A Bold Suggestion: Should Alcohol Carry a Cancer Warning? In the past few weeks, we’ve seen some interesting headlines about alcohol. At the beginning of the year, Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recommended that alcohol start carrying a warning to people that imbibing alcohol can increase their risk of developing cancer, in addition to current…
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That’s a wrap on another very busy October at VBCF. You may not be aware, but at VBCF “October” actually starts in August! In August, we usually see an increase in educational materials orders and presentation and resource table requests for September and October. This year, we had at least one educational event EVERY WEEK…
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The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF) is proud to recognize Dr. Nadia Blanchet as the recipient of the 2024 Sherry Kohlenberg Achievement in Healthcare Award. This award is presented annually to honor a Virginian employed in the healthcare field who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Dr.…
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On September 13th, VBCF hosted our second annual Breast Health Provider Summit. We had presentations from multiple experts, educating providers, organizational partners, and advocates on a variety of hot topics related to breast cancer care. The morning started with an icebreaker activity, where our audience got to know each other better and understand each other’s…
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Stay updated with the latest in breast cancer care: Discover the USPSTF’s new mammography guidelines, federal marijuana rescheduling, a CDC campaign for disabled women, and crucial studies on racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
Menopause has been getting some long overdue attention lately, focusing on evolving recommendations for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Why is VBCF talking about menopause? A few good reasons: the risk for breast cancer increases after menopause; the use of HRT has long been connected with increased risk of breast cancer; and many people in treatment…
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You may have seen the recent Washington Post article discussing how the death rate for breast cancer has dropped 58% since 1975. And that’s amazing! Back in 1975, mammograms were difficult to access and less accurate, surgery was intensely disfiguring and often involved the removal of chest muscle in addition to breast tissue, and chemotherapy…
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Explore the critical challenges of awareness, access, and cost that prevent many from utilizing life-saving breast cancer prevention drugs.
You may have seen recent headlines saying something like, “More than 900 widely used chemicals may increase breast cancer risk.” There’s a lot to unpack here, so we’re going to explain the study, what it means for you, and what steps you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Let’s start with the…
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This year, for the first time, VBCF hosted a Healthcare Provider Summit as a part of our More Than a Pink Ribbon luncheon event. We wanted to offer a space for providers to learn about some current topics affecting people with breast cancer and be able to interact with other providers who touch their patients…
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Explore the latest developments in Virginia’s cancer research, from cutting-edge ultrasound techniques to breakthroughs in preventing cancer spread. Learn about the increasing reach of NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the region and the challenges of crowdfunding medical care.
Explore how the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation is assisting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in their fight against breast cancer. Learn about the inadequacies of the traditional poverty line and how VBCF’s approach takes a more comprehensive look at the modern socio-economic landscape to better serve those in need.
VBCF was encouraged to hear that the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is proposing changing their recommendations for mammograms so that women of average risk of developing breast cancer get their mammograms starting at age 40 and continue every other year until 74. We’re going to break down exactly why this is a big…
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Discover the intriguing link between obesity, BRCA mutations, and breast cancer risk, and learn about the potential impact of new weight loss drugs on cancer prevention. Stay informed on the latest research and breakthroughs.
We understand the importance of staying informed about breast cancer research and policy, which is why we’ve curated some of the latest news from the first few months of 2023 to keep our readers up-to-date. Topics include a bill in Pennsylvania to cover BRCA testing and breast MRIs for high-risk women, the relationship between obesity…
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by: Elizabeth Sanderson, VCU MSW Intern Oftentimes, having a conversation with doctors in a medical setting where they are delivering information can be complicated. This can be due to the amount of information people are receiving, the emotional state of people who are receiving the news, and the medical language used by doctors. If patients…
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A mammogram (L) is an X-ray image of the breast that can identify tissue types with different densities, such as masses within the breast. Thermography (R) produces an infrared image that shows the patterns of heat on or near the surface of the body. Image source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration In discussions about mammography…
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Aaaaaand we’re back! VBCF staff and volunteers spent September and October traveling and presenting to groups across the Commonwealth, totaling 30 educational events…27 in October. We got to speak to thousands of Virginians about breast health, from Wythe County to Portsmouth, from Fairfax to Suffolk. We donned hard hats and judged pumpkin painting contests. We…
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We talk a lot about advocating for yourself as a patient here at VBCF, but what does that actually look like? Tara Daudani, the Vice President of our VBCF Board, talks about advocating for herself while going through her breast cancer treatment, what she looks for in a healthcare provider, and how she prepares to…
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At the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference earlier this year, a new breast cancer drug received a standing ovation after researchers announced the results of their trial. This drug is Enhertu, and it was recently approved by the FDA to treat people with a certain type of metastatic breast cancer. VBCF doesn’t tend to report on specific drugs for breast cancer treatment because treatment is so individualized – one treatment that works wonders for one person could be ineffective for another. The reason Enhertu warrants some discussion is that it essentially creates a new type of breast cancer that can be a new research focus: HER2-low.
The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to the eradication of breast cancer through education and advocacy.
Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation
2821 Emerywood Parkway
Suite 203
Richmond, VA 23294
800-345-8223 | 804-285-1200
When you make a donation to VBCF, you make a difference for Virginians affected by breast cancer.
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