September 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:
Featured Support Group - Friends for Life
Y-ME Illinois has over 20 different support groups in Illinois and Northwest
Indiana – every month we will be featuring a different group. Open Door Support
Groups are open to all persons concerned about breast cancer. We invite women
to check out an educational presentation or breast cancer survivors to interact
with other breast cancer survivors at a “rap session” or “open discussion” group.
Friends for Life
Y-ME Illinois’ Friends for Life group began just this year in an effort to provide
support in the Near West Side and surrounding neighborhoods. Facilitated by Barbara
LaPapa, an employee at Union Health, where the group meets, Friends for Life is
mostly an open discussion group where women can talk and share with other survivors.
While not a survivor, Barbara has both personal and professional experience with
breast cancer and is excited to be a part of Y-ME’s mission to ensure that no
one faces breast cancer alone.
Friends for Life meets the fourth Friday of every month, at 4:30pm at Union Health,
1634 W. Polk in Chicago. For more information about this group or any of our other
groups call Abby at the (312) 364-9071.
Sponsor a Survivor to Attend the Y-ME Illinois Fashion Show & Luncheon
The Y-ME Illinois Fashion Show & Luncheon is a time to celebrate beauty,
life, and survivorship and is so unique because many of the models in the show
are breast cancer survivors. The event really gives survivors a time to shine,
feel beautiful, and be recognized for all that they've been through.
Each year there are many breast cancer survivors who wish to attend the Fashion
Show & Luncheon but are unable to do so because of the cost. It is only because
of generous supporters who purchase Survivor Tickets and Tables each year that
we are able to invite some of these survivors to this wonderful event, regardless
of their ability to pay.
Due to the large number of requests we receive each year to use complimentary
survivor tickets, our ability to fulfill requests is dependent on the number of
tickets donated.
Pass it On this October with Walgreens
For some of us, letting our loved ones touched by breast cancer know we care
about them can be difficult, especially when we can’t find the right words at
the right time. Luckily, Y-ME and Walgreens can help you give hope and support
to those in your life who need it most.
This October, you can visit one of the more than 4,800 Walgreens in the U.S.
and purchase breast cancer awareness products that include a special gift tag
along with Y-ME’s 24-hour Hotline number. Be a part of the Walgreens initiative
and pass on a message of hope and support so that no one faces breast cancer alone.
You can’t say it any better than that. For a Walgreens location near you, visit
www.walgreens.com.
25 percent of the purchase price of select Walgreens merchandise—bracelets, socks,
T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats—benefits Y-ME. Be sure to stop by Walgreens and
pick up items for those special people in your life!
Pitch In at the Y-ME Illinois Water Station!
Sticky Powdered Gatorade, Crumpled Paper Cups, and Water, Oh My!
Please join Y-ME Illinois at our water station along the LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon course on October 9, 2005. About 100 Y-ME Illinois volunteers will be
on hand to cheer on the Pink Streak team and all the runners while they pass out
water and Gatorade. It’s as close to the action as you can get without actually
running, and it’s OUTRAGEOUSLY FUN! All volunteers will receive free marathon
gear. Plus, what’s great about the Y-ME Illinois water station is that we’re
the 4th station, near the Lincoln Park Zoo, so we’ll be done in time to watch people
cross the finish line!
If you or anyone you know wants to join us, please contact Karen Greenberg at
kgreenberg@y-me.org or (312) 364-9071.
A Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Rx for Illinois
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a nationwide program bringing
together America's biopharmaceutical research companies, health care providers,
patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients
who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public
or private program that's right for them.
Rx for Illinois is the statewide chapter of this nationwide initiative. Through a toll-free number and user-friendly web site, consumers are offered
a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance
programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this program call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit www.rxforillinois.org today!
Opportunities to Participate in Research
Study Notice - How Families Cope With Breast Cancer
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University and the National Human Genome Research
Institute are conducting a study with families in which a woman has had breast
cancer. The goal of the study is to learn more about how women and their adolescent
children cope with breast cancer.
Participation: Participation is voluntary. Taking part will involve you and your child filling
out surveys. The surveys will take about 25 minutes.
Eligibility: You and your child may take part if you have had breast cancer from three months
to five years ago and had children between the ages of 12 and 20 at the time.
You may ask more than one of your children to fill out the survey.
There is no direct benefit for you from being in the study. However, the information
you provide may help to improve the counseling services for women who have breast
cancer and their families. Your responses will be kept confidential and will
not be linked to personal contact information in any way.
Contact: If you and your child would like to fill out the survey online, you may go to
http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/familystudy/. The password to the website is “family”. To get a copy of the survey or get
more information, contact Alissa Bovee toll free at 1-866-294-9078 or abovee@jhsph.edu.
Any contact information you provide to the researchers in order for them to send
you the surveys will be destroyed after they mail it to you. This way, your responses
to the survey will be anonymous. This study was approved by the National Human
Genome Research Institute Institutional Review Board on 7/1/05.
Sept. 7th, 2005 - Cancer Patients Wanted for Market Research Interviews
Research firm is seeking opinions on a new medical website and will pay $75 for
a 1-hour interview. There is no solicitation involved with this opportunity.
If interested in participating in an interview, you can contact Debbie at (847)
914-0430.
