 Blondheim, however, is quick to point out that it would not have happened as quickly without incredible support from the entire community. With help from area businesses, organizations and individuals, Joy to Life has accomplished a number of things, including a Joy to Life license plate, a new fishing tournament and a community-wide day of prayer. During Joy to Life’s first year, the Blondheims enlisted help from Alabama Shakespeare Festival actors Greta Lambert and Rodney Clark, who produced a one-woman show titled “When Life Doesn’t Turn Out the Way You Planned” by oncology nurse Kevin W. Sowers. Clark directed the one-night benefit starring Lambert. That same year, the Blondheims organized the first Walk of Life, which has grown each year. Now in the spring, the walk continues to draw thousands of walkers — and runners — each year to Cramton Bowl and the downtown area. And then there was the Blondheims’ dream of a designated Alabama license plate, which became a reality in early 2009 as pink Joy to Life tags began popping up on vehicles across the state. This fall, the foundation has added several events to its efforts to raise money and awareness about breast cancer. The first week of October, Joy to Life had its first Pink Lure Tour Bass Tournament at Cooters Pond in Prattville. It was hosted by BASS founder Ray Scott and ESPN’s “Bass Professor” Doug Hannon with master of ceremonies Don Day and Rick Redmon. On Oct. 11, the foundation had its second annual Taste of The Waters Art & Wine Festival. The Blondheims are always pleased to offer a variety of events in different venues across the city, but the event Oct.16-18 will encompass the entire area. On that day, the community is encouraged to participate in the
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By Cancer and Those Working Towards a Cure. 552 McQueen Smith Rd. • Prattville, AL 36066 • 334.358.6972
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We Support Those Touched
Bruce A. Moore, CPA, LLC
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Breast cancer survivors and their families joined city officials and members of the Joy to Life Foundation on March 30 to turn the water in the Court Street fountain pink in promotion of the foundation’s April Walk of Life event. first Pray in Pink, an opportunity for area houses of worship (churches, synagogues and mosques) to work together to raise awareness, honor breast cancer survivors and provide lifesaving information about breast cancer prevention and treatment. Congregations across the community are urged to organize luncheons for survivors, encourage attendees to wear pink clothing and make other breast cancer-related plans at least one day of the weekend. As Joy Blondheim tells people, faith played a major role in her own battle with breast cancer back in the late 1990s. She was diagnosed in April 1997 after detecting a lump in her left breast. She immediately contacted her physician and went in for an exam.
“He said, ‘Did you know there is also a lump in your right breast?’ ” she said. And both were cancer. By the end of that month, she had been diagnosed with stage II breast cancer with lymph node involvement. In her case, there were two separate primary tumors. She, her husband, their two grown sons and other loved ones headed to Houston’s University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where Joy Blondheim had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and prepared for eight months of chemotherapy. Fortunately, she was diagnosed early. And that is key. So often, though, women who do not have medical coverage can’t afford a mammogram, which often can be life-threatening, Joy Blondheim said.
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SISTAs
black women aged 50 and older during 1995-2005, while rates decreased by 0.7 percent per year among women under age 50 from 1991-2005.
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Advice and reaching out
SISTAs reaches out to African-American women who don’t know about cancer — to control the myths that are barriers to treatment. Hale and SISTAs are faced with these facts: ᔢ An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among black women in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society.
ᔢ The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10 percent lower in black women than in white women. ᔢ Among younger women (under age 40) the incidence is higher in blacks than in whites. ᔢ Breast cancer incidence rates increased rapidly among black women during the 1980s, largely due to increased detection as the use of mammography screening increased. ᔢ Incidence rates stabilized among
Hale promised herself that for as long as SISTAs flourishes, she will continue reaching out. “When women are helped, it is gratifying,” she said. “I don’t want people to go through what I did. I think sometimes, you’re treated differently because of your ethnic background. “The organization has grown — and that tells me that it is needed.” The group helps women find “culturally-appropriate” services and resources: hair, skin tone, breast prosthesis and other items, Hale said. “Image is very important to survivors when trying to look good and feel better about ourselves,” she said. The group also offers free mammograms, made possible, she said, through charitable organizations. And SISTAs is trying to start an online support group. “You can’t put a price on helping others,” Hale said. “We start as early as middle school educating about breast cancer, early detection and screening practices— as they start going through puberty, and making young girls comfortable with examining their breasts.” The greatest challenge and success for us has been sustainability since we survive with little funding through charitable donations and small grants. “This is a work of the heart,” she said. “A cancer journey is not the end. It’s the beginning.”
health care or some other unknown biological cause is to blame for the gap. But another study, this one led by researchers at Loyola University near Chicago, cast doubt on the notion that poverty and poor access to health care cause lower cancer survival rates. Evaluating nearly 20,000 adults with cancer who received identical treatment and access to care in clinical trials from late 1974 through late 2001, the researchers found that blacks were 21 to 61 percent more likely to die from gender-specific cancers than whites. Some medical experts believe that a combination of the two potential causes is the most likely explanation for the racial gap, barring some unforeseen cause that has not been discovered. Brawley and Russell note that nearly all U.S. studies to date have found that black and white women who receive similar care for similar cancers have similar survival rates.
“If they are found at the same time and treated the same and their cancers have similar features, all of the data suggest their outcomes will be the same,” Russell said. In fact, Brawley noted that one segment of the female black population has breast cancer death rates that are more similar to those of white women: black women who are in the Department of Defense health system. “These women are in the system because they or their husband did 20 or more years in the military,” Brawley said. “They had the same preventive care over an adult lifetime and the same quality of health care. They have very similar mortality compared to whites, much closer to white death rates than to black American rates. “They lose 70 percent of the disparity,” Brawley continued. “That suggests that access to care and quality of care, which is
worse for black Americans, determines the majority of the black-white disparity.” He noted that one theory links the increased incidence of triple-negative breast cancer in black women with lower socioeconomic status. Researchers in Scotland found that poor women who are white tend to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at a younger age, and they have linked that type of cancer to a higher body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fatness calculated from a person’s weight and height) in poorer women, Brawley said. “In the U.S., black women have a BMI disparity compared to whites,” he said. “A much higher proportion of black women are obese. Poverty and obesity likely account for a large part of the black-white pathology difference and worse quality of care, which, again, worsens the disparities in mortality.”
How SISTAs began SISTAs started with Hale giving a testimony at her church, St. John’s AME on Madison Avenue in downtown Montgomery. She stood before the congregation to tell her story of breast cancer. Her words. Her message. One audience. After she talked, about eight women approached her. They, too, had been affected. From there, the group started and grew by word of mouth. And it grew from Hale’s home to the church, then to a conference room at the Montgomery Cancer Center and finally to a conference room at JCPenney at the former Montgomery Mall. The organization now operates out of Hale’s home office. The demand for education and support for African-American women has increased exponentially since 1994, she said. Hale said every time she looked at studies, clinical trials, stories — everything initially revolved around middleaged white women. “African-Americans are very private about talking about having cancer,” she said. “I believe you have to put it out there so that you can see it — and know it’s there and fight it.”
Race From Page 8 cer Society.But during the same time period, breast cancer killed 33.8 of every 100,000 black women, compared with 25 of every 100,000 white women. A pair of studies published July 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute attempted to tackle the racial gap but came up with conflicting answers. One study by researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute found that if you control for the incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, which has proven resistant to the best biologic treatments available, the racial gap remains largely in place. They concluded that either poor access to
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Members of SISTAs take part in the 2003 Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Rally to help raise awareness of breast cancer. Staggering statistics
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July 23, 1921 - August 30, 2009 Love Always, From your daughter, Gloria Crawford and granddaughter Shalawn Williams
Elizabeth L. Davis
Joanni Kelley A tribute to you in honor of your courage and determination from your loving family.
Faith, Love, Hope, Encouragement Our Mom is a breast cancer survivor Latonia, Twanda & Trina
Becky Birch Mullins You are a source of inspiration. Your courage, strength and faith will be remembered forever. I love you always, Your sister
Pamela West Looney We love you and miss you so much. Love, Gary, Jessica, Megan and Connie
Tammika Jordan Tammika God’s mercy and grace has kept you. Keep believing and trusting him. Love, Mom & Family
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Helen P. Sewell Frances Kelly Dedicated to Our Beloved Mother,
We are amazed by your strength and faith. You are our inspiration. Love your family
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Cassandra Harris From your family We miss you. Corey, Colenzo, Debra & Family
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A cancer survivor!
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“We have a 24/7 hotline for those in need because cancer doesn’t stop at 5,” she said.
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Double checks improve mammogram accuracy By Hiran Ratnayake The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal
In a dark room, Dr. Mahendra Parikh peers at computerized images of a patient’s breasts, searching for any sign of cancer. Afterward, he’ll prepare a report indicating whether he found any cancer. In a separate dark room down the hall, Parikh’s son — like him, also a radiologist — is studying images from the same patient. Anush Parikh also will prepare his own report. Most of the time, both reports match up. But occasionally, they don’t. Sometimes, Anush Parikh finds what appears
What is more common is the use of computer technology in addition to single reads. About 25 percent of radiologists in the U.S. practice this method. Research has shown that the technology, known as computer-aided detection or CAD, performs as well as double reads when it comes to noticing a suspicious sign that turns out to be cancer. But CAD also can lead to a higher rate of false positives, which means cancer is erroneously detected when there isn’t any.
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case, both radiologists come to a conclusion as to whether the images show signs of cancer. ᔢ With computer-aided detection, a radiologist studies the images of a patient’s breasts. Computer software then searches for abnormal areas of density, mass or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. CAD highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to the need for further analysis. The radiologist’s results are compared with CAD results before concluding whether the images show signs of cancer. — Sources: The New England Journal of Medicine; Radiological Society of North America; Mid-Delaware Imaging
The Parikh team also uses CAD. But Mahendra Parikh, who has been a radiologist for 30 years, said that even with his many years of experience and the use of computer-aided detection, cancer can still be missed. “I’m human and I’m not going to be right 100 percent of the time ... so four eyes are better than two eyes,” he said.
Improving the odds
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A patient receives a mammogram at Georgetown University. Mammograms help catch breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.
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Accuracy From Page 6
to be cancer on the breast images that his father missed, and vice versa. For about six months, the father-andson radiologist team has been performing double-read mammography, a practice in which two radiologists read the same mammogram and follow up by comparing their results. A large body of research has shown that breast cancer has a better shot at being detected when a mammogram is read by two radiologists rather than one. However, few radiologists in the United States do double reads.
ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY ᔢ In traditional (or single-read) mammography, a radiologist studies the images of a patient’s breasts. The radiologist makes an interpretation of the images to determine whether there are signs of cancer. Typically, no other radiologist reviews the image, although there are times when the interpreting radiologist may ask another for a second opinion. ᔢ In double-read mammography, two radiologists study the same images of a patient’s breasts. The radiologists both make their own interpretations. They can make their interpretations separately and compare results, or one radiologist can study the images after already knowing the interpretation of the other radiologist. In either
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Anush Parikh likens double reads to losing a diamond ring on a beach. A person stands a small chance of finding the valuable by scouring the sand alone. If a friend helps in the search, the chance of locating the ring increases. The concept is the same with double reads, said Parikh, who was trained at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, which performs double reads. “You improve the odds,” he said. Double reads are the standard of practice in at least a dozen European nations. But Dr. Carl D’Orsi, co-chair of the American College of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Commission, said using a second radiologist to study the same images isn’t cost-effective. “It’s very labor-intensive and the reimbursement rate for mammograms is barely enough to sustain facilities that operate without doing double reads,” said D’Orsi, also chair of radiology at Emory University in Atlanta. “It is the best thing for patients,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt anyone. There’s no extra radiation. There’s no more costs. It’s just my time and my dad’s time.” Neither Parikh knows each other’s interpretation until after each has finished reviewing the mammogram. “It’s totally blind because that’s the only way to be objective,” Anush Parikh said.
