It is dedicated to providing reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer. Their mission 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.

We found the topics related to risk and prevention and the role of genetics particularly helpful. There is also information about ovarian cancer.

They have also created an innovative dictionary tool to address the problem of understanding complex terms when facing critical decisions about their cancer treatment. This dictionary is a compilation of numerous complex breast cancer terms defined in plain English.

This informative site covers research and news and also features discussion boards chat rooms and stories of hope.

Please visit breastcancer.org and let us know what you think.

The above is an excerpt of an article I wrote titled “Loving Our Bald Selves” that appears in Coping with Cancer magazine that is currently posted on Coping With Cancer’s website homepage. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share my message about the potential emotional upheaval experienced by women with medical hair loss and about the need for greater awareness and understanding of those emotions in the context of cancer treatment and support. I hope you will read the entire article, available at Coping Magazine’s web site, just below Meridith Baxter’s photo and her story about being a breast cancer survivor.

Please visit: Coping With Cancer and share your comments and opinions below with the CancerDirectory.com community.

Susan Beausang, Founder and President 4Women.com

What I became concerned about was hearing that women with breast cancer should avoid soy. Reason being that soy, a plant, when it is ingested gets processed as a form of estrogen. For women with estrogen receptor positive tumors this would not be a good thing. Or so I was told by my doctors. I am one of those ER positive women. So I began running from soy. Reading labels like a lunatic and becoming afraid to ingest any food or dietary supplements that included soy as an ingredient.

That was 8 years ago. Since then the verdict on soy and breast cancer has been mixed. I found a recent article revealing the results of a study about soy. It says that soy is safe for breast cancer survivors and may even reduce mortality rates. However, in the medical community there is still debate about the topic. One MD says that he feels soy as part of a balanced diet is safe however he would not go so far as to say it will reduce mortality rates in women with breast cancer. Read the article here.

I am a big believer in moderation. Over the years I have stopped running in fear of soy. I was glad to hear this news although you never know what the next verdict will be…

As a breast cancer survivor do you include soy as a part of your diet? Did you ever fear soy after your treatment? How do you maintain a balance in your diet?

Cathy Bueti is the author of Breastless in the City. Visit her at cathybueti.com

I had a mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction where they took a piece of belly fat and muscle to make a new breast. It was 10 hours of surgery that I was afraid I would never wake up from. When I finally did I wished I hadn’t I was in so much pain. Although I joke about getting a “free tummy tuck” humor is my way of dealing with the emotional pain and fear I live with as a cancer survivor. I feel as though I have earned that right.

I think the person who wrote this should spend some time with chemo patients who are going bald, vomiting, in early menopause, have chemobrain and then decide if breast cancer still looks enticing. Then take a look at a young woman that has just had that so called boob job with scars, a fake nipple, and no sensation left in that breast and see what you think.

I would never wish breast cancer on my worst enemy nor would I ever wish it on myself. Although I try to take away the positives from a bad experience like how stronger I am from having gone through it, a postive has never been my fake left boob or the huge scar running across my belly that I have to see every day when I look in the mirror. A constant daily reminder of what was taken away because of cancer.

Have you seen this pic? What do you think? Does it make you angry? What would you tell this person if you had the chance?

Cathy Bueti is the author of Breastless in the City. Visit her at cathybueti.com

NBCAM is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to achieve these goals.

In 2009, NBCAM celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since its inception a quarter century ago, NBCAM has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues and has evolved along with the national dialogue on breast cancer.

Today, NBCAM recognizes that although many great strides have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there remains much to be accomplished. As they celebrate their 25th anniversary, they remain dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular self-breast exams to identify any changes, scheduling regular visits and annual mammograms with their healthcare provider, adhering to prescribed treatment, and knowing the facts about recurrence.

While October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the www.NBCAM.org Web site is a year-round resource for breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and the general public. You are encouraged to visit their site in October and regularly throughout the year as updated breast cancer information and resources are added.

Visit: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and share your comments and opinions below with the CancerDirectory.com community.

What do 4women.com and 4 “not very fit, crazy women in their 40’s” who are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro have in common?

All are the creative outcomes of women touched by breast cancer, who as a result of their experiences want to do something on behalf of other women.  Meet “Team Attitude at Altitude,” – Deb Hunt, Annemarie Smith, Helen Taylor, and Audra Selley.

Their goal is to complete a 9-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise 20,000 pounds for th eUK-based charity, Breakthrough Breast cancer.  On April 1st, 2008, Deb was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.  She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and readiotherapy.  During her no hair days, she opted for making a fashion statement (rather than a “cancer statement”) by wearing beaubeau head scarves.

