Week of Celebration

As we all say goodbye to July and the summer is official more than 1/2 over ...it seems like the mode of anticipation is winding down and the dread of oncoming winter has begun. At least for me a native Virginian it has!!

This week came with some big surprises - 1st my doula (birth coach) who helped deliver my son, helped deliver a baby on the freeway this week! Welcome Cynthia Freeway and congratulations for the successful delivery Wendy! 2nd one of my dear friends who has been supporting her mother through a breast cancer experience announced her mother's surgery and scans produced FREE and CLEAR results! So congratulations to Tricia and her family.

This serves as a great reminder that life comes with many ups and downs - moments of fear and concern - but then moments of celebration arise and carry us forward. Please celebrate this week in honor of friends Wendy and Tricia and those that they care for.

Check out these important pages:

Susan G Komen Research in Milwaukee: http://www.wisn.com/health/20149341/detail.html

My Susan G Komen Race for the Cure site:

http://milwaukee.info-komen.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1210&px=3036963

Grab a glass of wine - cheers to survivorship!

Tara

Komen Milwaukee in the Community

Komen supporters- we knew you’d want to know about the important work Komen has been doing in creating a community profile of breast health needs. Check out the attached press release and this week’s story on WISN -TV (video on top right of screen in link).

http://www.wisn.com/health/20149341/detail.html

We’ll be pursuing more media in the coming weeks. Please help spread the word about the importance of mammograms and early detection.

To see the Community Profile:
http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/grants/funding-priorities/

Meet Raejean Kanter, the 2009 Milwaukee Race for the Cure Honorary Race Chair!

Raejean Kanter is a 25-year breast cancer survivor and a sign of hope for the future, here is her story.

Raejean was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 1983 at the age of 37. At that point in her life she was a mother of two pre-teen children (her daughter was 10 and her son was 13), was married, had her own educational consulting firm, was writing a book, and was working towards achieving a Master’s degree. To make matters worse, she was also dealing with the fact that her father had pancreatic cancer and eventually passed. She found a lump in her breast during a self-exam and went to the doctor right away. The surgeon told her that it was probably nothing, but they did a mammogram anyways due to the baseline history in the family. She was diagnosed with breast cancer right before Thanksgiving and the holidays. On December 2nd, 1983 she had surgery to remove the lump (fortunately she found out it was surrounded by healthy tissue) on December 2nd, 1983. She had a complete mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Raejean indicated that the recovery process was not too difficult for her. She is finally on a normal woman’s schedule for getting mammograms.

During the next three years of her life, three other people in the family were diagnosed with different forms of cancer. She was a source of comfort and strength for her family members since she had been through the fight and survived. An uncle, a cousin, and an aunt all passed away from the disease. Raejean’s battle with cancer (not her own cancer) continued. She lost her husband five years ago to bladder cancer and her mother has had ovarian cancer for over 7 years. She has not let the cancer in her life bring her down. Instead, she has done everything in her power to overcome it. She completed her Master’s degree, traveled all over the world, she looks at each day as a gift, and does what she feels she has been called to do. This is why she was thrilled to be our Honorary Chair this year. She was called to do this role to create a sense of hope for others battling breast cancer.

As you can see, being a breast cancer survivor has made Raejean a fighter. However, it has caused some negative emotions throughout her life as well. Whenever she gets sick or has any type of symptoms, in her mind, the first thought is always cancer. She must re-address the cancer in some way every week, and she will always be known as a survivor. Raejean shared a story about her experience having gall bladder surgery after her experience with breast cancer. She went through the surgery and was up and walking around the same day. Her doctor was worried about her being out and about so soon, but she had the “I’m a survivor” attitude and if she could get through breast cancer, then gall bladder surgery was certainly not going to hold her back.

Raejean has many sources of inspiration in her life as well. She has a granddaughter that is 5-years old. Her granddaughter does not know of her battles with breast cancer. Raejean’s mother certainly worries about her more so now as she is her only child. Raejean’s daughter is 37 years old (the same age as Raejean was when she was diagnosed), and will be turning 38 on September 27th, 2009 the same day as this years’ Race for the Cure! What an amazing coincidence that is, and a true sign of hope for the future. Raejean told about one of her friends that is an X-ray technician who told her “it’ll be fine” when she was tested for cancer. To this day her friend still apologizes for having that attitude about the situation, even though there was no way for her to know the outcome. Raejean also has 30 cousins that she is very close to. They meet at least 4 times a year. She seems to be a pillar of strength to these cousins and they go to her for support. She also has many women in her church that worry about her and pray for her on a regular basis. When someone is battling breast cancer, it is important to also recognize those that are co-surviving as well.

Raejean offers some advice and words of encouragement for others that are battling breast cancer. She said, “No one goes through the same thing” and “don’t give up.” She said that you will need to take each day and listen and feel what you need to do that day. Also, make sure to take days to rest and days to celebrate all the goodness, beauty, love and care. She was able to turn to people in her church for support from other survivors as well. She said that whatever your higher power may be, that an experience like this will surely bring you closer. She also advises to seek out positive things, and do not be afraid to use resources, no matter how strong you feel that you are.

As Honorary Chair for this years’ Race, Raejean wants to show others that cancer is not necessarily a death diagnosis and that there can be a tremendous life after cancer. She feels strongly that her life is better now than it was before. Her experience strengthened her faith in God and she wants to share with others that you should not be afraid to draw strength from your higher being. The picture that Raejean provided is one of her and her granddaughter blowing a “wish” from a dandelion flower. The message that Raejean wants as Honorary Chair is “Be involved in Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure, because you need to do more than just wish.”