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Research has shown that using two readers as opposed to one increases the rate of cancer detection by 4 percent to 14 percent. But CAD has proved an effective tool as well. Going back to the ring-on-a-beach analogy, if a second reader is an extra person to help search for the missing ring, CAD is perhaps a powerful metal detector to help the lone searcher. CAD uses algorithms to pinpoint areas
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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DON’T FORGET Did you know that the best defense against breast cancer is finding it early — when it is most treatable? Yearly mammograms can help save lives because they often show breast changes that may be cancer even before physical symptoms develop. By following the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer screening guidelines, you or important women in your life can find breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society’s current breast cancer screening guidelines are: ᔢ Yearly mammograms should begin at age 40 and continue for as long as a woman is in good health. ᔢ A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam — about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women age 40 and older. ᔢ Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast changes to a health care provider right away. Breast self-examination (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. For a free email reminder to schedule your yearly mammogram, g o t o c a n c e r . o r g / MammogramReminder or call 1-800-227-2345. — The American Cancer Society on the mammogram that are suspicious. A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that single reads by a radiologist with CAD are a viable alternative to double reads only. The randomized trial was based on the mammograms of 31,057 women. Several of the study’s authors disclosed financial relationships with commercial imaging entities. CAD drives up the costs of interpretation, but requires fewer resources than double reads. The study in the American Journal of Roentgenology concluded that a second radiologist can determine the significance of the findings from a mammogram. CAD can only highlight abnormalities. Okemah Strickland is one of Mahendra Parikh’s patients. Parikh detected cancer in her right breast from a mammogram in 2003. Months later, she underwent a lumpectomy and has since been cancer-free. Strickland, who is on the board of trustees for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, said many women would feel more comfortable if their radiologists were using both CAD and double reads. If given just one of those options, she said, she would prefer the double reads.
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Doug’s 2 Salon-Spa, located off Vaughn Road on the west side of East Boulevard, is lit up with pink “You don’t want them to find some- lights in October in support of thing, but if something is there, you want breast cancer awareness month. to make sure they do get it and they get it in time,” said Strickland, 52, of Dover, Del. “There is a fear that they might miss it, but if you have two different people looking at it, you’re less likely to miss it.” Editor’s note: This story was originally published Aug. 4
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Pink Heroes: Joy to Life rlitchfield@gannett.com
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Above, Pilates instructor Pam Kennedy, left, gives directions to Beverly Helton as they demonstrate exercises used in cancer wellness classes at Metro Fitness in Montgomery. At right, Helton exercises with Michelle Hughes and Jackie Grinter. All three women are cancer survivors. A recent Harvard University study found exercise can help fight breast cancer, increasing chances of survival by 20 percent. Core Vibes Studio and SunRay Yoga also have classes aimed at breast cancer survivors.
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Here are some of the programs the Joy to Life Foundation provides: ᔢ Service area: The foundation serves the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Washington and Wilcox. ᔢ Walk of Life: In 2001, the first Walk of Life had 350 participants and raised $25,000. In 2009, there were more than 3,300 participants and it raised more than $160,000. (And 100 percent of the money raised at the Walk of Life stays in Alabama to help Joy to Life continue to provide free mammograms.) ᔢ Other support: Joy to Life offers a free annual newsletter for all donors and friends. A portion of the newsletter is dedicated to spouses and children of breast cancer patients and survivors. Spouses and children of all ages who have experienced breast cancer with a loved one are encouraged to share their stories. Joy to Life also has something for family members of all cancer patients, who also need love, care and understanding. In response to this need, the foundation encourages families to visit www.kidscope.org, which is dedicated to helping people better understand the effects of cancer and chemotherapy.
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AT-A-GLANCE
By Robyn Bradley Litchfield More than 10,000 medically underserved women in south central Alabama received mammograms during the past year thanks to funding from the Joy to Life Foundation and the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Of those screened, 4,328 women were between the ages of 40 and 49, and 42 of those women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Joy to Life founders Joy and Dickie Blondheim prayed that they could make a positive impact on the lives of women in the Montgomery. They took the first steps to make that happen in the summer Joy Blondheim of 2001, when they created the foundation. They wanted to make a difference, but had no idea how much the foundation could do in less than 10 years. “We hoped we could do it — but, honestly, we never dreamed it would grow so quickly and we could do all we’ve done so far. To tell you the truth, if I had known what we were going to be able to do, I would have been scared to death,” said Joy Blondheim, a breast cancer survivor. “And back then, we didn’t know how we were going to do it. We just had this passion.”
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Bridging the racial gap in breast cancer Research struggles to understand why the disease affects black and white women differently For HealthDay News
Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than in black women in the United States, but it kills more black women than white. This is known as the “racial gap” of breast cancer, a provocative topic for cancer researchers hoping to save lives. Several studies released in the past year have tried to figure out why breast cancer is more fatal to black women. One factor that’s been addressed is the fact that black women are more likely to contract a specific form of breast cancer, known as triple-negative breast cancer, that is much more difficult to treat. “There is a higher proportion of black women with triple-negative disease — 30 percent versus 18 percent of whites,” said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society and a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Triple-negative breast cancers do not respond to the best biologic treatments available, reducing the treatment options available to doctors. “We don’t have a lot of options for these women other than chemotherapy,
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WHY ME?
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on breast cancer. Visit http://www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/types/breast and their cancers tend to be more aggressive,” said Dr. Christy Russell, an oncologist and chief of medicine at the University of Southern California/Norris Cancer Hospital and chairwoman of the Breast Cancer Advisory Committee at the American Cancer Society. However, black women’s lack of access to health care and breast cancer screenings is also believed to make a significant contribution to the racial gap. “The number one theory is that black women are more likely to be in a lower socioeconomic status and are more likely to be diagnosed late,” Russell said. “Not only do they not get screened, but when they are diagnosed with cancer, their entry into medical treatment is delayed.” National Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs in October, and issues such as the racial gap will be part of the discussion as medical experts spread the word about this disease. An estimated 192,370 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer will kill an estimated 40,610 people this year. The racial gap behind those figures
What makes one woman develop breast cancer when another doesn’t? No one knows for sure. However, certain characteristics — so-called risk factors — have been shown to make the emergence of breast cancer more likely. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, they include: ᔢ Age: The disease rarely develops before menopause and is most common in women older than 60. ᔢ History of breast cancer: Women who’ve had cancer in one breast have a greater chance of cancer in the other breast. Risk also increases for women who have a family member — especially but not limited to a mother, sister or daughter — who had breast cancer. ᔢ Breast tissue: Certain types of abnormal breast cells have been linked to a greater likelihood for cancer. So has breast tissue that is dense. ᔢ Genetics: Women with changes in certain genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, face an increased risk.
has been well-documented. Between 2000 and 2004, 132.5 of every 100,000 white women in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer, com-
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New test helps assess breast cancer risk By Darla Carter
ON THE WEB
By Dennis Thompson
Sunday, October 11, 2009
ᔢ Reproductive history: Risk is greater for women who never had children and women who first gave birth at an older age. Beginning menstruation before age 12 and entering menopause after age 55 also increase risk. ᔢ Race: White women develop breast cancer more often than do black, Asian or Hispanic women. ᔢ Diet and exercise: Women who are overweight or obese after menopause, those who are physically inactive throughout life and women who drink alcohol in excess face an increased risk. ᔢ Medical treatment: Some therapies and drugs have been linked to breast cancer. Risk is greater for women who had radiation treatments before age 30 and those who took DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy, a practice that was stopped in 1971. How the drug might affect their daughters has not been resolved. — HealthDay News
pared with 118.3 of every 100,000 black women, according to the Can-
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Women who want to know whether they’re at increased risk of breast cancer have an alternative, but not everyone is convinced it’s a good option. The Halo Breast Pap Test is a five-minute, needle-free screening in which fluid is collected from a woman’s breasts to check for abnormal cells. It is not a substitute for a mammogram nor is it used to diagnose breast cancer. “It’s used to try to find patients who are at risk (of breast cancer) or who have the potential for developing breast cancer in the future,” said Dr. Divya Cantor, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Louisville, Ky., at Louisville OB/GYN. It’s “very exciting” to offer “something new ... that goes beyond what is currently available,” said Cantor, who gives the test and has been tested herself. Dr. Steve Drosman, an obstetrician-gynecologist in San Diego who’s been offering Halo for about two years, said few patients ever turn it down. The product’s developer is NeoMatrix in Irvine, Calif. “We talk about it as the pre-screening for breast cancer to identify patients at risk,” said Drosman, who started using Halo before it became widely available to other doctors earlier in 2007. “...This test will actually identify patients that are at risk seven to eight years before they have a lump.” But it does have its critics. Dr. Anees Chagpar, director of the multidisciplinary breast program at the James
Graham Brown Cancer Center in Louisville, said the test should be approached with caution by patients and health-care providers. Chagpar fears that women who are told they have atypical cells may wind up undergoing additional testing and procedures that may not be necessary or be prescribed medications they don’t need. She also worries that some patients won’t understand what the Halo results mean. “If your nipple aspirate fluid is negative for atypical cells, that does not mean that you are not harboring a breast cancer,” said Chagpar, a breast-cancer surgeon. “Conversely, if you do have atypical cells, it does not necessarily mean that you have a cancer, so in that sense, the information that you get (from Halo testing) is really of little value. ... This is only an added expense.” But Shari Sandberg, a spokeswoman for NeoMatrix, notes that a widely respected screening tool called the cervical Pap test was criticized when it debuted too. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Halo in 2005, and NeoMatrix recommends it annually for women ages 25 to 55 (or less frequently between 25 and 30), Sandberg said . But Chagpar said, “Just because it’s FDA-approved doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.” Furthermore, “it really doesn’t mean that it’s going to benefit our patients.”
How it works The Halo system includes two cups that
ON THE WEB Learn more about the Halo Breast Pap Test on the Web at www.neomatrix.com. The site includes an automated demo of the test. are placed on the breasts to collect fluid, which is only produced in about 40 to 50 percent of women who take the test, according to NeoMatrix. The unit generates compression and heat and applies firm suction to get drops of fluid from the nipple. The fluid comes from the breast ducts, which is where most breast cancers occur. Once collected, it’s sent off to a pathology lab for analysis, Cantor said. Janet Summers of Louisville had some discomfort during the test, but said it was “nothing like being squeezed with a mammogram.” Halo “really just feels like an electric breast pump,” she said. Summers didn’t produce any fluid during the test, which gave her a sense of relief, she said. It made me feel “great — wonderful.” But cancer still could be lurking around in such a situation. “If you do not produce fluid, it does not mean that you do not have cancer, and if it does show atypia (abnormal cells), it does not mean that you do have cancer,” Chagpar said. “You still need a mammogram, you still need a clinical breast exam, clinicians still need to use their judgment, and
I, personally, don’t think that this test would add significantly to what we currently do.”
Not 100 percent Sandberg, a marketing representative, acknowledged that cancer may still be present in the absence of fluid since “this test isn’t 100 percent (accurate), just like the cervical Pap isn’t 100 percent (accurate).” But she contends that the lack of fluid puts women in a low-risk category. Halo is about 66 percent accurate and the accuracy improves with repeated screenings, she said. “You’re unlikely to miss bad cells three years in a row when you’re sampling, and it’s the same thing with the cervical Pap.” The cervical Pap test is 65 percent to 85 percent accurate, according to the National Cancer Institute. According to NeoMatrix, atypical cells will be found in about 1 percent of women who get the Halo test. But it’s not entirely clear what path a patient with atypical cells should take after the test. “Finding the atypical cells alone by itself is not a magic bullet that tells you what to do with the patient,” Sandberg said. “All it does is signal you that this woman is four to five times more likely to develop breast cancer than the average woman, so you need to monitor them more closely, you need to do enhanced imaging, and you even have an opportunity, if it’s the right type of patient, to use a chemopreventive agent
Risk Page 17
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Online resources
ᔢ Joy to Life Foundation , P.O. Box 241172, Montgomery, AL 36124-1172. To learn more, visit www.joytolife.org. ᔢ Women of Hope, 1601 Walnut St., Montgomery. To learn more, call 220-4599 or visit www.womenofhope.info. ᔢ SISTAs Can Survive Coalition, 300 Oak Ridge Drive, Pike Road. To learn more, call 430-1070 or 312-6774 or visit www.sistascansurvive.org. ᔢ Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama, 4145 Carmichael Road, Montgomery. To learn more, call 273-2279 or visit www.montgomerycancer.com. ᔢ American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345. The ACS is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. Visit www.cancer.org to learn more.
