About Breast Cancer
For 33 years, SHARE has been helping women deal with the emotional and practical issues raised by breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Women who have experienced breast cancer have been educated and trained by SHARE to help those affected know the questions to ask about biopsies; pathology reports; surgery alternatives and how to decide with a physician about lumpectomy or mastectomy; the benefits and risks of radiation; whether chemotherapy and/ or hormone therapy should be part of adjuvant treatment and what personalized medicine means to the person calling our hotline or attending our support groups.
SHARE also offers support from peers who uniquely understand what it means to be a woman diagnosed at a young age; to have young children; to be single and concerned about relationships and fertility; to be elderly and deal with being alone and with the complexity of co-morbidities; to figure out how to deal with colleagues in the workplace and with the on-going fears and concerns that life will never be the same. We at SHARE have experienced all of these and more and it is this experience and understanding together with up to date knowledge that make this organization unique and valuable.
A great deal of information has been written about breast cancer. Instead of repeating that here, we would like to recommend a few places where you can find up-to-date information written by medical experts about the very complex topic of breast cancer.
The following web sites offer trustworthy information:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
http://ww5.komen.org/
This website has a comprehensive online guide entitled "Understanding Breast Cancer."
breastcancer.org
Information, resources, message boards and discussion lists.
Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes
http://www.crcfl.net/
Formerly known as the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance, this webpage has links to information on breast cancer in many different languages.
cancer.net
http://www.cancer.net/
Comprehensive information about all types of cancer including breast and ovarian cancer, as well as recent research results. The site is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO).
A comprehensive book about breast cancer is:
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. The best source of information about breast cancer, the fourth edition of this book is widely available in bookstores and many libraries. Don't try to read the entire book or you will be overwhelmed. Concentrate on the information you need now.
You may also find these websites useful for support services and information:
Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer
http://www.mautnerproject.org/home/
National lesbian health organization, has a client navigator program for breast cancer patients providing support groups, counseling, and referrals to lesbian-friendly doctors.
Sharsheret
http://www.sharsheret.org/
Support and resources for young Jewish women with breast cancer.
Sisters Network, Inc.
http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/
National African-American breast cancer survivorship organization. Seeks to educate and empower African-American women about the devastating impact breast cancer has in African-American communities.
The Support Connection
http://www.supportconnection.org
Located in Yorktown Heights, New York, their mission is to provide emotional, social, and educational support services to women, their families and friends affected by breast and ovarian cancer. The support provided enables women to help each other and empowers them to become their own health care advocates.
Young Survival Coalition
http://youngsurvival.org
YSC focuses on the unique issues surrounding breast cancer in women 40 and younger, including young women with metastatic breast cancer.
Women At Risk
www.womenatrisknyc.org
Women At Risk offers support services, educational programs and resources to women with breast cancer in the New York metropolitan area. They also run a High-Risk program for women at increased risk for breast cancer due to BRCA mutations, family history or benign breast disease.
For information about breast cancer advocacy:
National Breast Cancer Coalition
http://www.stopbreastcancer.org
National coalition of breast cancer advocacy groups. SHARE is a founding member. NBCC advocates for quality, evidence-based treatment and peer-reviewed research. They also conduct advanced scientific training, Project LEAD, for breast cancer advocates.
NY State Breast Cancer Support & Education Network
http://www.nysbcsen.org
New York State-wide coalition of breast cancer support organizations including SHARE. Monthly calendar of support groups throughout New York State.
Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation
http://www.alamobreastcancer.org/
Grassroots advocacy program in Texas that sponsors the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) Advocate Program, which provides scholarships and mentoring sessions for breast cancer advocates.
Check out Articles from SHARE Patient Advocates
Gail Garfield Schwartz offers in-depth information about Triple Negative Breast Cancer (click here), based on a presentation given by Dr. Antoinette R. Tan.