Remember to follow the three steps to early detection!
(Based on guidelines from Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
1. Mammograms every year starting at age 40.
2. Clinical breast exams by a health care provider at least every 3 years starting
at age 20,and every year after 40.
3. Breast self-exams every month starting by age 20.
Women under 40 with a family history of breast cancer or other concerns should talk with a health care provider. Screening tests may be needed more often and/or started earlier.
For more information on how to perform a breast self-exam, click here.
The American Cancer
Society's Breast Cancer Network
(800) ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary
health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health
problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from
cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. The site contains
breast cancer basics, information about clinical research trials and free
programs such as the Reach to Recovery program, which provides one-on-one
support to newly diagnosed patients.
Breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org
is a nonprofit organization for breast cancer education. The site
contains medical information, research news, a celebrity talking dictionary,
pictures of breast cancer, discussion boards, open chat rooms and more.
The mission of breastcancer.org is to help women and their loved ones
make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast
cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives.
Fertile Hope
(888) 994-HOPE
www.fertilehope.org
Fertile Hope is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical
treatments present the risk of infertility.
FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)
www.facingourrisk.org
FORCE is a nonprofit organization for women who are at high risk of developing
breast and ovarian cancer because of family history and genetic status
and for members of families in which a BRCA mutation may be present.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
877-786-7422
www.ibcresearch.org
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of research of inflammatory breast cancer, leading to finding its causes and increasing the effectiveness of its treatment. In addition, they aim to increase awareness of IBC symptoms, leading to earlier and better clinical methods of detection and diagnosis.
KidsCope
www.kidscope.org
KidsCope's mission is to help children and families understand the effects
of cancer or chemotherapy on a loved one, to provide suggestions for coping
and to develop innovative programs and materials that communicate a message
of hope to diverse families coping with this crisis.
Kids Konnected
(800) 899-2866
www.kidskonnected.org
Kids Konnected provides peer support and age-appropriate books for children
whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.
Komen Champions for the Cure™
www.actnowendbreastcancer.org
Komen Champions for the Cure™ is a grassroots program designed to
educate Congress, the president and other policymakers about breast cancer
through community involvement.
Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF)
www.livestrong.org
(512) 236-8820
The mission of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is to inspire and empower people with cancer to live strong. They serve their mission through education, advocacy, public health, and research programs. LAF believes that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)
Survivors' Help Line (888-753-LBBC)
www.lbbc.org
The mission of Living Beyond Breast Cancer is to empower all women affected
by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of
life. TLBBC offers educational information to women affected by breast
cancer. Programs include conferences, teleconferences, newsletters, survivors'
help line, young survivors' network and other outreach programs.
Men Against Breast Cancer
www.menagainstbreastcancer.org
Men Against Breast Cancer is the first national nonprofit organization
designed to provide targeted support services to educate and empower men
to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes a female loved one.
It also targets and mobilizes men to be active participants in the fight
to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer (MSDBC)
www.mothersdaughters.org
This is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support
to mothers whose daughters have been diagnosed with breast cancer. This
organization offers a free mother's handbook and daughter's
companion booklet that provides basic information about breast cancer
and its treatment as well as some recommended constructive ways for mothers
to provide support physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.
The organization also matches mothers with mother volunteers across the
country based on the daughter's (patient's) clinical age at
time of diagnosis and anticipated treatment plan.
National Breast Cancer Coalition
www.natlbcc.org
The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots advocacy effort in
the fight against breast cancer. In 1991, the coalition was formed with
one mission — to eradicate breast cancer through action and
advocacy. To achieve its mission, the National Breast Cancer Coalition
focuses on three main goals. Research: Increasing appropriations
for high-quality, peer-reviewed research and working within the scientific
community to focus research on prevention and finding a cure; Access:
Increasing access for all women to high-quality treatment and care, and
to breast cancer clinical trials; and Influence: Increasing the
influence of women living with breast cancer and other breast cancer activists
in the decision making that impacts all issues surrounding breast cancer.
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
www.canceradvocacy.org
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship is the oldest survivor-led
cancer advocacy organization in the country and a highly respected authentic
voice at the federal level, advocating for quality cancer care for all
Americans and empowering cancer survivors.
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health
Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The
NCI, established under the National Cancer Act of 1937, is the federal
government's principal agency for cancer research and training. NCI coordinates
the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training,
health information dissemination and other programs with respect to the
cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from
cancer and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of
cancer patients. The web site has up-to-date information on current clinical
trials available.
National Consortium of Breast Centers
www.breastcare.org
The National Consortium of Breast Center's mission and purpose is "to promote excellence in breast health care for the general public through a network of diverse professionals dedicated to the active exchange of ideas and resources." The website also provides a directory of breast centers.
National Patient Advocate Foundation
www.npaf.org
The National Patient Advocate Foundation is an organization whose mission
is to create avenues of access to insurance funding for evolving therapies,
therapeutic agents and devices for patients through legislative and policy
reform.
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
(800) 532-5274
www.patientadvocate.org
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that
seeks to empower patients to take control of their health care. Case managers
work with patients to discover local, state and federal programs that
provide assistance for their individual needs. If you or someone you know
needs assistance with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding
insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their
diagnosis of life-threatening or debilitating diseases, please contact
PAF.
Pregnant with Cancer Network
(800) 743-4471
www.pregnantwithcancer.org
This national network was created by three women who all lived through
cancer during pregnancy. This special bond has now grown into a national
support group. The mission of the Pregnant with Cancer Support Group is
to let women who have been diagnosed while pregnant know that they are
not alone.
Ribbons of Pink Foundation Fund
www.ribbonsofpink.org
The mission of the Ribbons of Pink Foundation (ROP) is to promote breast
health and support young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Founded in 1999, ROP provides a free e-mail reminder sent on the first
day of the month to promote monthly breast self-exams (BSE), utilizing
a unique tool called the "BSE Tracker." ROP also provides
grants and funding to other non-profit organizations that support the
ROP mission.
Sharsheret
(866) 474-2774
www.sharsheret.org
Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization of cancer survivors
dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing young Jewish women
living with breast cancer. Sharsheret, Hebrew for "chain," was
founded in 2001 by Rochelle Shoretz, who recognized the need for a breast
cancer organization that would provide culturally sensitive support for
Jewish women after her own diagnosis at age 28.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
(800) I'M-AWARE
www.komen.org
The world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Through events like the Komen Race for the Cure, they have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill their promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
Susan Love, M.D.
www.susanlovemd.org
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, Vol. 3
This fully revised edition of Dr. Love's book reflects every major new
development in breast care, screening, diagnosis, treatment and research.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
(800) 221-2141 (24 hour national hotline)
www.y-me.org
The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure,
through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast
cancer alone. Services include a 24-hour Y-ME national hotline, wig and
prosthesis bank, advocacy in action and culturally sensitive breast cancer
services and resources.
Young Survival Coalition
www.youngsurvival.org
The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, nonprofit
network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns
and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action,
advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research,
breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address
breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of
contact for young women living with breast cancer.
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