The insanity of the GOP Republican Party + Evangelical Right Agenda against Women continues.

Shame on you Susan G. Komen Foundation ~ Planned Parenthood is a critical safety net for women across America and with so many of the middle class falling between the cracks into poverty, the role of Planned Parenthood in more important than ever.

…but apparently those women no longer matter as Komen’s support has now been withdrawn. Last month, the national office of the Komen Foundation, which maintains tight control over its state affiliates, sent a memo barring those affiliates from using money they had raised at the local level to partner with Planned Parenthood clinics in improving access to breast exams.

Why? Not science, not evidence, not concern for women.

Politics and personal ambition, pure and simple.

It’s no secret that anti-choice legislators at the state and national level have made Planned Parenthood the central focus of their anti-woman agenda, spending well over half of entire legislative sessions in some states focused on cutting funding and limiting access to reproductive health services.  At the national level, the ongoing witch hunt aimed at PPFA has taken many forms, one of which includes a “Congressional inquiry” launched by House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.).  Stearns sent a letter to PPFA in late September 2011 asking for an avalanche of documents to “investigate” whether PPFA has used federal funds to provide abortion services.

The Cancerous Politics and Ideology of the Susan G. Komen Foundation ~ Jodi Jacobson

75% critical of Susan Komen for the Cure, Only 25% support decision to sever ties with Planned Parenthood.

Updated Links:

Critiques of Pink Culture and Industry; A Survivors Point of View

By defunding Planned Parenthood, the Susan G Komen Foundation betrays women ~ Lizz Winstead

Older Links (earlier today 2/2/12)

Komen Split With Planned Parenthood Draws Fire Online

Top Susan G. Komen Official Resigned Over Planned Parenthood Cave-In

Who Is Behind Susan G. Komen’s Split From Planned Parenthood?

This isn’t about fiscal responsibility. This is about harassment and intimidation of America’s leading provider and advocate of women’s health. Stand with Planned Parenthood now: fill out the form to send Rep. Stearns a letter telling him to stop this politically motivated investigation.

Three Important PR Lessons From This Week’s Komen, Sierra Club Scandals

1-800-422-6237 The National Cancer Institute Help Line

The cancer line fields a wide variety of queries, including what to expect after different diagnoses; what to ask doctors; where to get help with financial, legal, and transportation problems that might interfere with treatment; the benefits and side effects of different treatment options; and what clinical trials are available for different diagnoses.

Callers are encouraged to share as many details as possible about the exact type and stage of their cancer, so that the staff can tailor the information they provide. “But if they don’t know this, we can help them formulate questions they can take to their doctor,” says Mary Anne Bright, a former oncology nurse who directs the program. “We will spend as much time with somebody as they need.”

Unlike many other toll-free help lines, “we’re not a pharmaceutical company, and we’re not collecting donations,” Bright adds. “We’re all about reporting the most accurate and up-to-date information about cancer and the results of research in a way that people can understand.”

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cancer, consider calling the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237. You’ll find The operators can tell you about their personal cancer stories, answer your questions, help you find financial help for medical bills, put you in touch with medical specialists and local support groups, direct you toward clinical trials, and more. It’s a valuable, but underutilized service that everyone should be aware of. (Side note: Yes, this is actually useful medical information that appeared on the Huffington Post. Written by an actual medical scientist. It’s a Festivus miracle!)

Found Via BoingBoing  Maggie Koerth-Baker

Via Huffington Post Erin N. Marcus, M.D.

Via New America Media 

“After reviewing the available studies,” she continued, “it is clear that women who take Avastin for metastatic breast cancer risk potentially life-threatening side effects without proof that the use of Avastin will provide a benefit, in terms of delay in tumor growth, that would justify those risks. Nor is there evidence that use of Avastin will help them live longer or improve their quality of life.”

Medicare, which covers many women with breast cancer, has already said it would continue to cover the cost no matter what the F.D.A. decided. Medicare is obligated to pay for off-label use of cancer drugs that are listed in references known as compendia, such as the one published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an organization of major cancer hospitals.