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Beneficial bidding Collectable wines, vacations, jewelry and antiques were among the items auction during the American Cancer Society’s Vintage Affair in February at Wynlakes Country Club. The American Cancer Society has invested $352 million toward breast cancer research since 1972.
By Kym Klass kklass@gannett.com
Carrie Nelson-Hale goes to places nobody else will. She and her team of SISTAs CanSurvive Coalition volunteers travel across Alabama to rural places where African-American women are struggling with the reality of breast cancer and with what to do once they are diagnosed — places where these women might not otherwise receive the education and support they need. SISTAs provides support for medically underserved AfricanAmericans. It is a chance for them to share and gain information about breast and cervical cancer. “You can’t fight what you can’t see, and what you won’t acknowledge,” Hale said.
Carrie’s story The now 56-year-old Hale discovered a lump in her breast in April 1990 during a routine selfbreast exam in the shower. The lump was tiny and initially she wasn’t concerned. Hale was healthy. She ate healthy. She ran at least four miles daily.
Tuesday ᔢ QVC and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) will offer fabulous shoes at half the manufacturer’s suggested retail price during its annual breast cancer fundraiser, “FFANY Shoes on Sale,” from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. The sale will offer more than 100,000 pairs of shoes donated from brands such as Nine West, Via Spiga, Etienne Aigner, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, UGG
Don’t See Your ‘Pink Event’? Go to www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ calendar and submit the information. Australia, Coach Footwair and AK Anne Klein, with net proceeds benefiting breast cancer research and institutions. In the past 15 years this event has donated more than $30 million to the cause. Shoes will be available through QVC by calling 800-345-1515 or by visiting www.QVC.com.
Thursday ᔢ The Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama’s fourth annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament offers even more. In addition to Poker, guests will have a chance to play Bunco. It’s $150 for Poker players, and $50 for Bunco players. Tickets are $25 for people who just want to attend the party. Poker registration is at 6 p.m. Thursday, and Bunco registration is at 6:30 p.m. at the Wynlakes Main Clubhouse. Visit www.montgomerycancer.com or call 273-2279.
Friday ᔢ The Montgomery Advertiser will go pink Friday in honor of River Region Pink day, in which people are encouraged to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That day is also National Mammography Day — when the American Cancer Society reminds women to schedule their screenings. The Advertiser will also accept donations for breast cancer research in the lobby, or they can be mailed to Montgomery Advertiser, c/o Breast Cancer Awareness, 425 Molton St., Montgomery, AL 36104. ᔢ From Friday through Oct.18, the Joy to Life Foundation is sponsoring “Pray in Pink.” The weekend is an opportunity for area houses of worship (churches, synagogues, and mosques) to honor breast cancer survivors and to provide life-saving information about breast cancer to their congregants. Once registered, participants will be provided with free informative materials regarding breast cancer detection and
treatment that can be passed along to congregants. Programming ideas and suggestions are also available. Registration is free. To learn more, call 284-LIFE (5433) or email prayinpink@joytolife.org.
Coming up ᔢ The American Cancer Society’s Junior Executive Board is hosting “Five for the Fight“ from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at The Bar at Nancy Patterson’s, 503 Cloverdale Road. For a $5 donation, participants will receive one free drink and will also get the chance to sample Nancy’s famous strawberry cupcakes. Guests are encouraged to wear pink and breast cancer awareness literature will be passed out. To learn more, call 800-227-2345 or visit jebmontgomery.org. ᔢ Amplify Salon, along with other Aveda salons, will host the 2nd annual Cuts for a Cure on from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 26 at 1 Court Square across from the fountain in downtown Montgomery.
Here are some of the programs SISTAs Can Survive Coalition provides: ᔢ Survivors Health Initiative Program (SHIP): SHIP focuses on supporting good health. It is not intended to treat medical conditions, nor does it prescribe or develop medical treatment plans. Participants receive weekly physical activity and nutrition classes; telephone coaching and guidance to monitor progress and trouble shoot and one-on-one individual survivor advocate services, among other resources. ᔢ Celebrate Life Walk and Rally: SISTAs sponsors this annual event that kicks off at the State Capitol steps. In addition to the walk, there is usually a “Bells of Remembrance” ceremony,
For a minimum $25 donation, provided services will include haircuts, consultations and/or 15 minute stress relieving massages by one of the salon’s staff members. All the proceeds go to Joy to Life. ᔢ Central Alabama Health Care System will host two upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness walks. The first will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 23 on the CAHCS Tuskegee (East) Campus, 2400 Hospital Road in Tuskegee. The second will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 30 on the Montgomery (West) Campus, 215 Perry Hill Road, at the Pavilion. For more information, go to www.centralalabama.va.gov.
followed by a health fair. ᔢ Mammograms and other outreach: Since 1994, the group has provided free mammograms to those unable to afford them. SISTAs has also established collaborative partnerships with churches and organizations to promote community participation in reducing cancer mortality and morbidity rates in Alabama, particularly among the underserved.
Mickey Welsh Advertiser
Carrie Nelson-Hale, a breast cancer survivor, founded the SISTAs CanSurvive Coalition in August 1994. The group works to provide breast cancer education and support SISTAs Page 16 among African-Americans.
glōminerals has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support its mission to extend women’s lives through education about breast cancer and early detection. 10% of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Awareness.
LEARN MORE ᔢ What: SISTAs Can Survive Coalition ᔢ Where: 300 Oak Ridge Drive, Pike Road ᔢ Information: Call 430-1070 or 312-6774 or go online to www.sistascansurvive.org
We Specialize in • Domestic Relations • Personal Injury • Employment Law • Estate Planning
Ongoing ᔢ In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Eastdale Mall will be donating money collected in its fountains in October to the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” To raise awareness, the four fountains located throughout the mall have been decorated with pink ribbons and water in the fountains has been dyed pink. Customers are encouraged to spare some change and show their support for the cause during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information, call 277-7380 or visit shopmalls.com.
that we are twice as likely to die from cancer,” she said. “I was told by a local prominent physician that African-American cancer patients are out there, but that health providers don’t know how to reach them. Consequently, many die needlessly because of lack of access to early detection and treatment.” So, on Aug. 14, 1994, she started SISTAs CanSurvive to provide outreach and public awareness services to local, rural and remote communities, including those in the Black Belt. “We are able to pair a survivor with someone who has been on their journey a while with those whose journey is just beginning,” Hale said. SISTAs helps educate black women and men on treatment options, to stand beside them on their journey, to be their support, and to teach them how hold each other up, she said. Hale also works to remind people that men — although it is rare — are diagnosed with breast cancer, too. She teaches her three sons to be vigilant for any signs of changes in their breast tissue.
0000345860
ᔢ The Spa at Montgomery and the Joy to Life Foundation are teaming up to host“Pink with Envy” from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday. Touted as an afternoon delight with passion and a purpose and other “pinkilicious treats, ” for $30, participants can enjoy a fun and informative afternoon of activities at the spa at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Spa mini treatments include: B. Kamins Facial Line will provide mini facials; Jane Iredale Cosmetics will provide consultations and makeup applications and master hairstylist will provide wash and style for survivors and recently diagnosed. Stress relieving neck, shoulder and back massages will also be provided. To learn more, call 481-5212.
A biopsy revealed breast cancer and she had a left modified radical mastectomy. “I saw five surgeons for second opinions, and all but the first and last one seemed unconcerned about it because I did not have any of the characteristic risk factors,” Hale said. One physician even advised her to “watch it and come back in six months,” she said. The last physician’s attitude was “not compassionate” and she never went back to him. It was her faith and prayers that led her to back to the first physician who diagnosed her in the early stage of breast cancer. “Although treatment and technology for breast cancer was not as advanced as it is now, my treatment team’s conservative approach was a life saver for me,” she said. After her diagnosis, Hale moved from Michigan to Montgomery with her husband. She remembers walking into the Montgomery Cancer Center and not seeing other black women. “Even though the images of African-Americans with breast cancer were not common, I learned
AT-A-GLANCE
PINK EVENTS Monday
9
7AD0912F1011
Area support groups
PINK OCTOBER
Pink Heroes: SISTAs
RESOURCES ᔢ National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov ᔢ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/ cancer/breast ᔢ Susan G. Komen for the Cure: www.komen.org
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Baker Shahid LLC 4200 Carmichael Ct. N. 279-5399 No representation is made that the quality of legal servies to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
LaKesha B. Shahid, Attorney at Law
8327 Crossland Loop 260-0355 • www.lesprit.net
7AD1011F1011
7AD1011F1011 ZALLCALL
10
34 17:12:58 10/07/09
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
Pink Heroes: Women of Hope By Teri Greene terigreene@gannett.com
After only three years, Women of Hope has become a household name, at least among those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. And that’s just the way founder Maria Ashmore set out for it to be. It wasn’t the glory Ashmore was after back in 2006. After feeling an acute isolation upon her own diagnosis in 2002, all she wanted was to create a wide-ranging support and education network for patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, friends — anyone affected by breast cancer. It started with a small circle of survivors; within one year membership had grown to 40 and now it has passed 100 and counting. The goal: provide education, awareness, support, encouragement and mentoring for patients and their families, and to support breast cancer research. The group’s name is an acronym: “Women of Montgomery Embracing and Nurturing Hope of Prevention and Eradication of Breast Cancer.” Ashmore, who was named the 2007 Susan G. Komen “local hero” of Montgomery, said it’s important that the group provide not just camaraderie with people going through similar circumstances, but also education and instruction. Lessons learned at meetings — held on second Tuesdays at Frazer Memorial United Methodist
Church — could be as simple as everyday skills, such as stress management, or as specific as post-breast cancer body image, mastectomy products, new treatment options and targeted nutrition information. Some meetings have featured open forums with the physicians on the organization’s board, including medical oncologist Stephen Davison of Montgomery Cancer Center, radiation oncologist R. Lee Franklin, breast imaging radiologist Cynthia Lorino, plastic surgeon J. Douglas Robertson and breast surgeon Pam Strickland. One member, Lila Harris, is a life coach who offers life and wellness coaching free to members. Three-year survivor Fay Pitts learned about Women of Hope through her best friend, Cheri, who had researched every phase of Pitts’ breast cancer journey — including what she would need to keep her going. At her first Women of Hope meeting, Pitts, now the organization’s publicity chairwoman, said she learned that “they were celebrating life, and I could too.” She, like other members, uses “hope, hope, hope” as a kind of casual mantra whenever the going gets tough. Ashmore did her research before starting the group, which received nonprofit status at the beginning of 2007. She delved into noted studies, such as one from the
AT-A-GLANCE Here are some of the programs Women of Hope provides: ᔢ Monthly meetings: The group meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in Room 8114 of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church at 6000 Atlanta Highway. Meetings start with social time with light refreshments followed at 6:15 p.m. by a program and Q&A session. Fellowship begins at 7:30 p.m. ᔢ Hope House: The recently opened headquarters for Women of Hope at 1601 Walnut St. in the Mulberry district is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, or by appointment. There, you’ll find the Hope Library and the Hope Chest showroom, which features breast cancer information and gifts. ᔢ Pink Ribbon Gala: This is a formal affair the organization plans to repeat annually to raise both funds and awareness at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.
