Y-ME Illinois offers over 20 support groups around the state of Illinois, including groups in the Chicagoland area, Springfield, Taylorville, and NW Indiana.

 

Find a support group near you. 

Y-ME Illinois Wig and Prosthesis Salon

Celebrate Mom at the Pink Ribbon Brunch

 

Mother’s Day is a day of celebration. Celebrate your Mom by taking her to the Y-ME Illinois Pink Ribbon Brunch!

On May 14th, Y-ME Illinois will host our first Pink Ribbon Brunch.  Whether you’re famished from the Y-ME RACE, or looking for a new and exciting way to commemorate this special day, join us downtown at the Congress Hotel at 520 S. Michigan in Chicago where you will enjoy delectable dishes and very special company, Mom, all while supporting a phenomenal cause! Tickets will soon be available for purchase online!  Visit our website later this week, www.y-me.org/illinois, for more information. Tickets are $50 per person and special children’s prices are available. Bring the whole family and join Y-ME Illinois on Mother’s Day, May 14th. Honor your Mom while ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone!

 

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Support Group Spotlight: St. John's  in Springfield

 

Over seven years ago, a support group in the state's capital was started at St. John's Hospital to ensure that Springfield women did not face breast cancer alone. When Y-ME National restructured into an affiliate system the Springfield group was lost in the shuffle. A few years later Y-ME Illinois research into downstate services uncovered this "little group that could" and the Springfield support group reaffiliated with Y-ME. Since then, two women at St. John's, Diana Wehhenmeyer, the Oncology Facilitator at the Cancer Institute and Mary Jo Gardiner, the Director of Pastoral Care and taken up the reins of this group. Both women have found the group to be an amazing place for women of all backgrounds facing a breast cancer diagnosis. "I feel honored and humbled to be in the presence of women who fight bravely each day in the presence of breast cancer, while they undergo treatment or as they continue in their healing," says Mary Jo Gardiner. The group brings in educational speakers to discuss topics from breast prosthetics to chemo to mindfulness while allowing women to form a supportive network to help them through their diagnosis.

 

The group meets at 5pm the last Wednesday of every month at St. John's Hospital, in Conference Room S at the Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children's Center, 800 E. Carpenters St. in Springfield. Their topic for April 26 will be "Humor and Cancer" given by Eloise Baird from The Humor Cart.

 

View the Y-ME Illinois Open Door Support Group Calendar. 

 

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Spring is Here!  Get Ready for Pink Streak...

 

Pink Streak, the Y-ME Illinois Marathon Team, is growing every day! Be a part of this amazing team and Run PINK in the fight against Breast Cancer.Interested in Pink Streak and want to learn more? Come to our Runner Recruiting Event the evening of April 27th at RA Restaurant in the Gold Coast. Enjoy RA’s delicious sushi and saki and learn about all of the exciting perks that come along with being a Pink Streak Member. Sign up at the Runner Event, and you will automatically be entered in an exciting raffle featuring a weekend stay at The Streeter as well as fitness and spa certificates!

 

Space is limited! Email Ciara McGrath at cmcgrath@y-me.org to RSVP. Reservations will be taken on a first come basis, so tell your friends and let us know today!

 

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Breast Cancer: Covered or Not? A Guide on Insurance*

This recently released guide can help navigate the often confusing health insurance system.  You can download the PDF version online for free.

 

Generous assistance from American Airlines helps to make many Y-ME Illinois Programs & Events a success. 

Thank you American Airlines!

Calendar of Events  

We also post additional events online:

• Third Party Events calendar
• Other events in the breast cancer community
• Mammogram van visits 

April 5, 2006

Y-ME Illinois Wig and Prosthesis Salon
Grand Opening Celebration
5 - 7:30 p.m.

SIU - Baylis Medical Building
747 N. Rutledge, Springfield

Y-ME Illinois and Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine are pleased to announce the launch of the first downstate Y-ME Illinois Wig and Prosthesis Salon in Springfield on April 5th. Breast cancer patients, survivors and interested community members are invited to attend.  There will be spa offerings of hair, skin and nail care along with complimentary massage therapy.  There will also be free food, drinks and musical entertainment.

For more information, call (312) 364-9071.

 

April 29 - May 2, 2006

NBCCF Annual Advocacy Training Conference

Washington, DC

 

Join the IlliNOISY delegation as we take our voices to Capitol Hill in the fight against breast cancer!  Don't miss this tremendous opportunity to connect with breast cancer advocates from around the country & get up-to-date information on breast cancer research and health policy developments. For more information contact Alicia at ahuguelet@y-me.org or visit www.stopbreastcancer.org.  

May 14, 2006 - Mother's Day

Y-ME RACE
1 or 3 mile walk / 5k run
9:00 a.m.
Chicago's Grant Park

www.y-me.org

The Y-ME RACE is a truly meaningful way to spend Mother's Day morning - paying tribute to a loved one who has been touched by breast cancer and helping to ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone.

 

May 14, 2006 - Mother's Day

Y-ME Illinois Pink Ribbon Brunch

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Congress Plaza Hotel - 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

$50 All-Inclusive Buffet Breakfast (Children's Price Available)

Tickets will soon be available for purchase at www.y-me.org/illinois!  You can also purchase tickets by calling (312) 364-9071.

 

Whether you’re famished from the Y-ME RACE, or looking for a new and exciting way to commemorate this special day, join us downtown at the Congress Hotel where you will enjoy delectable dishes and very special company, Mom, all while supporting a phenomenal cause!

August 26, 2006
Alderman Rugai's 12th Annual Y-ME Softball Tournament
Chicago, Illinois

Join us for this Y-ME summer tradition raising funds to ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone. Call (312) 364-9071 for more information.

October 28, 2006
26th Annual Y-ME Illinois Fashion Show & Luncheon
Chicago Hilton & Towers - 720 S. Michigan Ave.

Don't miss this signature event celebrating survivorship!
  

 

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Science & Research News   
Y-ME Illinois does not 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!

Landmine Detection Helping To Fight Breast Cancer
Scientists researching ways to detect landmines have discovered a radical new way to screen for breast cancer using microwave radar technology that could save thousands of lives.  Read more.

Flaw Seen in Genetic Test for Breast Cancer Risk
The widely used genetic test for breast cancer risk can miss mutations that help cause the disease, according to a new study, a finding that is likely to increase the pressure to develop more thorough testing methods. Read more.

   

HRT Can Cloud Breast Cancer Screens
Hormone replacement therapy may make it hard to detect breast cancer among postmenopausal women because it can increase breast density, a new study suggests. Read more.

 

Researchers Find Ginseng May Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes
Ginseng, one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, may improve survival and quality of life after a diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a recent study by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers. Read more.

 

Patient Care For Breast Cancer Dramatically Improved Using Best Practice
A study in the Netherlands has proved that achieving the gold standard in breast cancer care is possible. Teams across the Netherlands set up and met targets for faster diagnosis of breast cancer and a reduction in waiting time for operations. Read more.