An initial clinical trial showed that Avastin, when combined with the drug paclitaxel, which is also known by the brand name Taxol, delayed the progression of disease by about five and a half months, compared to use of paclitaxel alone. However, the women who received Avastin in the study did not live significantly longer and they suffered more side effects.

Based on that data, the F.D.A.’s cancer drug advisory committee voted 5 to 4 against approval in December 2007. But two months later, the agency granted provisional approval.

In subsequent studies, in which Avastin was combined with different chemotherapy drugs, tumor growth was delayed by only one to three months. And Avastin did not prolong lives at all, nor did it improve quality of life.

In July 2010, the F.D.A.’s cancer drug advisory committee recommended 12 to 1 that the approval be revoked. The F.D.A. itself moved to do that in December of that year.

F.D.A. Revokes Approval of Avastin as Breast Cancer Drug

By ANDREW POLLACK

Published: November 18, 2011

With National Breast Cancer Month (October) upon us (http://www.nbcam.org/), we want to throw our support behind some great organizations that are helping those patients, survivors, families and others that have been affected by this disease.

This Shoot Out photo contest is intended, mirroring the goal of NBCAM, to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.

Enter your images that promote breast cancer awareness and/or celebrate the beauty, strength, spirit and nurture threatened by the disease. Enter your images that tell a story of inspiration, of strength, of survival. Enter your images that are touching, humorous, sensual, perceptive… real.

We want to really make a splash. We’ve got lofty goals for this contest and would love to see the total raised getOVER $100,000. To do this, WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need everyone to get the word out… share this onFacebook, Twitter, via email. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your clients, your kids’ friends… everyone.

The ‘starting pot’ will be $100 in total, but we want to see a truly inspiring number here. So help us get these numbers growing! Help us demonstrate the power of images to help raise awareness and money to make a difference!

We’ll be updating the prizing as the entries come in, so check back… and enter as often as you can! You’re supporting a great cause!

JPG Magazine Contest 10-11-11

NY Times By Gardiner Harris
9/7/11

Healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A. blood test to screen for prostate cancer because the test does not save lives over all and often leads to more tests and treatments that needlessly cause pain, impotence and incontinence in many, a key government health panel has decided.

The draft recommendation, by the United States Preventive Services Task Force and due for official release next week, is based on the results of five well-controlled clinical trials and could substantially change the care given to men 50 and older. There are 44 million such men in the United States, and 33 million of them have already had a P.S.A. test — sometimes without their knowledge — during routine physicals.

The task force’s recommendations are followed by most medical groups. Two years ago the task force recommended that women in their 40s should no longer get routine mammograms, setting off a firestorm of controversy. The recommendation to avoid the P.S.A. test is even more forceful and applies to healthy men of all ages.

“Unfortunately, the evidence now shows that this test does not save men’s lives,” said Dr. Virginia Moyer, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and chairwoman of the task force. “This test cannot tell the difference between cancers that will and will not affect a man during his natural lifetime. We need to find one that does.”

U.S. Panel Says No to Prostate Screening for Healthy Men

Breast Cancer- Under 40:
Pink Ribbon Riders  ($500 gift card)
Tiger Lily Foundation (“Let’s Dish At Home meals, Chemo Buddy program, Buddy Bag, $500 financial assistance)

Breast Cancer- Under 30:
Kristy Lasch Miracle Foundation

Hair Loss:
Heavenly Hats  (free hats)
Halos of Hope  (free handmade hats and/or caps)
France Luxe®   (“Good Wishes” program provides free headwrap or scarf)

Emotional Support:
Chemo Angels

Elizabeth Edwards’ battle with breast cancer was a public fight; a fight she used to inspire others who suffered from the same condition. But, Edwards was also engaged in another fight: to try and make health insurance available to everyone so they could be treated for life-threatening diseases like cancer. Although she never lived to see that dream come true, a grassroots organization based in Raleigh is trying to make sure no one is denied breast cancer treatments just because they can’t pay for them.

The Pretty in Pink Foundation pays for life-saving medical treatment for North Carolina patients, regardless of their ability to pay, thus helping breast cancer patients cope medically and financially with breast cancer. “The areas we take care of for women with financial support are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy,” explained foundation executive director Penny Lauricella.

