If you haven’t heard by now, March is Women’s History Month! VBCF wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for five local women frustrated by the lack of support available for women with breast cancer – founders Phoebe Antrim, Judi Ellis, Patti Goodall, Sherry Kohlenberg, and Mary Jo Kahn. In this blog, we’ll honor Women’s History…
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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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We are pleased to announce that funds are now available to provide breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Southwest Virginia. VBCF has committed $190,000 for 2023 with partners in Abingdon (Ballad Health), Lynchburg (Centra Health), Roanoke/NRV, and Southside (Carilion Clinic). Thanks to the generosity of our donors, VBCF’s Screening…
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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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“In Unity there is Strength, In Strength there is Power, In Power there is Change.” – Karen E. Jackson, 1995. Founder & CEO of the Sisters Network, Inc. Reflecting on Black History Month this year, we can’t ignore the disparities in breast cancer outcomes facing the Black community. Despite these challenges, there is much hope.…
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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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Breast cancer is a tough battle, and recovery after surgery can be challenging. But we can make a difference in the lives of those going through treatment by providing them with a simple yet practical gift: heart-shaped pillows. These pillows are designed to fit comfortably under the arm and provide several benefits to someone coping…
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Officials pictured: State Senator Frank Ruff; Delegate Ellen Campbell, wife of late Del. Ronnie Campbell; Delegate Shelly Simonds; Mrs. Collette McEachin, Richmond City Commonwealth Attorney, and wife of late Congressman McEachin. VBCF was invited to speak at the Virginia Cancer Caucus on January 20th. The meeting honored the late Congressman A. Donald McEachin and the…
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After 12 years of hard work by volunteer advocates and their partners, the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) was finally passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. This is a significant victory for the lymphedema community and a testament to the power of perseverance and advocacy. Lymphedema is a condition that can develop…
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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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During the month of October, we had our inaugural Sole Stars campaign in Lynchburg. We had 14 community leaders don pink shoes and raise funds to support VBCF. The campaign started with a modest goal of $16,000. These Sole Stars are actually ROCK STARS and raised an astounding $63,847.31! A big thank you to each…
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Saturday, October 22, was an absolutely beautiful day in Abingdon, Virginia! We had 40+ in-person participants join us on the Virginia Creeper Trail to walk, bike, and run 13.1 Miles as part of the 2nd Annual Pink 13.1! We had another 15 participants join us virtually from Christiansburg, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, and Richmond. The Second Annual…
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The Power of Pink Luncheon took place on Monday, October 3 in Roanoke. The Second Annual Luncheon was a huge success -raising funds and awareness for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. It was sponsored by Blue Ridge Cancer Care, Kroger, Berglund Cars, Branch Group, Fink’s Jewelers and Boxley. We are so appreciative of all our sponsors. …
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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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On Friday, September 30th, VBCF kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a celebration of accomplishments in breast cancer education and advocacy in Virginia at our 3rd Annual More than a Pink Ribbon Awards luncheon held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond.
Guest Blog by Drew DeMaree, Owner, The Freedom Companies
As I write this blog post all I can think about are unicorns! In fact I believe that unicorns are everywhere. They are ordinary people like you and me walking around doing extraordinarily hard things. So if you are a cancer survivor, a cancer patient currently, or have someone in your world that was a warrior, and you strive to keep their legacy alive, then you belong in a field of unicorns. I am truly humbled to be in your presence.
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.
VBCF’s Education Manager, Erin Steigleder, chats with two oral health professionals about the importance of looking after your oral health before, during, and after breast cancer treatment. Dr. Sarah Glass is an oral and maxillofacial pathologist and an assistant professor at the VCU School of Dentistry. Dr. Nazy Zahedi is a hospital dentist with VCU.
VBCF is grateful to our inspiring advocates who helped make a significant impact during the 2022 National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) annual breast cancer Lobby Day on May 3, 2022.
Last week, the website “Eat This, Not That” shared an article on breast cancer that VBCF finds misleading and, frankly, insulting to women. Their article “8 Bad Habits Leading to Breast Cancer” sets a disappointing tone from the beginning. This title suggests that women are to blame for their breast cancer diagnosis, that their illness is their fault, and that their fate could have been avoided if they had “followed the rules.”
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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