Breast Cancer Survivorship Foundation

THANK YOU Oprah Winfrey for this awesome article in Oprah Daily LLC! Grateful to our friends at Novartis who helped make this happen.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, my thoughts are with Ananda Lewis and all who are impacted by this relentless disease. Like so many of us, I grew up watching Ananda as a VJ on MTV, admiring her vibrant personality, her courage, and her passion. Today, I am saddened to hear of her ongoing battle with breast cancer, intensified by her choice to forego conventional treatments early on. Ananda’s story (2 links below) reminds us how precious our time and health are, and how important it is to act with courage and caution, not fear. Mammograms involve low radiation levels—nothing compared to the radiation required in advanced cancer treatments. It's ironic that the very thing she feared is now what she must confront—only on a much greater scale. To anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or fearful, please know that there are options that can work together. You don’t have to choose between holistic care and medical intervention—they can and do coexist. My first thought was, “Why can’t you do BOTH: eliminate toxins AND take the tumor out?” ...but I can't judge her for doing what she thought was right at the time. #nojudgement Please, let’s prioritize our health fully: eat well, rest, take supplements, and seek professional medical advice. This disease can be aggressive, especially for Black women, but it also can be survivable. I applaud Ananda's courage for discussing this publicly and sharing her journey with the hope of educating and inspiring others. ?????????????? ???????????? ????????????????, ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????????????. For all those affected by breast cancer and those supporting loved ones through this journey, you are not alone. ?????? Here are a few organizations dedicated to supporting Black women with breast cancer through awareness, support, advocacy, and access to resources: Sisters Network Inc. The only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization, providing resources, support, and advocacy for Black women impacted by breast cancer. Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance Founded by breast cancer survivor Ricki Fairley, TOUCH aims to end Black breast cancer disparities by providing education, community, and advocacy for Black women. They organize retreats, publish Black women's stories, provide information about bone health and mobilize the Black community to participate in clinical trials research. #blackdatamatters Touch4Life Founded by Laura Crandon, Touch4Life's mission is to increase the breast health IQ of BIPOC and underserved communities and eliminate disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Laura’s two-time breast cancer journey including chemo, multiple surgeries, and radiation, inspired her to found Touch4Life, and I am personally so thankful for her guidance during my journey ???? #BreastCancerAwareness #CompassionAndCare #HealthAdvocacy #Survivorship #AnandaLewis #CommunitySupport https://bit.ly/4fnM7FU https://lnkd.in/eYqjzrDV

Your strength isn't measured by grand gestures, but by the small steps you take each day. Whether it's facing another treatment, managing side effects, or simply getting out of bed – you are brave. Remember, it's okay to have tough days. Your courage shines through in your persistence, in your willingness to face each new dawn. You are not alone in this journey. To every survivor, fighter, and supporter: Your quiet courage inspires us all. Keep going. #BreastCancerAwareness #QuietCourage #OneStepAtATime #breasties #breastcancer #startingpointpathways #strength #resilence #faithoverfear #sunday #philly #delaware

Did you know that across the US millions of women simply cannot afford their breast cancer screening and treatment? As we kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer is shining a light on the financial barriers that prevent too many women from accessing lifesaving screenings and potential treatments, if diagnosed. ? In partnership with?No Patient Left Behind, we've?released new data?via HarrisX - a Stagwell Inc. company and @AmyLevStrategies showing that 2 in 5 women of the recommended screening age (40-74 years old) have not had a screening in the past year, with cost cited as a primary factor. That is simply unacceptable. Breast cancer care must be accessible to all,?regardless of financial status. This month, we’re advocating for change to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to protect her health without financial fear, and calling on Congress to pass the bi-partisan Find It Early Act to level the playing field in breast care by removing steep out of pocket costs. Learn more here - and share with your friends and loved ones! https://lnkd.in/eetC2d7P Brem Rachel Amy Leveton Julia Lichtman Kepniss Juliana Cochnar Oyindamola Shoola #breastcancerawarenessmonth #womenshealth #accessbarriers

Breast cancer continues to be a concern in Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland, particularly among women of color. Compassionate, comprehensive breast cancer treatment underscores the UM Capital Region Health cancer care team's commitment to meeting the unique needs of patients and families. https://lnkd.in/e6yPGahC

A new immunotherapy approach could stop breast cancer from growing and spreading. Earlier this year, Professor Clare Isacke and her team at our research centre at the Institute of Cancer Research found that attacking cells that support breast cancer could be an effective strategy to combat the disease. The team showed that targeting a protein called endosialin using a specific type of immunotherapy disrupts the tumour's blood supply, which can hinder its growth and spread. The researchers hope to develop this treatment further so that it can be tested in clinical trials. This opens the door to new innovative therapies for people with breast cancer in the future. https://lnkd.in/epnP6rwT

? Women's Health Update ? A new national poll released today by Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer and No Patient Left Behind (NPLB), in partnership with HarrisX - a Stagwell Inc. company and AmyLeV Strategies, shows that 2 in 5 (39%) – or an estimated 28 million – of women of the recommended breast cancer screening age (40-74) have not had a mammogram or other screening over the past year. Among the women who have not been screened, 42% – or approximately 12 million – also say they have no plans to do so over the next year. Nearly half of women (48%) surveyed said that even if they were diagnosed with breast cancer, they would abandon therapeutic treatment if out-of-pocket costs exceeded $2,000. The Brem Foundation and NPLB poll also shows perceived costs being among the top barriers to more women getting screened. Among the 28 million women ages 40-74 who have not had a breast cancer screening over the past year, nearly 1 in 3 (31%) name potential cost factors – from concerns about the costs of screening to worries about treatment expenses if diagnosed – as reasons not to get screened. According to the survey, one in three (33%) of all adult U.S. women, including 41% of women ages 40-74, have been asked to return for additional testing after an initial abnormal mammogram or because of symptoms, such as a lump or pain. The out-of-pocket costs for additional diagnostic testing – such as an ultrasound or MRI – often range from about $250 to $1000, and can be more than $3,000, an amount that many women see as a reason not to seek screening in the first place. 44% of women in the U.S. said they would skip recommended diagnostic breast exams if the out-of-pocket costs were to exceed $1,000. Treatment costs are also a significant deterrent for women across the country. Nearly half (48%) of all adult women say that if they were diagnosed with breast cancer, they would be unlikely to pursue treatment if their out-of-pocket costs were to exceed $2,000. Among women whose annual household income is less than $75,000, 58% say they would be unlikely to seek treatment if it exceeded $2,000. “Unfortunately, just the possibility of having to pay thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for doctor-prescribed care, whether it’s for screening or treatment, deters many women from getting the care they need when they need it,” said Peter Rubin, Executive Director at NPLB. “At a time when so many live paycheck to paycheck, we must pass life-saving legislation that caps breast cancer patient costs – the lower, the better." #breastcancer #womenshealth #access Learn more here! https://lnkd.in/eetC2d7P Brem Rachel Amy Leveton Peter L. Rubin Julia Lichtman Kepniss

40-50% of women aged 40 and over have dense breasts, increasing breast cancer risk. On #WorldDenseBreastDay, learn about cancer detection. https://lnkd.in/eSgUVYfx