LEARN MORE Advertiser
Maria Ashmore, founder of the breast cancer support group Women of Hope, tends flowers at her Hope Page 18 Montgomery home in 2007.
ᔢ What: Women of Hope ᔢ Where: 1601 Walnut St., Montgomery ᔢ Information: Call 220- 4599, email womenofhope@charter.net, or visit www.womenofhope.info
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PINK OCTOBER
Pink Heroes: Cancer Wellness Foundation By Robyn Bradley Litchfield rlitchfield@gannett.com
AT-A-GLANCE
It may not provide medical treatments or cancer-killing medications, but the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama does help to save lives. With its motto, “Giving help; giving hope,” the foundation works to provide educational, supportive and research services to address the emotional and physical needs of cancer patients and their families who financially fall at or below federal poverty guidelines. Services include such basics as transportation to and from medical treatments and appointments, financial assistance for gasoline, cancer medications and utility bills and help with a variety of other burdens facing cancer patients. “While we may not cure cancer, we can certainly help them deal with what they are facing,” foundation executive director Susan Meyer Bruchis said. Although they serve individuals with any type of cancer, about 21 percent of the clients are battling breast cancer, second only to lung cancer, which affects about 23 percent of the clients, Bruchis said. And much of what the foundation provides isn’t available
Here are some of the programs the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama provides: ᔢ Transportation: Assistance is available to help patients get to and from their cancer treatments. It is tailored specifically to meet the needs of patients (some may only need financial help to cover gasoline costs). ᔢ Home medications: Help obtaining at-home prescription medications such as anti-nausea and pain medication is provided for patients who cannot afford it. ᔢ Patient education: A Patient Education Resource Center is maintained and includes a wealth of information for cancer patients and their families. ᔢ Camp Bluebird: A joint venture with the BellSouth Pioneers, this is a camp for adult cancer patients that allows
Lloyd Gallman Advertiser
Susan Meyer Bruchis is the executive director of the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama. from any other community organization. In addition, these services and programs are available at no charge to cancer patients and
their families in central Alabama, not just Montgomery. As of September, the foundation has provided $3.8 million in service value to individuals in 21 counties.
The key is identifying a client’s needs and matching that client with appropriate services or support, she said. For example, some patients may need free med-
campers to escape the pressures of their disease with therapeutic activities. It also offers them a chance to bond with other cancer patients. ᔢ Educational programs: Offered on a continuous basis, these programs are designed to help patients and their families adjust to living with cancer. They cover such things as financial planning, nutritional guidance, healthy food preparation and an introduction to cancer treatment.
LEARN MORE ᔢ What: Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama ᔢ Where: 4145 Carmichael Road, Montgomery ᔢ Getting involved: The foundation welcomes financial donations (which are tax-deductible) and volunteers ᔢ Information: 273-2279 or visit www.montgomery cancer.com ications while others whose medical insurance covers prescriptions may only need enough help
Wellness Page 19
Welcome Freewill Missionary Supports Breast Cancer Awareness To Save Lives And Families...Increasing Awareness Of The Importance Of Early Breast Cancer Detection.
We are delighted to welcome you as a client. As we work together, you’ll discover we offer in depth personalized service and exciting programs that separate us from traditional travel agencies. We transcend the status quo to orchestrate customized and imaginative adventures and experiences simply not available to most travelers. We have a world of resources at our fingertips thanks to our membership in Virtuoso, the leading network of top luxury travel agencies. We have travel contacts in over 75 countries as well as access to over 1,000 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations around the world. Through Virtuoso, we are able to offer privileged access, exclusive amenities and generous upgrades that you can’t get on your own. We specialize in designing one-of-a-kind travel experiences for discerning clients like you who appreciate how expanding our travel horizons makes our lives richer and more meaningful. Coordinating a special travel experience is the goal for every personal advisor. We will not only save you time, but we will spare you the complexity and anxiety of the planning process. We will put our connections to work to ensure that you receive special pricing, upgrades, amenities and access to rarely visited local cultural opportunities not available to the general public. We look forward to putting our passion for travel to work for you!
0000345814
Baptist Church
7AD1011F1011
11
www.AWTinc.com
Alabama World Travel • 2225 Taylor Road, Montgomery • 334.279.8720
7AD1011F1011
7AD1011F1011 ZALLCALL
10
34 17:12:58 10/07/09
PINK OCTOBER
B
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
Pink Heroes: Women of Hope By Teri Greene terigreene@gannett.com
After only three years, Women of Hope has become a household name, at least among those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. And that’s just the way founder Maria Ashmore set out for it to be. It wasn’t the glory Ashmore was after back in 2006. After feeling an acute isolation upon her own diagnosis in 2002, all she wanted was to create a wide-ranging support and education network for patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, friends — anyone affected by breast cancer. It started with a small circle of survivors; within one year membership had grown to 40 and now it has passed 100 and counting. The goal: provide education, awareness, support, encouragement and mentoring for patients and their families, and to support breast cancer research. The group’s name is an acronym: “Women of Montgomery Embracing and Nurturing Hope of Prevention and Eradication of Breast Cancer.” Ashmore, who was named the 2007 Susan G. Komen “local hero” of Montgomery, said it’s important that the group provide not just camaraderie with people going through similar circumstances, but also education and instruction. Lessons learned at meetings — held on second Tuesdays at Frazer Memorial United Methodist
Church — could be as simple as everyday skills, such as stress management, or as specific as post-breast cancer body image, mastectomy products, new treatment options and targeted nutrition information. Some meetings have featured open forums with the physicians on the organization’s board, including medical oncologist Stephen Davison of Montgomery Cancer Center, radiation oncologist R. Lee Franklin, breast imaging radiologist Cynthia Lorino, plastic surgeon J. Douglas Robertson and breast surgeon Pam Strickland. One member, Lila Harris, is a life coach who offers life and wellness coaching free to members. Three-year survivor Fay Pitts learned about Women of Hope through her best friend, Cheri, who had researched every phase of Pitts’ breast cancer journey — including what she would need to keep her going. At her first Women of Hope meeting, Pitts, now the organization’s publicity chairwoman, said she learned that “they were celebrating life, and I could too.” She, like other members, uses “hope, hope, hope” as a kind of casual mantra whenever the going gets tough. Ashmore did her research before starting the group, which received nonprofit status at the beginning of 2007. She delved into noted studies, such as one from the
AT-A-GLANCE Here are some of the programs Women of Hope provides: ᔢ Monthly meetings: The group meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in Room 8114 of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church at 6000 Atlanta Highway. Meetings start with social time with light refreshments followed at 6:15 p.m. by a program and Q&A session. Fellowship begins at 7:30 p.m. ᔢ Hope House: The recently opened headquarters for Women of Hope at 1601 Walnut St. in the Mulberry district is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, or by appointment. There, you’ll find the Hope Library and the Hope Chest showroom, which features breast cancer information and gifts. ᔢ Pink Ribbon Gala: This is a formal affair the organization plans to repeat annually to raise both funds and awareness at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.
LEARN MORE Advertiser
Maria Ashmore, founder of the breast cancer support group Women of Hope, tends flowers at her Hope Page 18 Montgomery home in 2007.
ᔢ What: Women of Hope ᔢ Where: 1601 Walnut St., Montgomery ᔢ Information: Call 220- 4599, email womenofhope@charter.net, or visit www.womenofhope.info
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PINK OCTOBER
Pink Heroes: Cancer Wellness Foundation By Robyn Bradley Litchfield rlitchfield@gannett.com
AT-A-GLANCE
It may not provide medical treatments or cancer-killing medications, but the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama does help to save lives. With its motto, “Giving help; giving hope,” the foundation works to provide educational, supportive and research services to address the emotional and physical needs of cancer patients and their families who financially fall at or below federal poverty guidelines. Services include such basics as transportation to and from medical treatments and appointments, financial assistance for gasoline, cancer medications and utility bills and help with a variety of other burdens facing cancer patients. “While we may not cure cancer, we can certainly help them deal with what they are facing,” foundation executive director Susan Meyer Bruchis said. Although they serve individuals with any type of cancer, about 21 percent of the clients are battling breast cancer, second only to lung cancer, which affects about 23 percent of the clients, Bruchis said. And much of what the foundation provides isn’t available
Here are some of the programs the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama provides: ᔢ Transportation: Assistance is available to help patients get to and from their cancer treatments. It is tailored specifically to meet the needs of patients (some may only need financial help to cover gasoline costs). ᔢ Home medications: Help obtaining at-home prescription medications such as anti-nausea and pain medication is provided for patients who cannot afford it. ᔢ Patient education: A Patient Education Resource Center is maintained and includes a wealth of information for cancer patients and their families. ᔢ Camp Bluebird: A joint venture with the BellSouth Pioneers, this is a camp for adult cancer patients that allows
Lloyd Gallman Advertiser
Susan Meyer Bruchis is the executive director of the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama. from any other community organization. In addition, these services and programs are available at no charge to cancer patients and
their families in central Alabama, not just Montgomery. As of September, the foundation has provided $3.8 million in service value to individuals in 21 counties.
The key is identifying a client’s needs and matching that client with appropriate services or support, she said. For example, some patients may need free med-
campers to escape the pressures of their disease with therapeutic activities. It also offers them a chance to bond with other cancer patients. ᔢ Educational programs: Offered on a continuous basis, these programs are designed to help patients and their families adjust to living with cancer. They cover such things as financial planning, nutritional guidance, healthy food preparation and an introduction to cancer treatment.
LEARN MORE ᔢ What: Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama ᔢ Where: 4145 Carmichael Road, Montgomery ᔢ Getting involved: The foundation welcomes financial donations (which are tax-deductible) and volunteers ᔢ Information: 273-2279 or visit www.montgomery cancer.com ications while others whose medical insurance covers prescriptions may only need enough help
Wellness Page 19
Welcome Freewill Missionary Supports Breast Cancer Awareness To Save Lives And Families...Increasing Awareness Of The Importance Of Early Breast Cancer Detection.
We are delighted to welcome you as a client. As we work together, you’ll discover we offer in depth personalized service and exciting programs that separate us from traditional travel agencies. We transcend the status quo to orchestrate customized and imaginative adventures and experiences simply not available to most travelers. We have a world of resources at our fingertips thanks to our membership in Virtuoso, the leading network of top luxury travel agencies. We have travel contacts in over 75 countries as well as access to over 1,000 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations around the world. Through Virtuoso, we are able to offer privileged access, exclusive amenities and generous upgrades that you can’t get on your own. We specialize in designing one-of-a-kind travel experiences for discerning clients like you who appreciate how expanding our travel horizons makes our lives richer and more meaningful. Coordinating a special travel experience is the goal for every personal advisor. We will not only save you time, but we will spare you the complexity and anxiety of the planning process. We will put our connections to work to ensure that you receive special pricing, upgrades, amenities and access to rarely visited local cultural opportunities not available to the general public. We look forward to putting our passion for travel to work for you!
0000345814
Baptist Church
7AD1011F1011
11
www.AWTinc.com
Alabama World Travel • 2225 Taylor Road, Montgomery • 334.279.8720
12
PINK OCTOBER
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Online resources
ᔢ Joy to Life Foundation , P.O. Box 241172, Montgomery, AL 36124-1172. To learn more, visit www.joytolife.org. ᔢ Women of Hope, 1601 Walnut St., Montgomery. To learn more, call 220-4599 or visit www.womenofhope.info. ᔢ SISTAs Can Survive Coalition, 300 Oak Ridge Drive, Pike Road. To learn more, call 430-1070 or 312-6774 or visit www.sistascansurvive.org. ᔢ Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama, 4145 Carmichael Road, Montgomery. To learn more, call 273-2279 or visit www.montgomerycancer.com. ᔢ American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345. The ACS is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. Visit www.cancer.org to learn more.
