Greetings!
Did you know that more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States alone? At YWCA Boston, we annually provide health outreach, education, medical referrals and support to more than 4,000 women and girls to stem the tide of this illness and improve their health and wellness. In this special YWCA Persimmon & Pink Report for October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, learn what our YW is doing to improve women's health and how you can improve your own and that of less fortunate women.
Sincerely, 
Sylvia Ferrell-Jones
President & CEO | |
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Attend a Breast Health 101 Workshop!
Learn more about how to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by attending an informative, fun, free, one-hour YWCA breast health workshop during Breast Cancer Awarenesss Month:
Kuumba Library
140 Clarendon Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Wednesday, October 7th, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Thursday, October8th, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 14th, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, October 16th, 12 p.m. -1 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27th, 12 - 1 p.m.
The Berkeley Residence
40 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
Monday, October 19th, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center
632 Blue Hill Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02121
Thursday, October 29, 2009, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
To RSVP, request a workshop for your organization or to just learn more, please call 617-585-5471 or email womenshealth@ywcaboston.org |
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Acclaimed YWCA Spirit-Wise Sisters Part of Survivorship Study
YWCA Boston's African-American breast cancer survivor support group - the only of its kind in Massachusetts - recently completed it's participation in The African-American Women's Cancer Project.
The national project, organized in 2008 by the UMASS Amherst School of Nursing, was developed to examine breast cancer survivorship among African-American women. Dr. Margaret Barton-Burke is the principal investigator and recruited survivors from various support groups, health centers and hospitals to participate in this study.
The 12-week study captured candid information that women shared about their survivorship journey from diagnosis, to treatment, to reconstructive surgery, to healing. Women expressed raw emotion about what they experienced in their world as they were fighting breast cancer.
Nearing completion, the yet-to-published study showed that strong spirituality was a constant for all of the women and strong relationships with family and friends carried them through their illness.
To learn more about Spirit-Wise Sisters and how you can help the group, please contact the YWCA at womenshealth@ywcaboston.org or (617) 585-5472. |
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Historic YWCA Headquarters Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
This month, YWCA Boston's historic landmark headquarters will be awash in pink lights to raise awareness about breast cancer.
The building, located at 140 Clarendon Street next to the John Hancock Building , provides both affordable housing and an upscale boutique hotel for Boston residents and visitors.
Visit 140 Clarendon and think pink!
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Racism and Women's Health
in July 2007, The Boston Globe reported this about the connection between racism and women's health:
"More than 100 studies -- most published since 2000 - now document the effects of racial discrimination on physical health."
"Black women who pointed to racism as a source of stress in the lives developed more plaque in their cartoid arteries - an early sign of heart disease - than black women who didn't."
Learn more about the YWCA's anti-racism
programs and national Stand Against Racism Day coming to Boston April 30, 2010 by clicking on the image below: | |
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Breast Cancer Facts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
70% to 80% of women who get breast cancer do NOT have a family history of this disease.
White women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer than African-American women. But African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer.
There is hope: breast cancer mortality is going down for women of all races. This is in part due to increased screening and to medical advances in treatment options. |
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Follow these basic breast health tips to enjoy your good health
1) Excercise
Excercise has been proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Try to excercise aminimum of 40 to 60 minutes a week.
2) Breast Awareness
Starting in your 20s,
begin monthly self breast exams to become familiar with your breasts. Report any changes to to your doctor without delay.
3) Clinical Breast Exam
Have one conducted by your doctor or a nurse every three years if you are in your 20s and 30s, and every year by your doctor or nurse if you are 40 or older.
4) Mammogram
Start at age 40 and continue as long as you are in good health.
To learn more about breast cancer or other women's health issues, please contact
YWCA Boston
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Sister-to-Sister Breast Health Phonathon
To help insure that women are receiving the proper annual breast care, YWCA Boston is reconnecting with thousands of women that it has educated in the past through its first annual Sister-to-Sister phonathon. on October 26th. If you would like to part of this effort, please contact the YWCA by
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