THE HUMAN TOUCH
THANKS TO THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR
THEMSELVES—SAVING LIVES, THAT IS

Here's the horrifying news: According to the American Cancer Society, about 212,920 women in the United States
will find out that they have invasive breast cancer in 2006. About 40,970 women will die from the disease this year.

Here's the good news: There's something you can do about it.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, THE FAMILY GROOVE' honors the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation as its charity of the month. Before her death at age 36, Susan Goodman Komen—or Suzy, as she was
called—asked her sister, Nancy Goodman Brinker, to do everything possible to bring an end to breast cancer. Nancy said yes.



For over 20 years, the Komen Foundation has been a maverick in the fight against a disease that affects roughly one in eight women. The Komen Foundation's strength not only lies in its ability to help those who suffer from breast cancer and undying commitment to eradicate it as a life-threatening disease, but in its very human approach to fulfilling its mission.

“We have a foundation headquarters that administers the research part of our mission, and we also have 119 affiliates that serve 18,000 communities in the US and internationally,” says Susan Brown, RN and manager of health education for the Komen Foundation. Brown believes that the very personal story upon which the foundation was started compels staffers, volunteers and supporters to take action because almost everyone can relate from their own life experience.

Brown explains that the Komen Foundation is able to touch the lives of breast cancer sufferers and survivors because of their affiliates. “Our affiliates do a needs assessment so that they are very familiar with their community. Because they understand the scope of the services that are already available in their area, they are able to identify where the needs and the gaps are,” Brown says.  She adds that 75% of the monies raised within each affiliate's community stays in the community to fund education, screening and treatment programs based up on its needs.

Education is also a main goal of the foundation. “All women are at risk for breast cancer. While it is true that the risk increases as a women ages, it is possible for a young woman in her 20s or 30s to  be diagnosed. It's really important for all women, even younger ones, to know their own bodies,” Brown urges. She continues: “Be aware of what is normal for you. If something changes, take action by going to your health care provider instead of ignoring it and thinking that it may not be important—it may be very important, in fact.”

One easy way all women can take action is by talking to their families about their family histories. “That's an important step in helping a woman discover her personal risk. Take that information with you to your health care provider and have a conversation to really try to identify your potential risk for breast cancer,” Brown says.

In addition to genetics, Brown tells us there are some lifestyle choices that women can make that may serve to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Brown says to “make physical activity part of your everyday routine; maintain a healthy weight; and limit alcohol intake to less than one drink a day (wine, beer and spirits).” She also says that breast feeding offers some protection, too.

For more information, Brown suggests a visit to www.komen.org. “Our website is a great resource for information related to breast health and breast cancer. Within the website, there's a tool that actually demonstrates the proper techniques for breast health exams,” Brown adds.

“Our mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screenings and treatment,” reiterates Brown who urges you to make it your mission to be an informed consumer and an advocate. “Learn as much as you can about breast cancer, have conversations with your family and friends about what you've learned, encourage one another to lead healthy lives and take advantage of the screening tools we have available,” she adds.

Want to get involved?
You can find your area's affiliate by going to www.komen.org and typing in your zip code in the zip code field located toward the bottom of the homepage. Talk to your affiliate about volunteer activities, including E-Champion, a public policy advocacy program.

The Siemens Medical and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation have launched Change the Statistic, a national campaign to get 50,000 women to sign a virtual promise to get their annual mammogram. For each of the first 50,000 promises, Siemens will donate $1 to the Komen Foundation.
Click here to change the statistic: www.changethestatistic.com.

Got more questions about breast cancer or breast care?
Call 800.IM AWARE. The Komen Foundation's toll-free breast care helpline is manned by volunteers (many of whom are survivors, themselves).

We at THE FAMILY GROOVE applaud the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for the life changing and life affirming work it does and for the very human and compassionate way it battles this disease. To all of our sisters-in-arms, we are your soldiers.

THE FAMILY GROOVE donates a percentage of each issue to its charity of the month

THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING BREAST CARE PRECAUTIONS:
1.	Annual mammography screening beginning at the age of 40.
2.	Clinical breast exams by a health care provider at least every three years, beginning at the age of 20 and then every year beginning at the age of 40.
3.	Monthly breast self-exams beginning by the age of 20.
4.	If women under the age of 40 have a family history of breast cancer or are concerned about their breasts, then they should talk with their health care provider about when they should begin mammograms and how often they should have those.