Advertiser photos
Beneficial bidding Collectable wines, vacations, jewelry and antiques were among the items auction during the American Cancer Society’s Vintage Affair in February at Wynlakes Country Club. The American Cancer Society has invested $352 million toward breast cancer research since 1972.
By Kym Klass kklass@gannett.com
Carrie Nelson-Hale goes to places nobody else will. She and her team of SISTAs CanSurvive Coalition volunteers travel across Alabama to rural places where African-American women are struggling with the reality of breast cancer and with what to do once they are diagnosed — places where these women might not otherwise receive the education and support they need. SISTAs provides support for medically underserved AfricanAmericans. It is a chance for them to share and gain information about breast and cervical cancer. “You can’t fight what you can’t see, and what you won’t acknowledge,” Hale said.
Carrie’s story The now 56-year-old Hale discovered a lump in her breast in April 1990 during a routine selfbreast exam in the shower. The lump was tiny and initially she wasn’t concerned. Hale was healthy. She ate healthy. She ran at least four miles daily.
Tuesday ᔢ QVC and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) will offer fabulous shoes at half the manufacturer’s suggested retail price during its annual breast cancer fundraiser, “FFANY Shoes on Sale,” from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. The sale will offer more than 100,000 pairs of shoes donated from brands such as Nine West, Via Spiga, Etienne Aigner, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, UGG
Don’t See Your ‘Pink Event’? Go to www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ calendar and submit the information. Australia, Coach Footwair and AK Anne Klein, with net proceeds benefiting breast cancer research and institutions. In the past 15 years this event has donated more than $30 million to the cause. Shoes will be available through QVC by calling 800-345-1515 or by visiting www.QVC.com.
Thursday ᔢ The Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama’s fourth annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament offers even more. In addition to Poker, guests will have a chance to play Bunco. It’s $150 for Poker players, and $50 for Bunco players. Tickets are $25 for people who just want to attend the party. Poker registration is at 6 p.m. Thursday, and Bunco registration is at 6:30 p.m. at the Wynlakes Main Clubhouse. Visit www.montgomerycancer.com or call 273-2279.
Friday ᔢ The Montgomery Advertiser will go pink Friday in honor of River Region Pink day, in which people are encouraged to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That day is also National Mammography Day — when the American Cancer Society reminds women to schedule their screenings. The Advertiser will also accept donations for breast cancer research in the lobby, or they can be mailed to Montgomery Advertiser, c/o Breast Cancer Awareness, 425 Molton St., Montgomery, AL 36104. ᔢ From Friday through Oct.18, the Joy to Life Foundation is sponsoring “Pray in Pink.” The weekend is an opportunity for area houses of worship (churches, synagogues, and mosques) to honor breast cancer survivors and to provide life-saving information about breast cancer to their congregants. Once registered, participants will be provided with free informative materials regarding breast cancer detection and
treatment that can be passed along to congregants. Programming ideas and suggestions are also available. Registration is free. To learn more, call 284-LIFE (5433) or email prayinpink@joytolife.org.
Coming up ᔢ The American Cancer Society’s Junior Executive Board is hosting “Five for the Fight“ from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at The Bar at Nancy Patterson’s, 503 Cloverdale Road. For a $5 donation, participants will receive one free drink and will also get the chance to sample Nancy’s famous strawberry cupcakes. Guests are encouraged to wear pink and breast cancer awareness literature will be passed out. To learn more, call 800-227-2345 or visit jebmontgomery.org. ᔢ Amplify Salon, along with other Aveda salons, will host the 2nd annual Cuts for a Cure on from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 26 at 1 Court Square across from the fountain in downtown Montgomery.
Here are some of the programs SISTAs Can Survive Coalition provides: ᔢ Survivors Health Initiative Program (SHIP): SHIP focuses on supporting good health. It is not intended to treat medical conditions, nor does it prescribe or develop medical treatment plans. Participants receive weekly physical activity and nutrition classes; telephone coaching and guidance to monitor progress and trouble shoot and one-on-one individual survivor advocate services, among other resources. ᔢ Celebrate Life Walk and Rally: SISTAs sponsors this annual event that kicks off at the State Capitol steps. In addition to the walk, there is usually a “Bells of Remembrance” ceremony,
For a minimum $25 donation, provided services will include haircuts, consultations and/or 15 minute stress relieving massages by one of the salon’s staff members. All the proceeds go to Joy to Life. ᔢ Central Alabama Health Care System will host two upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness walks. The first will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 23 on the CAHCS Tuskegee (East) Campus, 2400 Hospital Road in Tuskegee. The second will be from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 30 on the Montgomery (West) Campus, 215 Perry Hill Road, at the Pavilion. For more information, go to www.centralalabama.va.gov.
followed by a health fair. ᔢ Mammograms and other outreach: Since 1994, the group has provided free mammograms to those unable to afford them. SISTAs has also established collaborative partnerships with churches and organizations to promote community participation in reducing cancer mortality and morbidity rates in Alabama, particularly among the underserved.
Mickey Welsh Advertiser
Carrie Nelson-Hale, a breast cancer survivor, founded the SISTAs CanSurvive Coalition in August 1994. The group works to provide breast cancer education and support SISTAs Page 16 among African-Americans.
glōminerals has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support its mission to extend women’s lives through education about breast cancer and early detection. 10% of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Awareness.
LEARN MORE ᔢ What: SISTAs Can Survive Coalition ᔢ Where: 300 Oak Ridge Drive, Pike Road ᔢ Information: Call 430-1070 or 312-6774 or go online to www.sistascansurvive.org
We Specialize in • Domestic Relations • Personal Injury • Employment Law • Estate Planning
Ongoing ᔢ In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Eastdale Mall will be donating money collected in its fountains in October to the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” To raise awareness, the four fountains located throughout the mall have been decorated with pink ribbons and water in the fountains has been dyed pink. Customers are encouraged to spare some change and show their support for the cause during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information, call 277-7380 or visit shopmalls.com.
that we are twice as likely to die from cancer,” she said. “I was told by a local prominent physician that African-American cancer patients are out there, but that health providers don’t know how to reach them. Consequently, many die needlessly because of lack of access to early detection and treatment.” So, on Aug. 14, 1994, she started SISTAs CanSurvive to provide outreach and public awareness services to local, rural and remote communities, including those in the Black Belt. “We are able to pair a survivor with someone who has been on their journey a while with those whose journey is just beginning,” Hale said. SISTAs helps educate black women and men on treatment options, to stand beside them on their journey, to be their support, and to teach them how hold each other up, she said. Hale also works to remind people that men — although it is rare — are diagnosed with breast cancer, too. She teaches her three sons to be vigilant for any signs of changes in their breast tissue.
0000345860
ᔢ The Spa at Montgomery and the Joy to Life Foundation are teaming up to host“Pink with Envy” from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday. Touted as an afternoon delight with passion and a purpose and other “pinkilicious treats, ” for $30, participants can enjoy a fun and informative afternoon of activities at the spa at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Spa mini treatments include: B. Kamins Facial Line will provide mini facials; Jane Iredale Cosmetics will provide consultations and makeup applications and master hairstylist will provide wash and style for survivors and recently diagnosed. Stress relieving neck, shoulder and back massages will also be provided. To learn more, call 481-5212.
A biopsy revealed breast cancer and she had a left modified radical mastectomy. “I saw five surgeons for second opinions, and all but the first and last one seemed unconcerned about it because I did not have any of the characteristic risk factors,” Hale said. One physician even advised her to “watch it and come back in six months,” she said. The last physician’s attitude was “not compassionate” and she never went back to him. It was her faith and prayers that led her to back to the first physician who diagnosed her in the early stage of breast cancer. “Although treatment and technology for breast cancer was not as advanced as it is now, my treatment team’s conservative approach was a life saver for me,” she said. After her diagnosis, Hale moved from Michigan to Montgomery with her husband. She remembers walking into the Montgomery Cancer Center and not seeing other black women. “Even though the images of African-Americans with breast cancer were not common, I learned
AT-A-GLANCE
PINK EVENTS Monday
9
7AD0912F1011
Area support groups
PINK OCTOBER
Pink Heroes: SISTAs
RESOURCES ᔢ National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov ᔢ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/ cancer/breast ᔢ Susan G. Komen for the Cure: www.komen.org
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Baker Shahid LLC 4200 Carmichael Ct. N. 279-5399 No representation is made that the quality of legal servies to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
LaKesha B. Shahid, Attorney at Law
8327 Crossland Loop 260-0355 • www.lesprit.net
7AD0813F1011
7AD0813F1011 ZALLCALL
8
34 17:12:31 10/07/09
PINK OCTOBER
B
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Bridging the racial gap in breast cancer Research struggles to understand why the disease affects black and white women differently For HealthDay News
Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than in black women in the United States, but it kills more black women than white. This is known as the “racial gap” of breast cancer, a provocative topic for cancer researchers hoping to save lives. Several studies released in the past year have tried to figure out why breast cancer is more fatal to black women. One factor that’s been addressed is the fact that black women are more likely to contract a specific form of breast cancer, known as triple-negative breast cancer, that is much more difficult to treat. “There is a higher proportion of black women with triple-negative disease — 30 percent versus 18 percent of whites,” said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society and a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Triple-negative breast cancers do not respond to the best biologic treatments available, reducing the treatment options available to doctors. “We don’t have a lot of options for these women other than chemotherapy,
The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
WHY ME?
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on breast cancer. Visit http://www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/types/breast and their cancers tend to be more aggressive,” said Dr. Christy Russell, an oncologist and chief of medicine at the University of Southern California/Norris Cancer Hospital and chairwoman of the Breast Cancer Advisory Committee at the American Cancer Society. However, black women’s lack of access to health care and breast cancer screenings is also believed to make a significant contribution to the racial gap. “The number one theory is that black women are more likely to be in a lower socioeconomic status and are more likely to be diagnosed late,” Russell said. “Not only do they not get screened, but when they are diagnosed with cancer, their entry into medical treatment is delayed.” National Breast Cancer Awareness Month occurs in October, and issues such as the racial gap will be part of the discussion as medical experts spread the word about this disease. An estimated 192,370 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer will kill an estimated 40,610 people this year. The racial gap behind those figures
What makes one woman develop breast cancer when another doesn’t? No one knows for sure. However, certain characteristics — so-called risk factors — have been shown to make the emergence of breast cancer more likely. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, they include: ᔢ Age: The disease rarely develops before menopause and is most common in women older than 60. ᔢ History of breast cancer: Women who’ve had cancer in one breast have a greater chance of cancer in the other breast. Risk also increases for women who have a family member — especially but not limited to a mother, sister or daughter — who had breast cancer. ᔢ Breast tissue: Certain types of abnormal breast cells have been linked to a greater likelihood for cancer. So has breast tissue that is dense. ᔢ Genetics: Women with changes in certain genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, face an increased risk.
