May 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:
Open Door Groups Support Survivors Throughout Illinois
From the very beginning, Y-ME put peer support first. The Illinois affiliate
carries on the spirit of Ann and Mimi's kitchen table support group though our
21 Open Door Support Groups throughout the Chicagoland area and greater Illinois.
Open Door Groups are drop-in style support groups facilitated by over 50 volunteers,
who are either breast cancer survivors, healthcare professionals or both.
In addition to our 21 Open Door Groups, we also have three groups that connect
through religious affiliations. These groups have Y-ME trained faciliators, but
do not appear on our quarterly calendar. Groups meet on a monthly basis and often
combine support and education by inviting local experts to present on topics such
as lymphedema or eating well through cancer. The Y-ME Illinois Open Door Support
Groups reach over 2000 women each year.
For a current listing of our Open Door Support Groups, please visit our online calendar.
Breast Cancer Awareness Event for African American Women This Month
The American Cancer Society reports that in 2000, there were over 30% more deaths
due to breast cancer among African American women when compared to Caucasian women.
This difference is especially concerning given that African American women have
a lower rate of breast cancer incidence. This higher mortality rate may be attributed,
in part, to the fact that African American women are often diagnosed at a later
stage. Initiated by a grant from the Illinois Department of Health, Office of
Women's Health, Y-ME Illinois is leading a coalition to bring breast cancer awareness
to the African American community. University of Chicago Hospitals, Cancer Information Services, Genetech and Astrazeneca
are co-sponsoring this daylong event.
Enlightening, Not Frightening:
Breast Cancer Awareness for African American Women
Saturday, May 21st
9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
University of Chicago Hospitals
The day will begin with welcome remarks from Pat Harris, Y-ME National Board
President, and will include presentations throughout the day from local medical
professionals as well as breast cancer survivors.
For more information, visit the Y-ME Illinois website or download the event flyer (PDF). To register for the event call Abby at 312.364.9071.
Pink Ribbon Ball Drawing Offers Weekend Getaway to San Francisco
6th Annual Pink Ribbon Ball
Friday, May 6, 2005
8 p.m. - Midnight
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street
The Pink Ribbon Ball announces its fabulous grand prize drawing: an Escape to
San Francisco. This package includes airfare for two and 2 nights at the luxurious
Hotel Nikko. Drawing tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25 and can be purchased online - just click on register!
Join the Y-ME Young Professionals Group for an unforgettable evening of live
entertainment, classic cocktails, and a lavish silent auction. More decadent
details at www.pinkribbonball.com.
You can reserve your tickets online or by calling (312) 364-9071.
Learn More About Team Pink Streak
Team Pink Streak Informational Meeting
Tuesday, May 24th - 6:00 p.m.
Y-ME Illinois Office
203 N. Wabash, Suite 1220, Chicago
Learn more about Team Pink Streak and The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, meet
a marathon trainer, & learn about Y-ME Illinois. Light refreshments will
be provided.
National Cancer Survivors Day is June 5th
The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated
to educating the public on the issues of cancer survivorship through the administration
and promotion of National Cancer Survivors Day® (NCSD), the world's largest cancer
survivor event™.
NCSD is held annually in hundreds of communities throughout the world on the
first Sunday in June. It is a symbolic event to demonstrate that life after a
cancer diagnosis can be a reality. Cancer centers throughout the Chicagoland area
will be celebrating survivorship, including University of Chicago, the Robert
H. Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern and Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at
Loyola.
Breast Reconstruction: Understanding Your Options Teleconference
Join Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) for a free teleconference featuring the
latest information on breast reconstruction. During this 90-minute teleconference,
Maurice Nahabedian, MD, will present the latest options in breast reconstructive
surgery to help you choose what best satisfies your emotional, psychosocial and
medical needs. Learn about surgical techniques, nipple replacement, procedures
to preserve sensation and managing challenges after surgery.
LBBC Breast Reconstruction Teleconference
Tuesday, May 3rd
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
You can register online for this teleconference.
