campaigns : Campaign Archive

November 2005 Y-ME Illinois e-News

Be sure to watch for the latest issue of Y-ME Illinois e-News in your inbox the first weekday of each month!

In This Edition:

Rebuilding Your Dreams: Intimacy and Fertility After Breast Cancer
Shop at Whole Foods on November 15th to Support Y-ME Illinois
SAVE THE DATE: 2006 Annual Advocacy Training Conference
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Starts Soon
Opportunities to Participate in Research
Y-ME ShareRing Network
Calendar of Events
Science & Research News

Rebuilding Your Dreams: Intimacy and Fertility After Breast Cancer

Y-ME Illinois is thrilled to partner with the Young Survival Coalition and Gilda's Club Chicago to present a program especially for young cancer survivors and their partners - Rebuilding Your Dreams: Intimacy and Fertility After Breast Cancer. An opportunity to network with other young women facing breast cancer, this program will address the unique challenges that a breast cancer diagnosis can bring when dealing with everyday issues such as intimacy, infertility, being single or just starting a family.

Panel Presentation of Local Experts:

Moderator, Dr. Wendy Charness, Clinical Psychologist
Laura Grimes, LCSW, Sex Therapist
Dr. Megan Mills, Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Mary Wood-Molo, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Followed by professional/survivor co-facilitated discussion groups

Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 9:30 a.m-12:30 p.m.
Rebuilding Your Dreams: Intimacy and Fertility After Breast Cancer
Gilda's Club Chicago, 537 N. Wells

This program is free and open to the public.

Continental breakfast will be served. All young cancer survivors and their partners are welcome to attend. Please RSVP in advance to Kathleen at 312.464.9900. Discounted parking ($6) is available at Valet Parking Services, 224 W. Ohio and 212 W. Illinois.

Shop at Whole Foods on November 15th to Support Y-ME Illinois

Tuesday, November 15th is Whole Foods Market's Community Support Day. Please shop at Whole Foods on Nov. 15th as 5% of all sales on this day from the 5 participating stores will be donated to Y-ME Illinois. No coupon needed. The more people who shop, the more money donated to Y-ME Illinois. Why not buy your Thanksgiving supplies that day? Why not stock up on canned goods and frozen goods? Why not splurge on those gourmet treats you always want? You can feel good knowing 5% will be donated to the breast cancer cause.

Participating stores include all 3 Chicago locations, Deerfield & Evanston:

3300 N. Ashland, Chicago

50 W. Huron, Chicago

1000 W. North, Chicago

760 Waukegan Road, Deerfield

1640 Chicago Avenue, Evanston

Please let your friends & family know about this great opportunity to buy yummy, healthy foods, and support the breast cancer cause. Shop Whole Foods on Tuesday, November 15th.

Thank you to Whole Foods for partnering with Y-ME Illinois for the Community Support Day!

SAVE THE DATE: 2006 Annual Advocacy Training Conference

Did you know that laws and decisions affecting breast cancer are voted on almost every month? Here's your chance to meet with the elected officials who are making these decisions. Join Y-ME Illinois for the 2006 National Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Advocacy Training Conference in Washington, DC - April 29th - May 2nd.

This amazing event allows activists from all over the country to come together to learn, challenge, ask the tough questions, and have a great time! Last year over 50 IlliNOISY Delegates traveled to our nation's capitol to learn about the issues and meet with our Illinois Members of Congress. There will be scholarships available to help you attend this amazing weekend of advocacy.

Join the IlliNOISY Advocacy Network today to stay informed about the issues!

For more information about how you can join the IlliNOISY Delegation in 2006, contact Alicia at 312-364-9071 or ahuguelet@y-me.org. Hope to see you in DC!

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Starts Soon

Prescription drug coverage will soon be available for ALL people on Medicare. Sign up starts November 15th.

What does the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage do for me?

It provides you with insurance coverage for prescription drugs.
It pays for both brand name and generic drugs.
It offers a choice of plans.

How do I sign up?

In October 2005, you should have received information from plans in your area. This information will help you:

Check if your prescription drugs are covered in the new plans.
Find out which pharmacies the drug plans in your area use to make sure they are convenient.
Determine if the monthly fees work for you.

How do I choose a plan?

Sign up starts on November 15, 2005.
Sign up by December 31, 2005 to get coverage beginning January 1, 2006.
May 15, 2006 is the last day to sign up for coverage in 2006.

Please Note: If you sign up AFTER December 31, 2005, your coverage will start the month after you sign up. Remember you must join a plan if you want to get this coverage.

For more information visit www.medicare.gov or call toll free 1-800-633-4227.

Opportunities to Participate in Research*

*Y-ME Illinois does not endorse the organizations or studies below.

