Letter from our Executive Director!

Komen Milwaukee Affiliate MUST stay on top: We need your continued support!

As the Executive Director of the Komen Milwaukee Affiliate, I am all too aware of a growing health crisis. I am reminded of it almost daily, when I learn about yet another woman who has lost or never had access to screening, early detection, treatment and/or support services for breast cancer because she is unemployed, uninsured, underinsured or an immigrant who is afraid to speak up and request the health care she needs.

The unfortunate realities of health care disparities for the underserved did not begin with the current economic downturn. Komen has been working tirelessly to tackle these inequalities for many years. So, while we are absolutely mindful of the tough times ahead, we know that this is when the people and grassroots organizations we serve count on us the most.

We will continue to do everything in our power to raise the funds necessary to save lives because we know when have to in order to meet the needs of those who we are charged to serve.

We hope that we can count on each and everyone of you to support us in this effort.

Sally Sheperdson
Executive Director
Komen Milwaukee Affiliate
www.komenmilwaukee.org
414.805.2900

Volunteer for the 2009 Race

Volunteer registration is now available for this year's Race. Follow the link for the current Race for the Cure volunteer opportunities: http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/volunteer/.

Updates will be made as more become available. Thank you for joining us in the Race for the Cure!!!

Sofia's Story

This is the story of Sofia Rygiewicz's experience with breast cancer survivorship!

My story begins shortly after my 40th birthday March 2009. I scheduled my mammogram and was preparing to have it done and just cross it off my list of things to do. I wasn't worried, even though my mother had breast cancer five years ago. The doctor's said since she was 63 when she was diagnosed, I really didn't have to worry. Right.

I knew the moment they called to have me come back for another mammogram that something was not right. But again I was told not to worry, but since I'm a RN I knew better. After the second mammogram, they wanted to biopsy the calcified area. I was told 80% of the time, it's nothing...it's a good thing I don't gamble.

I will never forget the day I got the call. I was home alone and after the words "it's cancer" I heard nothing else except the word "invasive" none of these words were promising to me. I cried and continued crying because I didn't know how I was going to tell my husband, my children and especially my mother. My role changed immediately. I was not the nurse this time, I now became the patient. This was something I was not used to.

I underwent genetic testing and I was blessed with the information that I do not carry the breast cancer gene. I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive cancer and I had a lumpectomy in April. My lymph nodes were negative so I did not need chemotherapy, only radiation 33 treatments which I finished July 21, 2009. I am now on the five year tomoxifin plan.

This experience was truly an eye opener, I found out how blessed I am with such wonderful supportive family,friends, and co-workers. The expression "you really find out who your friends are " during a crisis holds true. My son who is 12 and his friends wore pink bracelets to school everyday. My daughter who is 10 and her friends made me a huge pink get well banner. My children learned it was ok to talk about "cancer" and that it's not always a death sentence. My husband used humor to get through it...he kept me smiling and laughing even when I wanted to cry.

I highly encourage ALL women to get their mammograms and not wait. After my experience three friends went in to get theirs done after putting it off. I would also like to see insurance companys cover mammograms for women before the age of 40. Even with my family history, my insurance company would not cover any mammograms until I turned 40. That needs to change. We need to make it change!

Sofia recently told me that her mother was diagnosed with another form of cancer. Let's be sure to keep Sofia and her family in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing your story Sofia!

The Power of 10!

We are getting closer and closer to the 2009 Milwaukee Race for the Cure and it is so important, especially in these tough economic times, to remember that every little bit helps! As you reach out to your friends and family for support in your fundraising remind them of this. This is a great way to do this:

Just think, if I have 10 people donate $10 each to my fundraising goal, that equals $100 and can pay for one under-insured or un-insured woman's mammogram on our community! Every little bit helps, now more than ever before! The POWER OF 10!

For more information on registering for this years' Race and fundraising please visit:

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

Keep the care in healthcare

Happy Thursday!

This past week a long time friend of mine passed along a link to a petition hosted on the Lifetime TV network's site. This petition is in support of the Bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act - basically protecting women's rights and ensuring mastectomy surgeries do not become labeled as outpatient procedures. The thought that a mastectomy could be an 'in and out' type of procedure is astounding and horrifying. It begs the following question, "what does this mean for reconstruction procedures?" Would they too become in and out surgeries?

The average breast cancer patient undergoes multiple procedures, none of which are pain free, often involving loss of movement and feeling, swelling and blood loss. Monitoring and post op physically therapy support is key. And these are just the physical side effects - what about the emotional?

I recall how disoriented I was both physically and emotionally following my lumpectomy. The physical therapist visited with me for 5 minutes to walk through the post op exercises I needed to complete. Later when I was at home, I could not raise my arm to even shoulder level. With tears trailing down my face I earnestly tried to make sense of the exercise diagrams provided by the therapist. After several tries I gave up and was immensely relieved when my vascular surgeon enrolled me in a hands-on physical therapy program.

The surgeries and treatments women (and men) undergo for breast cancer are difficult, painful and cut you to your core - physically and emotionally. During this difficult period of time, patients need quality care in order to sustain their strength and dignity. My vote is to keep the 'care' in health care!

Here is the link: http://www.mylifetime.com/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

Please take a look and consider signing the petition.

Cheers to survivorship!

Tara Jensen