has been well-documented. Between 2000 and 2004, 132.5 of every 100,000 white women in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer, com-
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New test helps assess breast cancer risk By Darla Carter
ON THE WEB
By Dennis Thompson
Sunday, October 11, 2009
ᔢ Reproductive history: Risk is greater for women who never had children and women who first gave birth at an older age. Beginning menstruation before age 12 and entering menopause after age 55 also increase risk. ᔢ Race: White women develop breast cancer more often than do black, Asian or Hispanic women. ᔢ Diet and exercise: Women who are overweight or obese after menopause, those who are physically inactive throughout life and women who drink alcohol in excess face an increased risk. ᔢ Medical treatment: Some therapies and drugs have been linked to breast cancer. Risk is greater for women who had radiation treatments before age 30 and those who took DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy, a practice that was stopped in 1971. How the drug might affect their daughters has not been resolved. — HealthDay News
pared with 118.3 of every 100,000 black women, according to the Can-
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Women who want to know whether they’re at increased risk of breast cancer have an alternative, but not everyone is convinced it’s a good option. The Halo Breast Pap Test is a five-minute, needle-free screening in which fluid is collected from a woman’s breasts to check for abnormal cells. It is not a substitute for a mammogram nor is it used to diagnose breast cancer. “It’s used to try to find patients who are at risk (of breast cancer) or who have the potential for developing breast cancer in the future,” said Dr. Divya Cantor, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Louisville, Ky., at Louisville OB/GYN. It’s “very exciting” to offer “something new ... that goes beyond what is currently available,” said Cantor, who gives the test and has been tested herself. Dr. Steve Drosman, an obstetrician-gynecologist in San Diego who’s been offering Halo for about two years, said few patients ever turn it down. The product’s developer is NeoMatrix in Irvine, Calif. “We talk about it as the pre-screening for breast cancer to identify patients at risk,” said Drosman, who started using Halo before it became widely available to other doctors earlier in 2007. “...This test will actually identify patients that are at risk seven to eight years before they have a lump.” But it does have its critics. Dr. Anees Chagpar, director of the multidisciplinary breast program at the James
Graham Brown Cancer Center in Louisville, said the test should be approached with caution by patients and health-care providers. Chagpar fears that women who are told they have atypical cells may wind up undergoing additional testing and procedures that may not be necessary or be prescribed medications they don’t need. She also worries that some patients won’t understand what the Halo results mean. “If your nipple aspirate fluid is negative for atypical cells, that does not mean that you are not harboring a breast cancer,” said Chagpar, a breast-cancer surgeon. “Conversely, if you do have atypical cells, it does not necessarily mean that you have a cancer, so in that sense, the information that you get (from Halo testing) is really of little value. ... This is only an added expense.” But Shari Sandberg, a spokeswoman for NeoMatrix, notes that a widely respected screening tool called the cervical Pap test was criticized when it debuted too. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Halo in 2005, and NeoMatrix recommends it annually for women ages 25 to 55 (or less frequently between 25 and 30), Sandberg said . But Chagpar said, “Just because it’s FDA-approved doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.” Furthermore, “it really doesn’t mean that it’s going to benefit our patients.”
How it works The Halo system includes two cups that
ON THE WEB Learn more about the Halo Breast Pap Test on the Web at www.neomatrix.com. The site includes an automated demo of the test. are placed on the breasts to collect fluid, which is only produced in about 40 to 50 percent of women who take the test, according to NeoMatrix. The unit generates compression and heat and applies firm suction to get drops of fluid from the nipple. The fluid comes from the breast ducts, which is where most breast cancers occur. Once collected, it’s sent off to a pathology lab for analysis, Cantor said. Janet Summers of Louisville had some discomfort during the test, but said it was “nothing like being squeezed with a mammogram.” Halo “really just feels like an electric breast pump,” she said. Summers didn’t produce any fluid during the test, which gave her a sense of relief, she said. It made me feel “great — wonderful.” But cancer still could be lurking around in such a situation. “If you do not produce fluid, it does not mean that you do not have cancer, and if it does show atypia (abnormal cells), it does not mean that you do have cancer,” Chagpar said. “You still need a mammogram, you still need a clinical breast exam, clinicians still need to use their judgment, and
I, personally, don’t think that this test would add significantly to what we currently do.”
Not 100 percent Sandberg, a marketing representative, acknowledged that cancer may still be present in the absence of fluid since “this test isn’t 100 percent (accurate), just like the cervical Pap isn’t 100 percent (accurate).” But she contends that the lack of fluid puts women in a low-risk category. Halo is about 66 percent accurate and the accuracy improves with repeated screenings, she said. “You’re unlikely to miss bad cells three years in a row when you’re sampling, and it’s the same thing with the cervical Pap.” The cervical Pap test is 65 percent to 85 percent accurate, according to the National Cancer Institute. According to NeoMatrix, atypical cells will be found in about 1 percent of women who get the Halo test. But it’s not entirely clear what path a patient with atypical cells should take after the test. “Finding the atypical cells alone by itself is not a magic bullet that tells you what to do with the patient,” Sandberg said. “All it does is signal you that this woman is four to five times more likely to develop breast cancer than the average woman, so you need to monitor them more closely, you need to do enhanced imaging, and you even have an opportunity, if it’s the right type of patient, to use a chemopreventive agent
Risk Page 17
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ON THE WEB The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about nanotechnology at http://www.fda.gov. said in a news release from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. In a study on mice, Sgouros and his colleagues loaded the immunoliposomes with alpha-particle emitters, which are power-
ful radioisotopes that can kill cancer cells without damaging nearby healthy cells. The treatment substantially extended the survival of mice that had aggressive metastatic breast cancer. “This treatment is much less toxic than chemotherapy because it is targeted to tumor cells rather than to all rapidly dividing cells,” Sgouros said. “Nanoparticles designed to deliver these powerful isotopes have a great potential in cancer therapy, particularly for metastatic disease.”
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Above, Pilates instructor Pam Kennedy, left, gives directions to Beverly Helton as they demonstrate exercises used in cancer wellness classes at Metro Fitness in Montgomery. At right, Helton exercises with Michelle Hughes and Jackie Grinter. All three women are cancer survivors. A recent Harvard University study found exercise can help fight breast cancer, increasing chances of survival by 20 percent. Core Vibes Studio and SunRay Yoga also have classes aimed at breast cancer survivors.
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Here are some of the programs the Joy to Life Foundation provides: ᔢ Service area: The foundation serves the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Washington and Wilcox. ᔢ Walk of Life: In 2001, the first Walk of Life had 350 participants and raised $25,000. In 2009, there were more than 3,300 participants and it raised more than $160,000. (And 100 percent of the money raised at the Walk of Life stays in Alabama to help Joy to Life continue to provide free mammograms.) ᔢ Other support: Joy to Life offers a free annual newsletter for all donors and friends. A portion of the newsletter is dedicated to spouses and children of breast cancer patients and survivors. Spouses and children of all ages who have experienced breast cancer with a loved one are encouraged to share their stories. Joy to Life also has something for family members of all cancer patients, who also need love, care and understanding. In response to this need, the foundation encourages families to visit www.kidscope.org, which is dedicated to helping people better understand the effects of cancer and chemotherapy.
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AT-A-GLANCE
By Robyn Bradley Litchfield More than 10,000 medically underserved women in south central Alabama received mammograms during the past year thanks to funding from the Joy to Life Foundation and the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Of those screened, 4,328 women were between the ages of 40 and 49, and 42 of those women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Joy to Life founders Joy and Dickie Blondheim prayed that they could make a positive impact on the lives of women in the Montgomery. They took the first steps to make that happen in the summer Joy Blondheim of 2001, when they created the foundation. They wanted to make a difference, but had no idea how much the foundation could do in less than 10 years. “We hoped we could do it — but, honestly, we never dreamed it would grow so quickly and we could do all we’ve done so far. To tell you the truth, if I had known what we were going to be able to do, I would have been scared to death,” said Joy Blondheim, a breast cancer survivor. “And back then, we didn’t know how we were going to do it. We just had this passion.”
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Double checks improve mammogram accuracy By Hiran Ratnayake The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal
In a dark room, Dr. Mahendra Parikh peers at computerized images of a patient’s breasts, searching for any sign of cancer. Afterward, he’ll prepare a report indicating whether he found any cancer. In a separate dark room down the hall, Parikh’s son — like him, also a radiologist — is studying images from the same patient. Anush Parikh also will prepare his own report. Most of the time, both reports match up. But occasionally, they don’t. Sometimes, Anush Parikh finds what appears
What is more common is the use of computer technology in addition to single reads. About 25 percent of radiologists in the U.S. practice this method. Research has shown that the technology, known as computer-aided detection or CAD, performs as well as double reads when it comes to noticing a suspicious sign that turns out to be cancer. But CAD also can lead to a higher rate of false positives, which means cancer is erroneously detected when there isn’t any.
Accuracy Page 15
case, both radiologists come to a conclusion as to whether the images show signs of cancer. ᔢ With computer-aided detection, a radiologist studies the images of a patient’s breasts. Computer software then searches for abnormal areas of density, mass or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. CAD highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to the need for further analysis. The radiologist’s results are compared with CAD results before concluding whether the images show signs of cancer. — Sources: The New England Journal of Medicine; Radiological Society of North America; Mid-Delaware Imaging
The Parikh team also uses CAD. But Mahendra Parikh, who has been a radiologist for 30 years, said that even with his many years of experience and the use of computer-aided detection, cancer can still be missed. “I’m human and I’m not going to be right 100 percent of the time ... so four eyes are better than two eyes,” he said.
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Accuracy From Page 6
to be cancer on the breast images that his father missed, and vice versa. For about six months, the father-andson radiologist team has been performing double-read mammography, a practice in which two radiologists read the same mammogram and follow up by comparing their results. A large body of research has shown that breast cancer has a better shot at being detected when a mammogram is read by two radiologists rather than one. However, few radiologists in the United States do double reads.
ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY ᔢ In traditional (or single-read) mammography, a radiologist studies the images of a patient’s breasts. The radiologist makes an interpretation of the images to determine whether there are signs of cancer. Typically, no other radiologist reviews the image, although there are times when the interpreting radiologist may ask another for a second opinion. ᔢ In double-read mammography, two radiologists study the same images of a patient’s breasts. The radiologists both make their own interpretations. They can make their interpretations separately and compare results, or one radiologist can study the images after already knowing the interpretation of the other radiologist. In either
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Anush Parikh likens double reads to losing a diamond ring on a beach. A person stands a small chance of finding the valuable by scouring the sand alone. If a friend helps in the search, the chance of locating the ring increases. The concept is the same with double reads, said Parikh, who was trained at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, which performs double reads. “You improve the odds,” he said. Double reads are the standard of practice in at least a dozen European nations. But Dr. Carl D’Orsi, co-chair of the American College of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Commission, said using a second radiologist to study the same images isn’t cost-effective. “It’s very labor-intensive and the reimbursement rate for mammograms is barely enough to sustain facilities that operate without doing double reads,” said D’Orsi, also chair of radiology at Emory University in Atlanta. “It is the best thing for patients,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt anyone. There’s no extra radiation. There’s no more costs. It’s just my time and my dad’s time.” Neither Parikh knows each other’s interpretation until after each has finished reviewing the mammogram. “It’s totally blind because that’s the only way to be objective,” Anush Parikh said.
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Research has shown that using two readers as opposed to one increases the rate of cancer detection by 4 percent to 14 percent. But CAD has proved an effective tool as well. Going back to the ring-on-a-beach analogy, if a second reader is an extra person to help search for the missing ring, CAD is perhaps a powerful metal detector to help the lone searcher. CAD uses algorithms to pinpoint areas
Sunday, October 11, 2009
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DON’T FORGET Did you know that the best defense against breast cancer is finding it early — when it is most treatable? Yearly mammograms can help save lives because they often show breast changes that may be cancer even before physical symptoms develop. By following the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer screening guidelines, you or important women in your life can find breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society’s current breast cancer screening guidelines are: ᔢ Yearly mammograms should begin at age 40 and continue for as long as a woman is in good health. ᔢ A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam — about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women age 40 and older. ᔢ Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast changes to a health care provider right away. Breast self-examination (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. For a free email reminder to schedule your yearly mammogram, g o t o c a n c e r . o r g / MammogramReminder or call 1-800-227-2345. — The American Cancer Society on the mammogram that are suspicious. A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that single reads by a radiologist with CAD are a viable alternative to double reads only. The randomized trial was based on the mammograms of 31,057 women. Several of the study’s authors disclosed financial relationships with commercial imaging entities. CAD drives up the costs of interpretation, but requires fewer resources than double reads. The study in the American Journal of Roentgenology concluded that a second radiologist can determine the significance of the findings from a mammogram. CAD can only highlight abnormalities. Okemah Strickland is one of Mahendra Parikh’s patients. Parikh detected cancer in her right breast from a mammogram in 2003. Months later, she underwent a lumpectomy and has since been cancer-free. Strickland, who is on the board of trustees for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, said many women would feel more comfortable if their radiologists were using both CAD and double reads. If given just one of those options, she said, she would prefer the double reads.