As a major part of the Milwaukee corporate community, Raejean feels that corporate sponsorships have really helped to elevate breast cancer awareness and participation in the Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure. She asks, “Where have you seen more pink? Pink lids on your yogurt, pink impatiens at the flower shop, and so on. Corporate sponsorships allow the engine to run.” On Race day it is so wonderful to see all of the sponsors that are present and all the support they’re continuing to give Komen. help it to continue.

A few additional facts that Raejean wanted to share; Raejean is good friends with local TV personality, Melodie Wilson who is battling breast cancer again. Her mother’s cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 18 and she lived to be 70 years old. Finally, even Mrs. Santa Claus can get cancer; Raejean plays “Mrs. Claus” at Mayfair Mall during the Christmas season!

Raejean has been a part of Komen Milwaukee for years and never dreamed of such an honor as has been given to her this year. She looks forward to seeing all of the pink shirts that the survivors wear on Race day as it shows an incredible movement of strength and solidarity. We look forward to having Raejean as our Honorary Race Chair this year and would like to say a big “Thank you, Raejean!”

~Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure”

http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/meet-rajean.html

Race for the Cure - A Survivor's Experience

I remember my first year ('07) walking in Susan G Komen Milwaukee Race for this cure. I had walked in several Susan G Komen Races in my hometown area of Washington, DC ....but this year was different.

How so? New city, new husband, new baby....and this year I was wearing a pink shirt, not white. In prepping for the race my hubby and I did all the things lots of other families were doing that day. Packed lunches, a diaper bag, loaded up our vehicle with the stroller and baby.

But a few things in our situation were different...For one, there was the pink shirt for SURVIVORs. I looked at it repeatedly, pondering should I wear it? Yes? Or No? Was I really a survivor yet??? A dear friend convinced me, stating that "of course I should wear it". Then there was the bald head...I slid my pink baseball cap on ..that takes care of that. And most significantly ...the fact that three weeks prior I had undergone major life changing surgery and was still in the delicate process of healing. An astounding and mind boggling situation for a 29 year old, otherwise healthy woman who had recently birthed her first child.

All of these changes combined to create a level of anxiety on race day as I made my big public debut as a survivor. Upon arriving at the race I was met by my race team. 29 supportive faces filled with love, hope and inspiration. Yes! I should be there wearing that pink shirt and I could make it the entire race track. Many more bright and shining faces of strangers cheered me on as I walked - filling me with energy and hope!

So this year as race day nears ... I no longer feel anxious, but proud and full of hope; glad to be here and celebrate one more year.

Cheers to survivorship!

Tara

Breast Cancer Screening is Good for Women, Business

Prevention and early detection are the keys to fighting breast cancer.

Yet many women are putting off mammograms and treatment due to economic hardships and changing healthcare plans, according to a community profile commissioned by Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Milwaukee affiliate.

“Breast health in these economic times kind of falls by the wayside,” said Jessica Bergstrom, associate researcher for the Center of Urban Population Health, a partnership of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Aurora Health Care and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

This should be a significant concern for businesses.

The price can be high as employees lose substantial time, sometimes months while they are undergoing treatment for breast cancer that was not caught in its early stages. Any business is adversely affected by employee absences, but this is also a matter of saving lives.

It is also more cost-effective to catch breast cancer early, when lower levels of treatment are needed. That’s why screening is so important.

The community profile, underwritten by Aurora Health Care and which covered the Milwaukee Komen affiliate’s eight-county area of Southeastern Wisconsin, showed that:

Under-insured women – those with high deductibles, high co-pays, minimal health insurance coverage that is often just for catastrophic emergencies and age restrictions imposed by insurance companies– often skip screening because of the cost, cannot afford time off work or fear being fired for taking additional time off of work.
There is a need for more free mammograms and financial support for screening and elimination of access to treatment barriers
Uninsured and under-insured women require preventative care that is often not available to them because of the financial and work-related factors.
More focus on preventative care is needed.

With an average cancer treatment costing more than $200,000, the stakes are high for both women and businesses in Southeast Wisconsin, as more than 1,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the end of 2009. Of those, more than 260 will die. Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine counties have both the highest incidence and highest mortality rates.

It is important for mammograms to be readily available to all women regardless of their insurance status. The barriers to early detection simply must fall, and businesses can play a role by encouraging employees to get screened and requiring health insurers to provide screening coverage and preventative care.

Based on the findings of the community profile, Komen for the Cure Milwaukee Affiliate recommends:

Lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by having a early mammograms starting at age 40 if you are average risk and yearly clinical breast exams starting at age 20.
Early diagnosis. As screening increases, it is crucial that women have access to diagnostic tests following an abnormal breast cancer screening to ensure early diagnosis and high quality care
Continuum of care throughout treatment. Treatment plans vary for each woman, depending on a number of factors. It is important that women receive proper support throughout her treatment to address all of her needs.

Screening and treatment of breast cancer can save lives. But it can also save businesses lost employee time and possibly the cost of increasing health insurance premiums, especially for smaller businesses.

Mammograms and treatment need to be readily available to all women. It’s good for employees. And it’s good for business.

Sally Sheperdson
Executive Director
Komen Milwaukee Affiliate
www.komenmilwaukee.org

More Information on PARP Inhibitors

Hello Milwaukee,

In follow-up to last week's post here is a link containing more information on PARP Inhibitors:

http://ww5.komen.org/contentsimpleleft.aspx?id=16413&ecid=emkljuly09:4

This video provides a great explanation of the different types of breast cancer, the associated treatment options and the challenges in each case - such as resistance mechanisms, arrgh! Another topic covered is on PARP Inhibitors, which are drugs designed to provide new treatment options for cancer patients The trials underway may prove to be especially significant to those with Triple Negative breast cancers, providing an expansion of the treatment program which formerly consisted of only surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Listen and learn, this is great information.

Have a safe and happy fourth of July.

Cheers to survivorship,

Tara