Friday, July 10, 2009

Research & News Update

Hormone Receptor Negative Breast Cancer Survivors Have Higher Risk of Second Primay Breast Cancers

Link


1 in 3 Breast Cancer Patients Are Overtreated

Link

Abstract

Urban vs Rural Reductions in BC Incidence - HRT Use Linked?

Link

Monday, June 29, 2009

Oral PARP Inhibitor Shows Anti-Tumor Results

In an early, Phase 1 trial at Royal Marsden Hospital in London and Netherlands Cancer Institute, an oral PARP inhibitor drug (part of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs being developed) showed anti-tumor activity against BRCA1 and BRCA2 related breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. It also showed acceptable side effects and low toxicity.

Read the article in NEJM - its a freebie! Link

Health Industry Spends $1.4 Million A Day On Lobbying

Yes, you read that correctly. The health industry (insurance, pharmaceutical, medical equipment, health care providers and all sorts of companies in the health industry) are now spending in excess of $1.4 million a day lobbying your elected representatives. Full report here

Sometimes members of our grassroots newtwork get a little discouraged when they meet with and call their members of Congress about issues important to eradicating breast cancer. I always explain to them that as soon as they've left the member's office or hung up the phone, their congressperson is being visited by lobbyists promoting policies that run counter to patients' needs.

You just have to keep going back and calling again and again to remind legislators to do what's right for the people they serve.

Friday, June 26, 2009

African American Women Needed for GAP Study

Received an email this morning from Susan Love/Avon Army of Women sending the message that the GAP study needs to recruit more African American breast cancer patients.

More information at this link:


What's the study about?


This is a research study designed to better understand the differences in breast cancer treatment experiences between African American women and Caucasian women. Four hundred African American women are needed for this study.

What's involved?

If you join the Gap Study you will be asked to complete a 30-40 minute telephone survey about your health related experiences and to allow your medical records to be reviewed by the doctor conducting this study.

Who is conducting the study?

Vanessa Sheppard, PhD, MA Assistant Professor of Oncology at Georgetown University in Washington, DC

Where?

Anywhere in the United States

Who can participate?

You can join the Gap Study if you match ALL of these main categories:

•You consider yourself to be Black/African American

•You are newly diagnosed with breast cancer (within 20 weeks of your diagnosis)

•Your breast cancer is stage I, II, or III

•This is the first time you have been diagnosed with breast cancer (this is not a recurrence)


•You live in the United States

The researcher may ask you additional questions to determine if this study is the right fit for you.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Legislative Alert

Ohio's Governor & Legislators plan to cut the budget for Ohio's Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

This critical health program provides free screening for breast & cervical cancer and Medicaid coverage if diagnosed for uninsured Ohio women. BCCP Screening is already struggling with severely limited funds to meet the needs of the growing number of uninsured women.

We need your help to protect funding for this critical program!

Call your state legislators today with the following message:

"Help save Ohio women's lives by restoring full funding for Ohio's Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Ohio women are counting on you!"

Click the links below to find your representative's name and contact information.

Contact information for your Ohio Senator


Contact information for your Ohio State Representative

Call Governor Strickland - (614) 644-4357

Urgent! Please call today or tomorrow!

If they are unavailable, leave a message and call them later.

Please help us keep funding for Ohio's BCCP Screening Program!

Senate HELP Committee Working on HC

The Senate HELP Committee is working on their version of a health care reform bill this week as they prepare to pass it out of committee. It continues tomorrow, so make sure to tun in and watch.

Follow this important work at the following link:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=287096-2&clipStart=3620&clipStop=4400&showVid=true

For a helpful guide to comparing the various health plans proposed by President Obama, the Senate committees and the House, go to the link below. Click on "Side by Side Comparisons".


http://healthreform.kff.org/

Side by Side Comparison of Health Care Plans

Kaiser Family Foundation has published a handy, detailed yet easy to understand tool for comparing the health care reform plans currently proposed by the White House, Senate committees and the House.

Follow this link an compare the plans to see how they stack up.

Tell us what you think!