Breast Cancer Health

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Ladies, be vigilant and do a monthly self-examination, and see your ob/gyn at least once a year; twice if you are taking birth control pills or have an IUD. Self examination includes checking forany changes in the shape of your breasts, changes in skin color and texture, and  discharges.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Here is a link that will give you a plethora of organziations that are ready, willing and able to assist your or your loved ones through the difficult time of dealing with breast cancer.  And let's not forger...MEN also get breast cancer and there's an organization for you as well!
http://www.nbcam.org/  These organizations do great work, so be generous and give to one.  You can do your share to fight this terrible cancer.

Patient Advocate

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  I am always surprised with the ignorance of most cancer patients concerning their diagnosis and treatment strategy.  Lack of information is never a positive in these cases.   Here's your very important tip of the day - if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, ask for a patient advocate.  This is the person from the hospital who is there to help you through this difficult time in life: to answer questions, be the liason between you and your team of physicians and to ensure that you are receiving all therapies that will help with an expedient and effective recovery.  For every type of cancer, there is a support group/organization out there ready and willing to serve you at no cost.  If you are a cancer survivor and have been aided by one of these groups, donate your time and/or money to help them help others....pay it forward.

Community Service - Give Back and Feel Good

Today,  I'm volunteering my time and talents to the Women At Risk luncheon committee.  It makes me feel good to give something of my Self to others.  The annual fundraising luncheon is May 10th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.  What's Women At Risk?
Women At Risk (WAR®) is the breast cancer program of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center whose mission is to enhance the lives of women who are at high risk for the development of breast cancer and women with breast cancer through research, education and support. WAR was founded in 1991 by a grassroots partnership of physicians, patients and volunteers and since then, has been funding and conducting innovative breast cancer research and implementing successful support and education programs in the New York Metropolitan Area.

What does Women At Risk do?
High-Risk Program
WAR recognizes that addressing risk is one of the most effective ways to reduce breast cancer occurrence and mortality. Women enrolled in the high-risk program gain access to long-term monitoring and care as well as high-risk resources and support. They are also enrolled in the WAR Registry Database which offers researchers the opportunity to access data for use in studies concerning breast cancer risk.

How can you get involved?
Attend an Event- Attend the annual symposium, art exhibit or other events.
Volunteer- Help out at the symposium or a free screening day, or volunteer in the office.
Help WAR fund its programs and services
- Register on One Cause (www.onecause.com), Choose “Women At Risk” as your cause, and participating retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Target, Amazon, Dell, and hundreds more will donate a percentage of your purchases to WAR.
- Own a business? Host an “October Promotion” for WAR during Breast-Cancer Awareness Month
- Make a tax-deductible contribution.
Sign up to join the mailing list to receive the latest updates on WAR activities and events!
For more info, visit www.womenatrisknyc.org or www.womenatrisknyc.blogspot.com.
To contact, call (212) 305-9525 or send inquiries to info@womenatrisknyc.org.

This might not be your 'cup of tea', but why not take the initiative and donate some of your time and talent today for a good cause.  Do it because it excites you, not because it is self-serving.  When you give service to others, you 'play it forward'.  Get involved today - you never know if and when YOU might need someone; and wouldn't it be nice if someone was there for you if need be?