May 2015
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Educate.

Want free materials to help educate your local community about breast cancer? VBCF offers  Pink Ribbon Cards and Breast Health Basics for Women & Men brochures  free of charge for Virginians. 

The  2014 Nancy G. Dopp Volunteer of the Year Award  has been presented to Gay Rudis. This statewide award recognizes a volunteer whose contributions of time, energy or talents had a significant impact for VBCF. Gay has been generously providing her time, talent and support to VBCF for almost 20 years and has been a constant and consistent source of strength, love, and energy that has made our organization successful. Gay is a former member and past president of VBCF?s Board of Directors.  She is a longtime member of VBCF?s Central VA Chapter and has also served as chapter president.  She has volunteered at State and National Lobby Days and Becky's Place at RAM.  She is currently volunteering her time in preparation for the 29th Annual Women's Memorial Golf Tournament. Gay, thank you for being a VBCF Volunteer Extraordinaire!

VBCF recently awarded  2015 Breast Health Education Mini-Grants totaling $6,960. The eight grantees include Beyond Boobs, Chickahominy Health District, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Ellen Shaw deParedes Breast Cancer Foundation, Nueva Vida, Pathways Specialty Clinic, Richmond Guardian Angels, and Western Tidewater Free Clinic. These organizations anticipate providing 8,000 Virginians with breast health education.

VBCF volunteers will once again host Becky's Place at RAM (Remote Area Medical) July 17-19, 2015 in Wise, VA. This event brings health care screening, services, and education to Wise County, an extremely rural area of Virginia. VBCF runs the cancer education program tent and provides volunteers for child care and other support services. Please consider supporting the Volunteer?s Wish List.

VBCF is currently accepting applications for our Library Grant Program, an extension of our mission to educate Virginians about breast cancer.  Through the program, libraries are able to purchase updated books, periodicals, DVDs, etc. for local Virginian patrons.  The deadline to apply is June 30.

VBCF advocates and members of Nueva Vida  visited Washington, DC on May 5 for the National Breast Cancer Coalition  Lobby Day. Thank you to U.S. Senator Tim Kaine  for committing to sign on to the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act.
Advocate.

VBCF's National Lobby Day - A huge thank you to the 30+ advocates who joined us on the hill in Washington, DC to meet with Virginia's 13 elected legislators and their aides. As a result, Senators Kaine and Warner and Representatives Comstock (R-10) and Connolly (D-11) have signed on to support the 2015 Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act.  

The 2014-16 Karin Decker Noss Scholarship has been awarded to Jacqueline Ford-Condelli of Richmond, VA. Karin was a dedicated VBCF board member and past president. When diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer in July 1995, she dedicated her remaining life to breast cancer advocacy. The Scholarship funds advanced training for the recipient in breast cancer research and legislative advocacy to carry on the work that Karin began. Jackie plans to attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition?s weeklong Project LEAD to get her started. Congratulations, Jackie!
Announcements


VBCF's 2014 Annual Report is available now.  We are excited to share our accomplishments with you so please take a few minutes to check it out.  We also want to say thank you for your support - we couldn't do it without you!

Welcome Kirsta Millar - she joined VBCF in mid-April as a part-time Policy and Fund Development Manager.  She has hit the ground running and is a welcome addition to our team!
Thank You!


Thank you to the many volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who made the 6th annual Aces for Awareness event to benefit VBCF on May 8, 2015 at the Westwood Club a huge success!  This wonderful event was sold out for the second year in a row, raising an Aces record of more than $30,000 in support of VBCF?s education and advocacy programs.

Thank you to the VBCF Peninsula Chapter for hosting the 22nd Annual Fashion Show, which took place on April 18, 2015 at the Crown Plaza in Hampton. The event raised more than $14,000 for VBCF.

Thank you to LifeCare Medical Transport for their sponsorship of Night of Honky Tonk Angels 6, a celebration of women in American Roots music on June 13 at 6 pm at Capital Ale House. Tickets to NOHTA6 are $10 and will be available at the door.  Proceeds benefit VBCF.

Thank you to Virginia Health Insurance Exchange for their support of VBCF. VHIE donated funds for each Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act individual enrollment during the 2014-15 open enrollment period.  
Recent Breast Cancer News
Why Women With Dense Breasts May Not Need More Screening

The debate over how much screening women with dense breasts should get continues

For several years now, there been a growing push to advise women with dense breast tissue to get more than just an annual mammogram. And there?s good reason for it?studies show that dense breast tissue can mask small potential tumors on a mammography image, and dense breast tissue may also be a risk factor for breast cancer.

CONTINUE READING

Reduction of Breast Cancer Among Women Due to Breast Feeding

In the science study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, scientists mulled over data of 1,636 women with breast cancer through scientific analytical questionnaire about breastfeeding.

In this new study, scientists acknowledged the women polled with breast cancer who breastfed their babies are significantly less at risk of the disease recurring, which is a big discovery.
Screening for Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians

Cancer screening is one approach to reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality rates. Screening strategies vary in intensity. Higher-intensity strategies are not necessarily higher value. High-value strategies provide a degree of benefits that clearly justifies the harms and costs incurred; low-value screening provides limited or no benefits to justify the harms and costs. When cancer screening leads to benefits, an optimal intensity of screening maximizes value. Some aspects of screening practices, especially overuse and underuse, are low value.

 

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Since 1991 the volunteers and staff of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation have worked tirelessly to fulfill the mission of our organization ? the eradication of breast cancer through education and advocacy.

We cannot do this without your help.  Give generously to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation to help us continue our vital work. This is a fight we want to win.