President's Corner
Pat Halpin-Murphy
President and Founder
US Breast Cancer Rates Declined 7.2% in 2003
After decades of steady increases, breast cancer rates in the US dropped dramatically in 2003, and experts
believe it is because many women stopped using hormone replacement therapy. Within months after a July 2002 federal study linked menopause
hormones to an increased risk of breast cancer, millions of women stopped taking estrogen and progestin. The 7.2% decrease equals 14,000 fewer
breast cancer diagnoses than expected for that year. Cases declined the most in women 50 and older...the age group most affected by hormone
use.
The latest numbers are just one piece of the breast cancer puzzle. Researchers are looking at other changes during the time period
that could help explain the overall drop in breast cancer, and watching to see if the decline in rates will continue.
The declining breast
cancer statistics were reported at the December 14 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Cancer statistics for 2004 are due to be reported this
April.
Source: CNN.com
Evelyn Lauder Comes to Pennsylvania
Bonnie Squires (above left), PBCC Vice President for Development,
with Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies.
Ms. Lauder was at a book-signing
event in Philadelphia to promote her new healthy-eating cookbook "In Great Taste: Fresh, Simple Recipes for Eating and Living Well." Ms. Lauder
is founder of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and recipient of the PBCC's Pink Ribbon Award at our 2000 conference.
Events
Calendar
January 15 - February 15
Prime Outlets Grove City Wishing Well
Grove
City
When shopping at Prime Outlets Grove City, toss your change in the wishing well. All wishing well donations made between
October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 will be donated to the PBCC! See full details on our events page.
January 30
Income
Tax Check-Off
Press Conference
Hershey
Please join us to kick off the Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and
Cervical Cancer! The event will be held at Hershey Medical Center at 2:00 pm. Almost $2 million has been raised for
PA-based cancer researchers since the check-off was signed into law in 1997. Check line 35 on your PA 40 tax form! See full details
on our events page.
February 4
Lady Lions Basketball
Think Pink Day
State
College
Help us fill the Bryce Jordan Center with 16,000 fans dressed in pink! Multiple fundraisers
will benefit the PBCC at the Lady Lions Basketball Think Pink Day. Survivors and their families can attend for free but you must call for
tickets. Others can purchase tickets for $5 each. See full details on our events page.
Please visit our website for a
complete and detailed listing of upcoming events.
Do you want to make hope grow? Plant a
seed in your community and watch it grow statewide by planning a special event or fundraiser for the PBCC! Contact Amy Collins with your
community event idea at amy@pabreastcancer.org or (800) 377-8828
x 106.
Don't Miss a Single Issue!
Did you know that you can view previous Pink Link™ issues on our
website? Simply click here to download pdf versions
of previous issues. Enjoy!
Do You Have A New
Address?
When your mailing address or email address changes, simply click
this link or click on "manage your
preferences" at the bottom of Pink LinkTM and update your information.
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Dear ,
FRIENDS LIKE METM CARE PACKAGES
You Are NOT Alone!
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 In 2006, the PBCC shipped 534 Friends Like Me™ care packages to Pennsylvania women
newly-diagnosed with breast cancer. The packages are filled with informational brochures, books, and donated cosmetics and gift items, and
are provided at absolutely no cost to the woman.
Recently, we surveyed package recipients. One of our
questions was "What did receiving the Friends Like Me™ care package mean to you?" An overwhelming majority of
respondents told us that it was reassuring to know they were not alone. Gerry of Prospect, PA wrote "Being told I had breast cancer was
terrifying. But when I saw how many people were there to reach out to me in my hour of need, it was awesome. The care package put a smile
on my face and everything in it was useful." Raemarie from Erie said, “It provided me with information I wasn’t aware of. It also showed me I am
definitely not alone in this.”
Help us to show these women that they indeed are not alone! Your donation to the PBCC allows us to continue sending Friends Like Me™
care packages. Product donations of cosmetics, books and other gift items are also greatly appreciated. Some recent donors include:
- Acts of Kindness/Carma Design for inspirational "Notes to Self" stickers
- Aesthetic Cosmetic and Laser Center for 10 gift certificates for a free facial
- Aviana, Inc. for 200 4-oz. spray bottles of Signature Blend Lotion
- Cook Communications Ministries/Cancer Treatment Centers of America for 200 copies of "A Reason for Hope"
- HarperCollins Publishers for 20 copies of "When A Parent Has Cancer"
- Principle Pictures for 10 copies of "Breast Cancer Legacy" DVD
Contact Kim Eubanks at kim@pabreastcancer.org to donate to this program. To
request a Friends Like Me™ care package for a newly-diagnosed woman living in PA, click here.