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:
September 21, 2005
Topic: Living Through Breast Cancer
Speaker: Carolyn M. Kaelin, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
Director, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
To register, click here.
To read transcriptions of past ShareRing Network teleconferences, click here.
CancerCare Teleconference:
Friday, October 14, 2005, 1:00 pm CDT
Generosa Grana, MD; Joseph Lane, MD; and Pat Spicer, MSW
"Bone Health for Women Living with Breast Cancer"
Y-ME is a co-sponsor of this event
We also post additional events online:
Sunday, October 9, 2005
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Cheer on the 2005 Pink Streak Team as they run 26.2 miles to ensure that no one
faces breast cancer alone! Not a runner but still want to be involved? Join
us at the Y-ME Illinois water station. If you want to become part of the Pink Streak Team or volunteer for Y-ME the
day of the marathon, contact Karen Greenberg at kgreenberg@y-me.org or visit the Pink Streak Team website.
Friday, October 21, 2005
National Mammography Day
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Healthy Living: A Breast Cancer Awareness Expo
St. Margaret Mercy
South Campus, 24 Joliet St., Dyer, IN
Y-ME Illinois partners with St. Margaret Mercy Hospital to raise breast cancer
awareness in Northwest Indiana.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Semi-Annual Aveda Y-ME Wellness Spa
Aveda Institute Chicago, 2828 N. Clark, Chicago, IL
All breast cancer survivors are welcome to attend this wellness event but preference
will be given to those women currently in treatment. For more information contact
Abby Drevs at (312) 364-9071 or adrevs@y-me.org.
Thursday, October 26, 2005
5 - 9 p.m.
Women and Cancer Survivorship: An Evening Symposium
Presented in conjunction with Loyola's Cardinal Bernadine Cancer Center
Hyatt McDonald's Lodge - Oakbrook, IL
An event dedicated to education and support for women who are cancer survivors.
This program will address issues that are important to all female cancer survivors,
including topics such as self-image after cancer, genetics, cancer treatment related health issues, etc. For more information call Y-ME Illinois at (312) 364-9071.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
10:30 a.m.
25th Annual Y-ME Illinois Fashion Show & Luncheon
Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Avenue
The silver anniversary of this signature Y-ME event that honors both survivors
and supporters promises to be the best yet - don't miss it! Learn more about
how you can be a part of the fashion show by visiting the 2005 Fashion Show webpage!
Saturday, November 12, 2005
10 a.m - 12:30 p.m.
A Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Event
Gilda's Club Chicago, 537 N. Wells
Y-ME Illinois partners with Gilda’s Club Chicago and the Young Survival Coalition
to shed light on young breast cancer survivors’ issues. Addressing topics specific
to young women facing breast cancer, this program is a reprise of a program produced
in February of 2004. 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. For more information call Y-ME Illinois at (312) 364-9071.
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.
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!
Anastrozole After Tamoxifen Better for Early Breast Cancer than Tamoxifen Alone
In published reports from two similar clinical trials, researchers show that
switching certain breast cancer patients at two years from the standard post-surgery
treatment tamoxifen to another drug called anastrozole provides more protection
against recurrence. Read more.
Frozen Glove Reduces Skin and Nail Damage from Docetaxel Chemotherapy
Patients who wore an experimental “frozen glove” to keep their hands very cold
during intravenous chemotherapy with docetaxel (Taxotere®) had much less subsequent
damage to the nails and skin of their hands, according to a French study. Read more.
Scientists Identify More Breast Cancer Genes
Canadian researchers say they've identified 153 more genes that promote breast
cancer growth, and have found that blocking one gene in particular can stop estrogen-driven
breast cancer -- at least in the laboratory. Read more.
FDA Statement on Approvable Letter to Mentor Corporation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an approvable letter to Mentor
Corporation for their application for silicone gel-filled breast implants. Federal
law and regulations prohibit the government from discussing the specific contents
of the letter. However, an approvable letter is one of several intermediate steps
in the FDA review process of new products. Previously at their April 2005 meeting,
the General and Plastic Surgery Devices Advisory Committee voted 7-2 that Mentor’s
application was “approvable with conditions.” This letter does not mean that the
device is approved for marketing in the United States at this time. Read more.
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Happy Labor Day Weekend!
From everyone at Y-ME Illinois, we want to wish you a happy and safe weekend
filled with family, friends, and fun!
September Way to Give
So maybe you'll never run a marathon. That's OK!
Pink Streak will run one for you.
This month, why not show your support by sponsoring Pink Streak, the Y-ME Illinois team running in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October
9, 2005. There are over 80 runners in Pink Streak, and they're all running in
honor or memory of someone special in their lives who has been touched by breast
cancer. For 18 weeks they've endured long training runs, sore muscles, and chalky-tasting
energy bars. They've each committed to raising $750.
Time is Running Out!
Purchase your raffle tickets today for a 2-year lease of a 2005 Silver Acura
TL. Only 500 tickets will be sold at $50 each and time is running out!
The lucky winner will be announced at the 2005 Y-ME Fashion Show & Luncheon
on October 29, 2005. Winner need not be present to win. Thank you to Joe Rizza
Acura in Orland Park for making this possible!
Tickets are available online or by calling the Y-ME Illinois office at 312-364-9071 - get yours today!
Generous assistance from United Airlines helps to make many Y-ME Illinois Programs
& Events a success. Thank you United Airlines!
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