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Lit for the cure
Doug’s 2 Salon-Spa, located off Vaughn Road on the west side of East Boulevard, is lit up with pink “You don’t want them to find some- lights in October in support of thing, but if something is there, you want breast cancer awareness month. to make sure they do get it and they get it in time,” said Strickland, 52, of Dover, Del. “There is a fear that they might miss it, but if you have two different people looking at it, you’re less likely to miss it.” Editor’s note: This story was originally published Aug. 4
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Montgomery Advertiser
SISTAs
black women aged 50 and older during 1995-2005, while rates decreased by 0.7 percent per year among women under age 50 from 1991-2005.
From Page 9
Advice and reaching out
SISTAs reaches out to African-American women who don’t know about cancer — to control the myths that are barriers to treatment. Hale and SISTAs are faced with these facts: ᔢ An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among black women in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society.
ᔢ The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10 percent lower in black women than in white women. ᔢ Among younger women (under age 40) the incidence is higher in blacks than in whites. ᔢ Breast cancer incidence rates increased rapidly among black women during the 1980s, largely due to increased detection as the use of mammography screening increased. ᔢ Incidence rates stabilized among
Hale promised herself that for as long as SISTAs flourishes, she will continue reaching out. “When women are helped, it is gratifying,” she said. “I don’t want people to go through what I did. I think sometimes, you’re treated differently because of your ethnic background. “The organization has grown — and that tells me that it is needed.” The group helps women find “culturally-appropriate” services and resources: hair, skin tone, breast prosthesis and other items, Hale said. “Image is very important to survivors when trying to look good and feel better about ourselves,” she said. The group also offers free mammograms, made possible, she said, through charitable organizations. And SISTAs is trying to start an online support group. “You can’t put a price on helping others,” Hale said. “We start as early as middle school educating about breast cancer, early detection and screening practices— as they start going through puberty, and making young girls comfortable with examining their breasts.” The greatest challenge and success for us has been sustainability since we survive with little funding through charitable donations and small grants. “This is a work of the heart,” she said. “A cancer journey is not the end. It’s the beginning.”
health care or some other unknown biological cause is to blame for the gap. But another study, this one led by researchers at Loyola University near Chicago, cast doubt on the notion that poverty and poor access to health care cause lower cancer survival rates. Evaluating nearly 20,000 adults with cancer who received identical treatment and access to care in clinical trials from late 1974 through late 2001, the researchers found that blacks were 21 to 61 percent more likely to die from gender-specific cancers than whites. Some medical experts believe that a combination of the two potential causes is the most likely explanation for the racial gap, barring some unforeseen cause that has not been discovered. Brawley and Russell note that nearly all U.S. studies to date have found that black and white women who receive similar care for similar cancers have similar survival rates.
“If they are found at the same time and treated the same and their cancers have similar features, all of the data suggest their outcomes will be the same,” Russell said. In fact, Brawley noted that one segment of the female black population has breast cancer death rates that are more similar to those of white women: black women who are in the Department of Defense health system. “These women are in the system because they or their husband did 20 or more years in the military,” Brawley said. “They had the same preventive care over an adult lifetime and the same quality of health care. They have very similar mortality compared to whites, much closer to white death rates than to black American rates. “They lose 70 percent of the disparity,” Brawley continued. “That suggests that access to care and quality of care, which is
worse for black Americans, determines the majority of the black-white disparity.” He noted that one theory links the increased incidence of triple-negative breast cancer in black women with lower socioeconomic status. Researchers in Scotland found that poor women who are white tend to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at a younger age, and they have linked that type of cancer to a higher body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fatness calculated from a person’s weight and height) in poorer women, Brawley said. “In the U.S., black women have a BMI disparity compared to whites,” he said. “A much higher proportion of black women are obese. Poverty and obesity likely account for a large part of the black-white pathology difference and worse quality of care, which, again, worsens the disparities in mortality.”
How SISTAs began SISTAs started with Hale giving a testimony at her church, St. John’s AME on Madison Avenue in downtown Montgomery. She stood before the congregation to tell her story of breast cancer. Her words. Her message. One audience. After she talked, about eight women approached her. They, too, had been affected. From there, the group started and grew by word of mouth. And it grew from Hale’s home to the church, then to a conference room at the Montgomery Cancer Center and finally to a conference room at JCPenney at the former Montgomery Mall. The organization now operates out of Hale’s home office. The demand for education and support for African-American women has increased exponentially since 1994, she said. Hale said every time she looked at studies, clinical trials, stories — everything initially revolved around middleaged white women. “African-Americans are very private about talking about having cancer,” she said. “I believe you have to put it out there so that you can see it — and know it’s there and fight it.”
Race From Page 8 cer Society.But during the same time period, breast cancer killed 33.8 of every 100,000 black women, compared with 25 of every 100,000 white women. A pair of studies published July 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute attempted to tackle the racial gap but came up with conflicting answers. One study by researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute found that if you control for the incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, which has proven resistant to the best biologic treatments available, the racial gap remains largely in place. They concluded that either poor access to
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Members of SISTAs take part in the 2003 Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Rally to help raise awareness of breast cancer. Staggering statistics
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
Fact or fiction? Beware breast cancer myths MYTH: No one in my family has ever had breast cancer, so I don’t really need to be concerned. TRUTH: Your risk is greater if a close relative has had breast cancer. But as many as 80 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women who do not have a family history of the disease. MYTH: If I’m going to get breast cancer, there’s nothing I can do about it. TRUTH: Yes, there are things you can do. While we still don’t how to prevent breast cancer, we do know that early detection can improve a woman’s chances of beating this disease. A mammogram can find a tumor much earlier than you or your doctor can feel it. When breast cancer is found early, while it is small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment is highest. Early detection also means that a woman’s chances for saving her breast are better because doctors may be able to remove the tumor and only a small area of nearby tissue. You can also take steps to reduce your risk of the disease, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, getting plenty of exercise, and limiting alcohol intake. MYTH: These tests cost a lot, and I can’t afford a mammogram. TRUTH: Medicare, Medicaid, and al-
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
montgomeryadvertiser.com/cancer most all insurance companies cover mammograms. Some low-cost mammogram programs are also available. These are often promoted during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, every October. Some doctors, hospitals, or clinics may also lower their fees for women who cannot afford the usual charge. Also, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost screening and follow-up treatment for lowincome, uninsured, and underinsured women, with a high priority on reaching racial and ethnic minority women. Contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about special low-cost programs in your community. MYTH: Since mammograms are Xrays, the radiation could be dangerous. TRUTH: In the past 20 years, both the equipment and how mammograms are done have greatly improved. Today, the
A mammogram can find a tumor much earlier than you or your doctor can feel it. When breast cancer is found early, while it is small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment is highest.
MYTH: If I get a mammogram, I’m going to find breast cancer.
level of radiation is very low and does not significantly raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
The doctor may also use a thin needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. This test is called a biopsy and it is the only way to know for sure whether or not the changes are caused by cancer. A specialist called a pathologist looks at the sample under a microscope. But even if you are told you need a biopsy, remember that more than 80 percent of lumps or suspicious areas will not be cancer.
MYTH: I heard mammograms hurt and can be embarrassing. TRUTH: When you get a mammogram, you stand beside the machine and a specially trained technologist helps place your breast on a metal plate. A second plate made of plastic is placed on top, and for a few seconds, the top plate is pushed down and flattens the breast to get a good, clear picture. The technologist usually takes two pictures of each breast. Many women may feel some discomfort, but it is for a very short time. To reduce discomfort, try to avoid scheduling your mammogram during the week before or during your period, when your breasts are most tender. Tell the technologist if you have any pain.
TRUTH: Only two to four mammograms out of every 1,000 will lead to a cancer diagnosis. Only about 10 percent of women need more tests. If a suspicious area is found, your doctor will order more tests. Another mammogram may be done, focusing more pictures on the area of concern.
MYTH: I’ve lived this long without getting breast cancer. Why should I bother with a mammogram? TRUTH: Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. More than two out of every three breast cancers diagnosed each year occur in women older than 55. Even if you’ve been through menopause, you still need a mammogram. — Source: The American Cancer Society
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Risk From Page 13 like (the drug) Tamoxifen, which would actually prevent the cancer.” Sandberg acknowledged that such a drug has potential side effects, so “you have to balance the risks versus the benefits and talk it through with the patient. Their anxiety level comes into account — all that kind of stuff — but you have to at least be able to tell that patient that it is an option.”
Bring in specialist In addition to having one-onone discussion with patients, Cantor said she’ll probably enlist a specialist to help advise patients who turn up with atypical cells. “In my heart of hearts, I would want to send a patient to a breast surgeon or an oncologist if atypia showed up because I always think two minds are better than one,” she said. “... Decisions would be made based on her (the woman’s) individual needs.” Cantor also would counsel them on lifestyle habits and how best to try to minimize their breast-cancer risk, she said. “It really just all depends on at what age and what phase of her life are we having this discussion.” Drosman thinks patients benefit from learning they have atypical cells. “When these people find out that they have issues and then they go on and they get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or they go on and have additional testing done ... we’ve done something positive for them that wouldn’t have been able to be done before,” he said. “I don’t know if it leads to unnecessary testing. I don’t even know if it leads to worrying. I’m just thinking about the positive things.”
Sunday, October 11, 2009 But Chagpar notes, “We do not have long-term data on how it (Halo) affects insurance status. We do not have long-term data on how it affects patients in terms of their psychological (well-being) and quality of life. We do not have long-term data on whether, in fact, this saves lives. We do have long-term data from eight randomized controlled trials that mammography saves lives.” The American Cancer Society recommends mammograms annually from age 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer. The Halo test — which is not part of the society’s guidelines — is aimed at a broader group of women.
Before mammogram age “This is something to do before that mammogram age at least — in addition to the monthly breast exam,” said Cantor, who also offers the test to women 40 and older. Summers, a reading teacher, requested the Halo test after seeing a reference to it at Cantor’s office. But she also is vigilant about getting more standard screenings and checks, such as mammograms and clinical breast exams. Summers had a lump removed in the mid-’80s that was benign, so “ I have my breasts checked every six months (in a clinical breast exam) and a mammogram done in April or May.” Summers also does self-exams, which is how she recently found a knot underneath her arm. She reported the knot to a surgeon, who identified it as a sweat gland. To her, the Halo test is “another chance on catching the possibility of some cancer cells showing up and having it taken care of right away,” she said. Note: This story was originally published Oct. 4, 2007
From Page 7 Blondheim, however, is quick to point out that it would not have happened as quickly without incredible support from the entire community. With help from area businesses, organizations and individuals, Joy to Life has accomplished a number of things, including a Joy to Life license plate, a new fishing tournament and a community-wide day of prayer. During Joy to Life’s first year, the Blondheims enlisted help from Alabama Shakespeare Festival actors Greta Lambert and Rodney Clark, who produced a one-woman show titled “When Life Doesn’t Turn Out the Way You Planned” by oncology nurse Kevin W. Sowers. Clark directed the one-night benefit starring Lambert. That same year, the Blondheims organized the first Walk of Life, which has grown each year. Now in the spring, the walk continues to draw thousands of walkers — and runners — each year to Cramton Bowl and the downtown area. And then there was the Blondheims’ dream of a designated Alabama license plate, which became a reality in early 2009 as pink Joy to Life tags began popping up on vehicles across the state. This fall, the foundation has added several events to its efforts to raise money and awareness about breast cancer. The first week of October, Joy to Life had its first Pink Lure Tour Bass Tournament at Cooters Pond in Prattville. It was hosted by BASS founder Ray Scott and ESPN’s “Bass Professor” Doug Hannon with master of ceremonies Don Day and Rick Redmon. On Oct. 11, the foundation had its second annual Taste of The Waters Art & Wine Festival. The Blondheims are always pleased to offer a variety of events in different venues across the city, but the event Oct.16-18 will encompass the entire area. On that day, the community is encouraged to participate in the
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By Cancer and Those Working Towards a Cure. 552 McQueen Smith Rd. • Prattville, AL 36066 • 334.358.6972
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Joy
We Support Those Touched
Bruce A. Moore, CPA, LLC
PINK OCTOBER
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Breast cancer survivors and their families joined city officials and members of the Joy to Life Foundation on March 30 to turn the water in the Court Street fountain pink in promotion of the foundation’s April Walk of Life event. first Pray in Pink, an opportunity for area houses of worship (churches, synagogues and mosques) to work together to raise awareness, honor breast cancer survivors and provide lifesaving information about breast cancer prevention and treatment. Congregations across the community are urged to organize luncheons for survivors, encourage attendees to wear pink clothing and make other breast cancer-related plans at least one day of the weekend. As Joy Blondheim tells people, faith played a major role in her own battle with breast cancer back in the late 1990s. She was diagnosed in April 1997 after detecting a lump in her left breast. She immediately contacted her physician and went in for an exam.