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| INCOME TAX
TIME
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 Thanks to the PBCC, Pennsylvanians can earmark their state income
tax refund for breast and cervical cancer research! Since the Income Tax Check-Off legislation passed in 1997, Pennsylvanians have contributed nearly $2 million to research.
One hundred percent of the money is distributed as grants to outstanding researchers throughout the state.
Simply check line
35 on your PA 40 form to Make Your Mark© for breast and cervical cancer research. For more information, talk
with your tax advisor.
We invite you to join with medical and community leaders at Hershey Medical Center to kick-off
the PBCC's Income Tax Check-Off and to honor this year's eight research grant recipients. Please join us
at 2pm at the Hershey Medical
Center. Park in the South Parking Garage and come to the South Lobby. Guests will be greeted and escorted to the press
conference. The Medical Center campus is currently under construction. Attendees should allow extra time to get to the event due to
construction and road changes on campus. You can find further details on our website event calendar.
To RSVP, please call 1-800-377-8828 x 101.
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DIDN'T GET THE 2007
WALL
CALENDAR YOU WISHED FOR?
Buy 1, Get 1 Free with our Special Offer
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 The 2007 PBCC calendar is bright, cheerful and affordable! Regularly priced at $10 each, now you can buy one;
get one free! It's simple. For each calendar you order online, we will add another - FREE! Get one for
yourself and one to give away, and since the proceeds benefit the PBCC, it's a gift for us too.
Calendars are great for those January
birthdays on your list! Check out our new and improved marketplace!
CALLING ALL STATE COLLEGE SURVIVORS
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 Are you a breast cancer survivor in the State College area?
If so we want to see you at the Lady Lion Basketball Think Pink Day on Sunday, February 4th at the Bryce Jordan Center! See our event
listing at left or our website event calendar for
details.
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| NEW! GRASSROOTS PARTNERS ON PBCC WEBSITE
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 Grassroots Partners all around the state help to make it possible for the PBCC to continue our programs.
These dedicated volunteers use their time, talent and resources in incredibly innovative ways to fund our efforts. They celebrate life, create
awareness, generate enthusiasm and provide much-needed income. Visit our new web page recognizing our wonderful Grassroots Partners! We'd love to see you
featured there soon! Check back often - new events will be added frequently!
Above: Sonia Vrooman makes a new friend at Kitchen Kettle Village's
Pink Fashion Show
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| EMAIL ADDRESS CONTEST
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 The PBCC's email address contest continues until February 28th. Send five or more email addresses of people
we can invite to receive Pink Link™ and we will enter you into a drawing for a fabulous prize. Just send email
addresses of friends who are interested in breast cancer issues to kim@pabreastcancer.org and we
will invite them to sign up for Pink Link™. Remember to include your name and mailing address for possible prize
notification.
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YOUR AD COULD GO HERE!
How would you like to see your ad, logo or message and a link to your website
here? Pink Link™ goes to over 6700 medical professionals, survivors and breast cancer advocates all across PA and beyond! Ads cost
$250 for one issue, $400 for two issues.
Email Kim at kim@pabreastcancer.org today to place your ad! Ad size and
placement may vary from issue to issue.
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Subscription Information
If you received this issue of Pink LinkTM directly, you are already a subscriber. If Pink LinkTM was
forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe here.
If you would like
to unsubscribe from Pink LinkTM, click the "Unsubscribe" link at the very bottom of this email.
Credits
Editor and Producer: Kim Eubanks
Head Writer: Dolores Magro
Copyright © 2007, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition
All rights reserved.
Please feel free to pass Pink LinkTM along
to your friends. However, we ask that you keep the Pink Link attribution, subscription, and copyright information
intact.
Advertisements contained throughout this publication do not imply endorsement by the PBCC
of featured products or services.
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