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National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund Honors BCA Advocate Linda Croucher at New York Gala
 The National Breast Cancer Coalition honored BCA advocate Linda Croucher (on right) at their Annual New York Gala on November 10, 2008. She received the NBCCF 2008 Wo(men) Who Get It Right Award, along with award-winning actress Brooke Shields and activist Jackie Hill of Omaha, Nebraska.
"For ten years, Linda Croucher has demonstrated through her personal life and her commitment to professional and volunteer work that she understands breast cancer advocacy," said Fran Visco, president of NBCCF. "She embodies the spirit of the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund: passionate, relentless, and mission-driven. The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund's mission is to eradicate breast cancer and we are confident that Linda, the fourth generation in her family to have this disease, will help make this goal a reality."
Linda serves as the NBCC Volunteer Lead Ohio Field Coordinator and as Team Leader for NBCC's Lobby Day. She has introduced many breast cancer survivors in the Cincinnati area to advocacy and guided them through their first experiences with lobbying in Washington, D.C. She has also served on the BCA Board of Directors.
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It's never too soon to start planning for the most important breast cancer advocacy conference of the year! The National Breast Cancer Coaltion Fund will hold its 2009 Annual Advocacy Training Conference May 2 - May 5, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
Each year, hundreds of breast cancer advocates come together to network with one another, hone advocacy skills and hear the latest news in breast cancer science, research and policy. For more information on the conference, or to look at last year's schedule and blog, CLICK HERE.
The Breast Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati has been sending advocates to the conference for the last 13 years. Why not join us this year? Members of the BCA are eligible for partial scholarships to cover registration and lodging. For scholarship guidelines and an application send a request to bcacincy@yahoo.com. |
December 10-14, 2008
Every December, thousands of physicians, researchers, and advocates descend on San Antonio,Texas to learn about the latest research on breast cancer and its treatment. Several BCA members have attended the conference and many have received scholarhips from the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information on the Symposium, CLICK HERE. For information on the Alamo Patient Advocate Scholarship program CLICK HERE. Look for news releases on the latest research findings during December or attend our January meeting to hear about the Symposium highlights. |
 Hot Topics What are Breast Cancer Advocates Talking About This Month?
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer
A study of over 35,000 women showed no reduction in breast cancer risk from taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. However, some advocates believe the dose of Vitamin D used in the study was not high enough to show results. CLICK HERE to read the research abstract.
Group Therapy and Breast Cancer Recurrence/Survival
Researchers at Ohio State University divided 227 breast cancer patients into two groups, one who received group therapy and one that did not. The group sessions aimed to reduce the women's distress, train them how to relax, and improve coping skills and diet and exercise habits. After 11 years, the group who participated in the group sessions were 56 percent less likely to die of breast cancer and 46 percent less likely to have the cancer return. The investigators suggest that the better survival may stem from improved immune functioning as a result of lowered stress. Advocates wonder if the improvement stems from the psychological component or improvements in diet and exercise. To read a press release on the study from Ohio State CLICK HERE.
Overweight Women at Increased Risk for Advanced Breast Cancer
Overweight and obese women are at an increased risk of breast cancer, and of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, according to a large study to be published this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Over 250,000 postmenopausal women were followed for nine years. The rate of breast cancer and advanced cancer rose in tandem with weight. Differences in mammography use or accuracy did not explain the increased rates. Researchers believe that overweight women have higher rates of circulating estrogen and that estrogen may be fueling tumor growth. The full report will be published in the Dec. 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. To read a news article about the study CLICK HERE. |
BreastCancerTrials.org
Two breast cancer patients turned advocates envisioned an easy-to-use website that would help breast cancer patients find trials that could be right for them. Their vision became a reality recently with the launch of BreastCancerTrials.org. You can enter information about your situation, and a search will find any applicable trials related to breast cancer, including prevention, treatment, management of metastatic disease, and survivorship. CLICK HERE to visit the website. |
Are you on Facebook?
Link to us and help us grow a southern Ohio coalition to eradicate breast cancer in our state! Become a fan of the Breast Cancer Alliance!
LauraNikolaides/BCA Facebook Page |
| Dancing in Limbo
by Kathy Latour
CureToday.com
"Women living with metastatic breast cancer face their own challenges-many within the breast cancer community itself. Only now are these women beginning to be recognized at pink ribbon events, and few organizations include their issues in discussion or programming.
But today, a combination of factors find women with stage 4 disease living longer- for some, a lot longer-with a better quality of life and more options for treatment that will extend their lives even further. They are active, and many are becoming vocal about the need for the cancer community to include their unique medical and emotional issues in the breast cancer dialogue."
Kathy Latour interviewed three women living with metastatic breast cancer. To read the complete article CLICK HERE. |
 Have You Joined the Movement to Go Beyond a Cure Yet? The Army of Women Movement is just over one-fourth of the way to their goal of recruiting one million women to partner with breast cancer researchers to find the causes of breast cancer. The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation are recruiting women of all ages, whether they have had breast cancer or not, to participate in studies aimed at understanding the causes of breast cancer and how to prevent it. Once you join, you will receive emails about new studies you may qualify for, and you can choose whether to participate. For more information or to join the Army of Women Click Here. |
| Please Join Us - January BCA Meeting
Join us at the monthly BCA Education and Advocacy meeting. Next meeting is Thursday, January 15 at 6:45 at the Wellness Community in Blue Ash. We will talk about latest research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and plans for state advocacy in 2009. For more information or directions contact Laura Nikolaides at bcacincy@yahoo.com. |
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"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." - Hubert Humphrey | |
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The Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) of Greater Cincinnati is committed to making breast cancer issues a top priority in the public and private sectors through advocacy, education, and communication. The BCA is a member of the National Breast Cancer Coaltion. | |
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