All LBBC teleconferences begin with brief speaker presentations followed by question-and-answer
sessions with participants. Just listen for the operator's instructions on how
to ask the speakers your questions.
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.
Teleconference Schedule:
May 18, 2005
Topic: Understanding Your Genetic History.
Speaker: Shelly Cummings, M.S., Genetic Counselor, Cancer Risk Clinic, University
of Chicago.
To register, click here.
June 15, 2005
TBA
July 20, 2005
Topic: Children's Reactions to a Parent's Cancer
Speaker: Lynette Wilhardt, LCSW, Program Director, Kids Konnected.
To register, click here.
Friday, May 6th - 8:00 p.m.-Midnight
Pink Ribbon Ball - CARNIVALE
Chicago Cultural Center - 77 E. Randolph Street
Join the Y-ME Young Professionals Group for this gala affair to benefit Y-ME
Illinois. Dance to the musical stylings of Lynne Jordan and the Shivers while
enjoying delicious hors d'oeuvres by Entertaining Company.
Sunday, May 8th
Y-ME Race Against Breast Cancer
Mother's Day - Downtown Chicago
Don't miss this...For more information about forming your own team or participating
as an individual visit the Race Website or call the Race Hotline at 877-YME-RACE.
You can also visit the Y-ME Race Homepage.
May 21-24th
NBCC Annual Advocacy Training Conference
Washington, D.C.
Join the IlliNOISY delegation for an amazing weekend of learning, discussions,
and fun as we prepare to visit our elected officials in Congress regarding breast
cancer issues.
For more information about attending this amazing event contact Alicia Huguelet at
ahuguelet@y-me.org or 312-364-9071.
Saturday, May 21st - 9 am-1:30 pm
Enlightening, Not Frightening: Breast Cancer Awareness for African-American Women
University of Chicago Hospitals
A day-long event to promote awareness about breast cancer and early detection
for African-American women will include discussions on everything from racial
disparities to clinical trials to faith and cancer care. Funded in part with a
grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health,
this symposium is being coordinated through Y-ME Illinois with the help of other
local health organizations and the University of Chicago Hospitals.
For more information, visit the Y-ME Illinois website or view the event flyer. To register for the event call Abby at 312.364.9071.
Tuesday, May 24th - 6 p.m.
Team Pink Streak Informational Session
Y-ME Illinois Office - 203 N. Wabash, Suite 1220
Learn more about Team Pink Streak and The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, meet
a marathon trainer, & learn about Y-ME Illinois. Light refreshments will
be provided.
Sunday, June 5th
National Cancer Survivor Day
NCSD is held annually in hundreds of communities throughout the world on the
first Sunday in June. It is a symbolic event to demonstrate that life after a
cancer diagnosis can be a reality. Cancer centers throughout the Chicagoland area
will be celebrating survivorship, including University of Chicago, the Robert
H. Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern and Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at
Loyola.
Wednesday, July 27th
North Shore Friends Annual Card Party
Twin Orchard Country Club
The North Shore Friends invite you to join in the excitement at their signature
Annual Card Party. Start the day with breakfast, enjoy hours of canasta, bridge,
and mah-jongg, and wrap up with lunch with your friends. Vendors will be on hand
selling jewelry, handbags, and other great items. Space is limited and this event
always sells out, so please make your reservation soon.
Watch for event flyers to be mailed out in June! To RSVP contact Verna Cohen
at (847) 699-9878 or Phyllis Savitt at (847) 480-1654.
Sunday, August 21st - Noon
North Shore Friends Day at the Races
Arlington Race Track - 2200 W. Euclid, Arlington Heights
Grandstand entrance
Tickets: $100
Business casual, no blue jeans please
This summer, the North Shore Friends of Y-ME is planning a special event to benefit
Y-ME Illinois. This event will be a “Day at the Races” to be held at Arlington
Park Racetrack. All proceeds will be donated to Y-ME Illinois. North Shore Friends
would like to thank you in advance for your support and for making a difference.
If you are interested in sponsoring and/or purchasing tickets for Day at the
Races, please contact Linda Portnoy at (847) 256-5072 or Linda Bitran at (847)
433-2332.
