Erin Steigleder, MSW - Director of Programs | Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation

New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Are Causing Confusion. Here’s What to Know

Should you start mammograms at 40 or 50? Here’s what the latest screening guidelines mean and how to make the best decision for your health.

Is Thermography a Reliable Alternative to Mammograms? What the Research Says (2026 Update)

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 Updated Findings on Thermography…
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How to Negotiate Medical Bills After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The cost of medical care for cancer, or even testing for cancer, can be overwhelming. At VBCF we understand this, so we have advocated for things like Medicaid expansion, lower out-of-pocket costs for medications, keeping medical bills off of credit reports, and most recently no out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic imaging. Even with new laws and…
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Extending Dry January? Here’s the Latest on Alcohol and Cancer

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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“October” Starts in August: VBCF’s Busy Breast Cancer Awareness Season

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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Dr. Nadia Blanchet Honored for Outstanding Service to Breast Cancer Patients

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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Uniting Experts in Breast Cancer Care and Collaboration

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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Breast Cancer News Round-Up – Spring 2024

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.

Beyond the Fear: New Insights into HRT and Breast Cancer Risk

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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VBCF’s Take on the Drop in Breast Cancer Mortality

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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Hidden Options: Breast Cancer Prevention Drugs

Explore the critical challenges of awareness, access, and cost that prevent many from utilizing life-saving breast cancer prevention drugs.

Chemical Exposure & Breast Cancer

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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Innovative Collaboration: VBCF Hosts Healthcare Provider Summit

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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Quarterly News Roundup: Unveiling New Research and the Realities of Crowdfunding in Cancer Care

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.

Beyond the Poverty Line: How VBCF Helps ALICE Families

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.

An Important Step Forward: Applauding the Revised Mammogram Recommendations

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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Obesity & BRCA: Unraveling Breast Cancer’s Secrets

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.

Stay Up-to-Date with Breast Cancer News: Latest Developments in 2023

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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Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Doctor-Patient Communication for Better Outcomes

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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VBCF Hit the Road this Fall

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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Author: Erin Steigleder, MSW - Director of Programs