“He said, ‘Did you know there is also a lump in your right breast?’ ” she said. And both were cancer. By the end of that month, she had been diagnosed with stage II breast cancer with lymph node involvement. In her case, there were two separate primary tumors. She, her husband, their two grown sons and other loved ones headed to Houston’s University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where Joy Blondheim had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and prepared for eight months of chemotherapy. Fortunately, she was diagnosed early. And that is key. So often, though, women who do not have medical coverage can’t afford a mammogram, which often can be life-threatening, Joy Blondheim said.
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
Hope
Hope 2010 calendar, which features photos of 12 members. The calendars are $15 and available from Women of Hope members and at the Hope House, with proceeds going to the organization.
From Page 10
Women of Hope hosts topic-oriented events like the recent “HER2 Story: Living with, through and beyond HER+2 breast cancer,” aimed specifically at women diagnosed with Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (about 25 percent of breast cancers are in this category).
It has been a busy year for Women of Hope.
Ashmore said the organization is determined to forge new paths when it comes to the realities of living with breast cancer and surviving it.
In January, Women of Hope hosted its inaugural “Pink Ribbon Gala,” a formal affair the organization plans to repeat annually to raise both funds and awareness at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. July marked the grand opening of Hope House, the first “home” for Women of Hope, housing its offices, the Hope library and the Hope Chest showroom, which features breast cancer information and gifts. It’s open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, or by appointment. The house, at 1601 Walnut St. in the Mulberry district, was a gift to the organization from the family of member Janet Jefcoat. Mark Williams contributed and laid concrete; Charles Loftin volunteered his services as electrician; and Alice
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Breast cancer survivor and author Brenda Ladum speaks at the Women of Hope luncheon on Oct. 1 at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church. McMullan of The Hen Pen joined Women of Hope members in hours of work to bring the old house back to life. The group kicked off this month with its
annual Signature Luncheon, complete with a fashion show from Henig Furs, a book-signing with survivor/author Brenda Ladun and the debut of the Women of
For instance, in November, Dr. Michael Krychman of The Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine will present a topic that Ashmore said she hasn’t seen addressed locally: sexual concerns of breast cancer patients and survivors. That’s just one example of concerns and questions that impact breast cancer survivors every day but are seldom discussed, Ashmore said. And that’s what Women of Hope is all about — sharing information, and support, that those affected by breast cancer might otherwise never find.
Women Of Montgomery Embracing and Nuturing Hope Of Prevention and Eradication of Breast Cancer
Women of Hope (WOH) is composed of a group of compassionate individuals who have come together to form an organization that supports the various needs of breast cancer survivors and their family members. Women of Hope serves as an avenue of commitment and a stabilizing force for families struggling with the challenges of maintaining their normal routines while facing this dreaded disease The goal of Women of Hope is to give HOPE where there may not be any and to show patients and families that there is life after breast cancer. Many of our members have first-hand knowledge having faced breast cancer themselves. This experience provides us with the insight necessary to most effectively utilize our resources to reach many women who seek support.
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Women of Hope aspires to educate, promote awareness, and provide hope and encouragement for families coping with breast cancer. Women of Hope (WOH) offers breast cancer support group meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each month, free of charge, to all breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, or anyone interested in becoming a part of our compassionate journey. Meetings are held at Frazer United Methodist Church, Room 8114 at 5:30 p.m.
In memory of those we have loved, In honor of our loved ones today, And in Hope for those we will love in years to come!
CONTACT US TODAY (334) 220-4599 women of hope@charter.net www.womenofhope.info
Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest continuous systems of medicine in history Weight loss Pain relief/Headache & Migraine Stress/Anxiety Diabetes Sinus Problems Sciatica Insomnia Stroke 211 Winton Blount Loop | Montgomery 334.612.0968 | Email: drliang333@hotmail.com
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20 Years Experience
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At the first luncheon there were about 175 attendees. At this year’s signature luncheon there was more than double that number of attendees.
UCLA School of Medicine that showed patients receiving regular intervention — health education, help with problem-solving skills, stress management and psychological support — not only had lower rates of depression, fatigue, confusion and mood disturbance and higher rates of energy. And most importantly, they were also more likely to live longer.
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PINK OCTOBER
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Montgomery Advertiser
Important facts about breast cancer Gannett
More than 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Here is what you need to know about the disease: What is breast cancer?
Q A
It is a cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and the glands. The disease does not discriminate, affecting men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. How common is the cancer? It is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. About one in every eight women will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives. Two-thirds of them will be over 50 years of age. About 900 men in the U.S. develop breast cancer each year. What causes it? Breast cancer is a complex disease with many interrelated factors and doctors still have much to discover about it. However, factors that seem to play a role include family history of the disease, diet high in fat, childlessness or first child after age 30, and, being over the age of 50. What are the warning signals of breast cancer? Breast changes that persist, like a lump that does not disappear within a month, thickening, swelling, dimpling or skin irritation are among symptoms. Also, discharge from the nipple, pain, tenderness and discoloration. How worried should I be about a lump in my breast? Eight of 10 breast lumps are not cancerous, and breast lumps change throughout a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. Only your doctor can tell if a lump is cancerous. But, because 70 percent of breast cancers are detected by women themselves, breast self-examination — to detect lumps and changes — is critical. What is breast self-examination? BSE should be done once a month, two or three days after the end of a woman’s period. The inspection involves inspecting your breasts for anything unusual and searching for lumps. Ask
your doctor for detailed advice on how to BSE or visit the American Cancer Society Web site, www.cancer.org. What other methods of early detection are there? The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and other health organizations recommend mammography — low-dose X-ray examination — for many women. The recommendations for mammography vary between organizations. The cancer society, which has among the most stringent recommendations, believes women over 50 years of age should have a mammogram every year and those from 40 to 49 years of age should have one every two years. Women 20 to 40 years of age should have a professional physical examination of the breast. Women 35 years or older with a personal history of breast cancer should also routinely be tested. Mammography can reveal tumors too small to be felt by palpation. How is breast cancer treated? There is a wide range of therapies for women, with many choices. Surgery can vary from simple local removal of the tumor to mastectomy — removal of the entire breast. There is still no consensus on the most effective surgery to prevent recurrence. Some studies suggest local surgery combined with radiation may be as effective as mastectomy. After surgery, treatments may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone manipulation. What is metastatic breast cancer? The term indicates that the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body such as bone, lung, liver or brain. Is there any good news with regard to breast cancer? Some breast cancers are 100 percent curable. If a cancer does recur, it often can be held in check for several years. Also, new surgical techniques allow breast reconstruction after mastectomy, using an artificial breast implant. Such techniques have become an important part of treatment and rehabilitation; most insurance companies no longer consider them cosmetic but pay for them.
montgomeryadvertiser.com
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Wellness From Page 11 to cover co-payments. Often, one of the first steps is looking into whether a client qualifies for such benefits as disability or Medicare/Medicaid. Such programs will be of no use if he or she hasn’t applied for help, so Cancer Wellness Foundation staff members work with clients to ensure they receive what they are eligible for. Other services include: clothing, wigs and such medical devices as wheelchairs; nutritional counseling and meeting special needs (including liquid supplements for tube-feeding patients); and referral to other community resources that might provide spiritual or personal counseling, hospice services, nursing homes, home health care, insurance assistance and such government agency assistance as Medicare, Medicaid and the Social Security Administration. The foundation partners with other groups to meet the needs of their clients. Still, to continue to serve and expand its programs, the foundation depends on financial support from grants and donations from corporations, individuals and government agencies, Bruchis said. But one of the greatest challenges for the organization is its identity. “We’re all under this ‘cancer’ umbrella (referring to such organizations as the American Cancer Society and other local groups), and we work together, but we are not all one organization,” she said. In fact, many people assume that the foundation is part of the Montgomery Can-
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cer Center. It’s true that the foundation rents space in the cancer center’s Carmichael Road, and the foundation’s largest number of clients are treated at the cancer center, but the foundation is independent. Incorporated in February 1997 as the Montgomery Cancer Wellness Foundation, the organization has expanded its coverage
LAW OFFICES OF JUDY H. BARGANIER, P.C. H. Darr Beiser Gannett/USA Today
Caring for someone with breast cancer
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Living day to day with breast cancer You may have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. This is no doubt an emotionally difficult time. You are likely experiencing feelings of fear and uncertainty. It is important for you to understand breast cancer, and also to keep in mind that there are things you can do to help manage your cancer: ᔢ Share your feelings with family and friends. Advertiser
ᔢ Join a breast cancer support group. ᔢ Take time away from focusing on cancer each day by enjoying your favorite activities —
unwind with a book, watch a movie, practice yoga. ᔢ Eat healthy meals and stay
as physically active as you can. ᔢ Rest frequently. ᔢ Talk with your doctor about
Family members and friends can play a vital role in helping patients with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and treatment. Here are just some of the ways you can help: ᔢ Go with the patient to their doctor visits. Listen and write down any information the doctor provides. Ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to a loved one’s health. ᔢ Help to keep track of any side effects the patient may be experiencing and report them to the patients doctor. ᔢ Assist with any insurance issues that may come up. ᔢ Give practical support to the
patient. Volunteer to run errands, do cooking, housekeeping, etc. ᔢ Prioritize enjoyable time together with the patient. ᔢ Communicate with the patient as openly as possible. Listen when the patient wants to talk about his or her cancer and/or treatment. ᔢ When caring for a loved one with breast cancer, it’s important to take care of yourself as well. Remember to enjoy healthy meals, stay physically active, take regular walks, practice yoga, etc. Take a break from the disease each day by enjoying some of your favorite pastimes, such as watching a movie or reading a book. ᔢ Reach out to your family and friends for support or seek out support services for partners, family and friends of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Source: Women of Hope — Teri Greene
PLEASE JOIN US
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER! 350 LEAVELL CIRCLE AT MELROSE MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 M 334-271-7110 • WWW.JUDYBARGANIER.COM
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treatment options that are right for you.
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A tile mural for the Oncology on Canvas, sponsored by the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama, shows at Stonehenge Gallery in Montgomery.
Experts offer coping tips to patients, caregivers Here are some coping tips, both for those facing breast cancer treatments and surgery and for family members and friends who may be caring for them:
PINK OCTOBER
area during the past decade and now reaches thousands of individuals across central Alabama. Clients are referred to the foundation by area oncology doctors and health-care professionals who recognize the financial struggle their patients are facing, she said. Once a social worker has met with a cli-
ent to determine the individual’s needs, the foundation can identify the best options and provide appropriate services. “It sounds obvious, but we have to make sure that resources are used appropriately,” she said. “We’re not the only foundation out there and don’t want to milk the system dry.”
Special Breast Cancer Awareness Month Resource Guide
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Pink Hope Inside: Area support groups champion awareness