Adjuvant Breast Cancer Therapy for Premenopausal Women

Phase III Randomized Study of Ovarian Function Suppression in Combination With Tamoxifen Versus Ovarian Function Suppression in Combination With Exemestane Versus Tamoxifen Alone in Premenopausal Women With Endocrine-Responsive Breast Cancer

Learn more about this trial online.

Medical Data Concepts Interviews

Medical Data Concepts, an independent marketing research firm, is looking for breast cancer patients who have had either chemotherapy or hormonal therapy after surgery to participate in a personal interview in Chicago. The interviews will be held Nov. 9th-11th on Michigan Ave. The interview should last around 45 minutes and you would receive $125 for your participation. You will not be asked to take an medication or use any devices. Your opinions and responses will be treated confidentially and will be reported only in aggregate with all participants.

If you would like to be involved in this project, please call 800-868-4206 and ask for reference #BC 100.

Accurate Data Marketing Interviews

Accurate Data Marketing, Inc., located in Glenview, is searching for 35-60 year old cancer patients who have been undergoing chemotherapy some time in the past 6 months and experiencing nausea or patients expecting to receive chemotherapy for their cancer treatment in the next 3 months, to participate in a 45 minute interview at our Glenview office. The interviews will be scheduled November 2-9, 2005. We are also searching for friends and family members of cancer patients who have discussed treatment options with them. Participants will be paid $50 for their participation. Please be assured that these studies are for Market Research purposes only. The information you provide is completely confidential. You will not be solicited as this study is strictly for Medical Marketing Research purposes only.

Please call as soon as possible as there is a limited number of patients being interviewed for this project. For more information, call the Medical Marketing Research Department at 847-390-7777.

Y-ME ShareRing Network

A free, monthly one-hour teleconference, offered by Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, featuring a breast cancer related presentation by a medical professional followed by a question and answer session. The call then ends with small discussion groups.

ShareRing Network Teleconference Schedule:

Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 7:00 pm CT
Michele Glasgow, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon and Breast Cancer Survivor
"Bone Health"

To register, click here.

Transcriptions are now available! To read transcriptions of past ShareRing Network teleconferences, click here.

Calendar of Events

We also post additional events online:

Saturday, November 12, 2005

9:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m.
Rebuilding Your Dreams: Intimacy and Fertility After Breast Cancer
Gilda's Club Chicago, 537 N. Wells

This program is free and open to the public.

Y-ME Illinois partners with Gilda’s Club Chicago and the Young Survival Coalition to shed light on young breast cancer survivors’ issues. An opportunity to network with other young women facing breast cancer, this program will address the unique challenges that a breast cancer diagnosis can bring when dealing with everyday issues such as intimacy, infertility, being single or just starting a family.

December 1-4, 2005

One of a Kind Show and Sale

Merchandise Mart, open to the public

Tickets are $10 each

Friday, December 2 is Y-ME Illinois Day - $1.00 of each ticket sold will be donated to Y-ME Illinois!

Y-ME Illinois merchandise makes GREAT gifts! Jewelry, hats, clothes, cards, and teddy bears! Don't miss this opportunity to do your holiday shopping at the One of a Kind Show. You'll find art and crafts from emerging and established artists from all over the world. All price ranges represented. Y-ME Illinois will have a pink booth at the event where Y-ME Illinois merchandise will be for sale. We will also have an amazing silent auction with art donated by participating One of a Kind Show artists. You're guaranteed a bargain.

Science & Research News

Y-ME Illinois does not necessarily endorse the content listed below. We would also like to remind our readers about the importance of reading reports regarding the latest research with a critical eye. Reports are sometimes based on preliminary results or based on small samples. It's also important to remember that "association" does not equal "causation." Happy reading!

Drug “halves breast cancer relapse rate”

In studies described as "stunning," researchers on Thursday reported that a drug already used to treat advanced cancer can prevent half of all breast tumors from reappearing after standard therapy. Read more.

Smoking-Breast Cancer Link Appears Stronger

Older women who smoke cigarettes or have smoked for long periods of time may be up to 40% more likely to develop breast cancer than women who never smoked, according to a new study. Read more.

Pfizer breast cancer drug gets ok

Pfizer Inc. said Wednesday that regulators have approved its breast cancer drug Aromasin for treating certain post-menopausal women who have already been treated with the drug tamoxifen. Read more.

Low-Income Women Less Likely To Receive Mammograms, CDC Report Finds

Women without high school diplomas or with annual household incomes of less than $15,000 are less likely to receive mammograms than women with more education and higher incomes, according to a CDC report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Read more.

Added Illnesses May Help Explain Breast Cancer ‘Race Gap’

Researchers are unraveling the mystery of why black women stricken with breast cancer often have shorter survival times than white women diagnosed with the disease. Read more.

Spice Ingredient May Cut Breast Cancer Spread

Curcumin, the main ingredient in the spice turmeric, may help stop breast cancer from spreading to the lungs. The finding appears in Clinical Cancer Research. It's based on tests on mice, not humans. Read more.