In her passing, Elizabeth Edwards is raising cancer awareness at a time when organizations like Pretty in Pink have need outstripping their resources. “Financially it’s quite hard for us to raise funds, but we cannot say no,” said Lauricella. Six years ago, Bernadette Pickles was told she had breast cancer. “Nobody wants to talk about what happens once you are diagnosed with the disease and the rippling effect it has,” explained Pickles, who is also the foundation’s director of outreach.

Bernadette believes Elizabeth Edwards’ public cancer battle has helped others fight the disease. “Currently, Pretty in Pink is paying the cancer treatment bills for 1,000 women with 181 others still waiting to be processed.

The Pretty in Pink Foundation

~ Kim Carther

1. Co-payment assistance / Assistance with Medical Bills:

Cancer Care Co-Pay Relief
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program
Chronic Disease Fund
Patient Access Network Foundation

2. Free or Low Cost Cancer Drugs:

Treatment Options 
http://www.needymeds.org
RX Assist
https://www.rxhope.com/home.aspx

3. Grants/Scholarships:

“I’m too Young” has a huge list of grants and/or scholarships for cancer patients under 40:

http://stupidcancer.com/community/i2y-money.shtml

NOTE: Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund is currently out of funding. It expects to resume accepting applications in May 2011.

4. Faith-Based Assistance:

Some resources in the Jewish community:

Zichron Shlome Refuah Fund, which is based in Brooklyn, NY, offers many services to Jewish cancer patients, including financial assistance

http://www.zsrf.org/

In the Orthodox Jewish community, there is a concept known as “gemach”, where people donate money, clothes, food, etc. to those who are in need. Please see below for the “Gemach” section on “Yiddele’s classifieds”

http://yiddele.com/categorydetail.aspx?id=1031&exact_phrase=0

5. Assistance From Your Cancer Care Center:

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has two forms of financial assistance. One financial assistance program is designed to assist patients with their in-patient and out-patient hospital bills. The other program assists patients with non-medical expenses, such as transportation and childcare.

Perhaps your treatment center has similar kinds of assistance available.

I hope that these resources will be of some help.

Thanks to M.S. ! Hope you are back in tune, soon !

Hi ! and a warm welcome to people visiting this site for the first time.

I am hoping that when people visit this site they can look as some of the comment streams and see who is reaching out for help. This site has no money to give at this time, but perhaps we can all help each other with information about grant money, local resources, and information.

I have created a forum for people to be able to talk about issues and help, but I still have to populate the forum with topics.

In the meantime, i will publish people’s requests for help. If someone visiting this site is rich and an angel, there are people with need that have posted to this site, and could use the financial help.

If you have information, or just want to offer moral and spiritual help, I will be happy to publish responses wherever the comments are posted.

~ kit

A new study finds that many women with early breast cancer do not need a painful procedure that has long been routine: removal of cancerous lymph nodes from the armpit.

Less Surgery for Breast Cancer?

The discovery turns standard medical practice on its head. Surgeons have been removing lymph nodes from under the arms of breast cancer patients for 100 years, believing it would prolong women’s lives by keeping the cancer from spreading or coming back.

Now, researchers report that for women who meet certain criteria — about 20 percent of patients, or 40,000 women a year in the United States — taking out cancerous nodes has no advantage. It does not change the treatment plan, improve survival or make the cancer less likely to recur. And it can cause complications like infection and lymphedema, a chronic swelling in the arm that ranges from mild to disabling.

Removing the cancerous lymph nodes proved unnecessary because the women in the study had chemotherapy and radiation, which probably wiped out any disease in the nodes, the researchers said. Those treatments are now standard for women with breast cancer in the lymph nodes, based on the realization that once the disease reaches the nodes, it has the potential to spread to vital organs and cannot be eliminated by surgery alone.

Experts say that the new findings, combined with similar ones from earlier studies, should change medical practice for many patients. Some centers have already acted on the new information. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan changed its practice in September, because doctors knew the study results before they were published. But more widespread change may take time, experts say, because the belief in removing nodes is so deeply ingrained.

Continue reading article  ~ New York Times

By DENISE GRADY
Published: February 8, 2011 New York Times