"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves." - Henry David Thoreau
Dear friend of BB!,

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Here at HQ, we know how important it is to recognize this issue, both for its broader implications in the general population and because mental health is intimately tied with what we do - offering support for young breast cancer survivors. Recent research shows that over 80 percent of breast cancer patients will develop PTSD symptoms upon diagnosis that will last for a year or more (read more here), but there still doesn't seem to be a lot of understanding of or attention to addressing this with survivors when they're first diagnosed. Enter Beyond Boobs!

When Rene and I first started Beyond Boobs!, we witnessed the detrimental psychological effects of a breast cancer diagnosis (especially on young women) well before the research told us so; it was one of the reasons we started on this journey in the first place. Even though we aren't mental health professionals and the organization doesn't function in that capacity, we understand how important mental health is for healing mind, body, and spirit. We also know that providing a support system will let our ladies know they aren't alone and help them put their own experiences into context while receiving love, encouragement, and inspiration. That's why we're growing, adding more women into our support systems, and expanding as fast as we can into the virtual world - young women diagnosed with breast cancer face mental and emotional challenges that standard treatments don't yet address, and we want to be there to help.

Mental health is such an important part of overall well-being, so I hope you are able to be a source of encouragement to anyone you know who may be suffering from mental health troubles. And if you are the one struggling, my hope is that you are able to find resources to help you. We are all on this trip together, and we can all make a difference.

Hugs,
Mary Beth Gibson, Executive Director and Co-Founder
What's Happening at BB!?
Renew, Restore, Retreat!
Boobers! and facilitators got a chance to relax and rejuvenate at the beach during the last weekend of April. They made new friends, had adventures, learned a little something, de-stressed, and just generally lived life with an exclamation point! We offer the retreat each year because we want our Boobers! to live their best lives after diagnosis, and we'll do whatever we can to get them there! All the women attending had a wonderful time, and we can't wait to see new faces (and returning faces) next year!
"Breast" Ball was a Hit!
We had so much fun at this year's "Breast" Ball Golf Tournament on April 22, with well over 340 golfers who came out to support BB!'s mission. With everyone's help, we raised over $50,000! It was a beautiful day, full of laughter, hugs, golf, and good times - just like we like it! Thanks to our presenting sponsors Ben Smykowski and York River Electric, our other sponsors, and all our fabulous volunteers for making this the best tournament yet! Check out the pictures here!
Spring Calendar Models!
APRIL MODEL:
NATALIE 38, DIAGNOSED AT 35
IMMEDIATE FAMILY HISTORY,
NO KNOWN GENETIC MUTATION
Eligibility specialist, wife, and mother of two teenagers, Natalie noticed a sizable knot on her left breast but assumed it was related to her cycle and would go away. Even though her mother had been diagnosed at 46, Natalie wasn't worried... read all of Natalie's story here!

MAY MODEL:
LISA 43, DIAGNOSED AT 41,  NO FAMILY HISTORY
Logistics lead and single mother to a grown child, a teenager, and a seven year old, Lisa found a lump during a self-exam that was prompted by an overdue notice she received for her annual mammogram. Lisa was frightened and so certain it was cancer that she... read the rest of Lisa's story here!
BREAST FEST 2016 IS COMING!
You know what this time of year means - Breast Fest! This year, we're changing things up a little bit and hosting this fun event indoors at The Eagle's Nest in Chesapeake! We hope you'll join us from noon to 4 p.m. on June 11 as we have food, dancing, and music. Most important of all, help us pick this year's MR. BREAST FEST! Each dollar buys a vote for your fave guy in a bra! Get details, become a sponsor, or find out how to compete for the title of Mr. Breast Fest here!
CALENDAR UPDATE: Please Sponsor!
Next year is a super special one! We're in the process of putting together our 10th annual A Calendar to Live By - we almost can't believe it's been 10 years! We have such special things planned to celebrate this, and we hope you'll be a part of it by being a calendar sponsor. From buying a day to being a monthly sponsor and more, there are many ways for you to get involved in this one-of-a-kind project! Click HERE for details!
THANK YOU to our  CALENDAR SPONSOR this month:
for Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery

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For Your Health!
Breast Cancer Gene Might Lower Women's Fertility: Study
" A gene mutation that is linked to a greater risk of breast cancer may also be tied to potential fertility problems, researchers report. The BRCA1 gene mutation, which raises the risk of breast cancer by 80 percent, may be linked to having fewer eggs in the ovaries as a woman ages, the Australian investigators said..."
from Health Day
11 Powerful Tips to Keep Your Spirits Bright
" It is easy to keep your spirits bright when life is going along smoothly and good news seems to turn up at every turn. It is an entirely different picture when life goes off course or bad news obstructs our path..."
from HuffPost Blog
Curried Spring Vegetable Crumble
from
We're always looking for healthy, easy recipes packed with good foods! This recipe from Oh My Veggies fits the bill. G et the recipe HERE!

THANK YOU 
to our sponsors!




 




 

 



 








Beyond Boobs! is dedicated to healing and saving lives by supporting young women diagnosed with breast cancer while providing breast health education for all.