It’s Deb’s “kick ass” attitude through her cancer diagnosis and treatments and their collective desire “to make a difference” (and apparently a little wine) that inspired the four to combine their energy into a positive force of change on behalf of all women.  4Women.com is honored to support these 4 brave women and their efforts to raise money for breast cancer research.

I may not physically get to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with the, but 4Women.com will be there in spirit.  Go 4Women!!! Visit their inspiring web site to learn more!

Susan M. Beausang

President, 4women.com

A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Right away, you’re confronted by uncertainty about the future and questions from family, friends and your health care team.

Your head is spinning, and you don’t know where to turn – until you find Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

Network of Strength has been a trusted resource for 30 years and has helped thousands find the information they need to make educated decisions. From articles on their website, to the knowledge of YourShoes™, a peer counselor support service with a 24/7 Hotline, Network of Strength keeps you informed.

While they do not give medical advice, they do explain in plain language the information you’re likely to encounter. No matter what the breast cancer topic is, Network of Strength provides information you can trust with a survivor’s touch.

Network of Strength is also committed to offering wigs and breast prostheses for women with limited resources. Every year, the organization provides nearly 500 wigs, prostheses and mastectomy bras for the women who need them most.

In addition to offering the products, Network of Strength offers wig care and styling tips, along with 24/7 Hotline support. Affiliates throughout the country facilitate local Wig & Prosthesis Banks, often with salons where women can try on items before taking them home.

YourShoes™  call center: The Network of Strength call center, named YourShoes™, is comprised of peer counselors who are all breast cancer survivors. They understand how important it is to talk with someone who’s been through it. The peer counselors at YourShoes™ help people touched by breast cancer so that they feel the strength and support they need.

These peer counselors are experienced in handling all types of questions related to breast cancer.  They can talk with you about your feelings and concerns and will make sure your questions are answered and give you the information you need in plain language.

You can request to be paired with a peer counselor who had the same diagnosis, is the same age or has experienced similar challenges as you. The confidential free-of-charge service is available to anyone who calls the Hotline. Call 1-800-221-2141 and get immediate emotional relief by speaking to a breast cancer survivor.

To receive more information, get help, or give a donation, please visit: Network Of Strength

I’d like to invite you all to come to www.fightingcancer.com and to follow the link to the cancer orientation.  I’d really like your feedback as to how effective it is and/or if there are other things I can do to improve the effectiveness of getting that message out. The Orientation is in two parts – the first part is essentially factual and the second part is about confronting your attitudes.

Why are attitudes important? Let me tell you a story: Not so long ago I met a woman who informed me that her breast cancer had returned. Her doctor had told her that the ’secondaries’ could not be treated and she was to go home and watch out for certain specified symptoms. If she felt them she was to go back to him and he would help her with them. Of course I immediately wrote down a suggestion for her on a piece of paper – we were at a conference workshop. As soon as she read what was in my message she handed it straight back and said: “Oh no! This is not for me. I have
complete trust in my oncologist.”

So, her oncologist had told her she was terminal and she was not prepared to do anything about it. She had a very fixed – rigid would not be too strong a word – attitude to the way things worked. She was not going to do anything that might impede the inevitable. I really would have liked to explore with her the other possibilities but it would most likely have been a waste of time. Her attitudes prevented her from looking for help outside the paradigm of official medicine. I had
to respect this. After all it was her life!

So, if you want to test your attitudes have a look through Part Two of my orientation. There are a couple of other things there that might interest you too.

She bakes cupcakes and leaves them on her friends doorsteps. “They are beautiful and have helped me heal” says Kathleen.

She has received a few orders in the hope this continues because it will be a great way for her to take care of herself financially.

We enjoy reading her blog and hope you do too.  Please visit Kathleen’s blog: Cupcakegirl’s Cancer Blog and let us know what you think of it by adding a comment below.

The study was the work of researchers at the National Cancer Institute and is published in the 31 October issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research.

For the study the investigators examined data on over 32,000 women enrolled in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project Follow-up Study. The researchers concluded that for this sample, only vigorous activity appeared to reduce breast cancer risk.

The following activities as “vigorous”: heavy housework like scrubbing floors and washing windows (vacuuming was rated as non-vigorous); garden digging (as opposed to general gardening); chopping wood; strenuous sports and exercise, including running, fast jogging and aerobics (as opposed to walking, golf or light jogging); cycling on hills (as opposed to on the flat); and fast dancing.

Read more and share your comments and opinions below with the CancerDirectory.com community.