Alderman Rugai's 11th Annual Y-ME Softball Tournament
Saturday, August 27th
St. Christina's Fields, Chicago
The annual women’s softball tournament hosted by Chicago Alderman Ginger Rugai features
1000 players who gather for the one-day event. Funds raised from the tournament
are dedicated to support the Y-ME IlliNOISY Advocacy Network.
For more information about participating in the tournament or volunteering at
the event contact Alicia at ahuguelet@y-me.org or (312) 364-9071.
The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Sunday, October 9th
Cheer on the 2005 Pink Streak Team as they run 26.2 miles to ensure that no one
faces breast cancer alone!
25th Annual Y-ME Luncheon & Fashion Show
Saturday, October 29th
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!
Y-ME Illinois does not necessarily endorse the point of view or content of these
news stories. We would also like to remind our readers about the importance of
reading media 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 necessarily equal "causation."
Happy reading!
Half of All Cancer Deaths Preventable: Report
More than 60 percent of all cancer deaths could be prevented if Americans stopped
smoking, exercised more, ate healthier food and underwent recommended cancer screenings,
the American Cancer Society reported. Read more.
Breast Cancer Drug Exceeds Study's Goal
Early results from a study of the breast cancer drug Herceptin were so positive
that the researchers stopped the study early. Read more.
Avastin produces significant benefit in first-line metastatic breast cancer
Interim analysis shows improved progression-free survival with Avastin for patients
with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer - the third cancer to show benefit with Avastin. Read more.
Early stage breast cancer rates are rising as incidence of invasive cases are
leveling - study suggests mammography accounts for the trend
Since 1980, the incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, one of the most
common kinds of early stage breast cancer, has increased more than sevenfold.
This sharp increase in DCIS – which is a tumor that contains cancer-like cells
but is not considered "true" cancer because the cells have not invaded normal
breast tissue – has been accompanied by a flattening in the incidence of true
invasive breast cancer. Read more.
Breast cancer: Silent killer in sniper's sights
Breast cancer, sometimes dubbed "the silent killer" for its stealing of women's
lives, faces a new and powerful weapon discovered by molecular biology. Read more.
Pregnancy Hormone May Prevent Breast Cancer
A pregnancy hormone that causes genetic changes in breast tissue may also help
lower a woman's risk for breast cancer, animal studies suggest. Read more.
Method Holds Promise In Identifying Markers Of Non-metastatic Vs. Metastatic
Breast Cancer
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have used a new strategy
to identify differences between non-metastatic and highly metastatic breast cancer
cells. The article by Valerie Montel et al., "Expression profiling of primary
tumors and matched lymphatic and lung metastases in a xenogeneic breast cancer
model," appears in the May 2005 issue of The American Journal of Pathology and
is accompanied by a commentary. Read more.
A-Bomb Exposure Linked to Male Breast Cancer
A study of Japanese atomic bomb survivors shows that men exposed to radiation
were more likely to develop breast cancer than others who weren't exposed. Read more.
Breast cancer drug shows new promise for treatment of some in early stages
A drug that has been used to help the sickest breast cancer patients now shows
promise in treating women in the early stages of a virulent type of the disease,
the U.S. National Cancer Institute says. Read more.
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Mother's Day is May 8th
You can support the Y-ME National Organization by participating in this year's Y-ME
RACE Against Breast Cancer on Mother's Day. Learn more.
May Way to Give
Maximize your contribution with a matching gift! If you work for a company with a Matching Gift Program, you can double your
gift to Y-ME Illinois! Call Ruth Brody at 312-364-9071 for more information.
Generous assistance from United Airlines helps to make many Y-ME Illinois Programs
& Events a success. Thank you United Airlines!
Y-ME Wish List
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Sample size toiletries & beauty items (given to Wig & Prosthesis Salon
clients)
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Location to hold Open Door Support Group Leader Retreat
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Food donation for upcoming educational event (100-150 participants)
If you are interested in granting any of the items on our Wish List contact Rosemary
at rdrexel@y-me.org or 312-364-9071.
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