Workshop Series Tea Talk Sorry, but this form is now closed. Register for our next workshop #2 "Protect Your Petals" Saturday, June 13th. First name* Last name* Age* Address* Address - line 2 City* State* Zip code* Email* Are you a breast cancer survivor?* Yes No Have you ever had a mammogram?* Yes No Submit

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About Breast Cancer Educating women and men on what they can do to be proactive with their breast health is one of our top priorities because the knowledge saves lives What is Breast Cancer? Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow. There are different kinds of breast cancer and therefore depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Most cancer begins in the ducts or lobules, and can spread outside of the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. Breast cancer becomes metastasized once it spreads to other parts of the body. The two most common types of breast cancer are invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma . The invasive cancer cells in both types can spread to other parts of the body. Invasive ductal carcinoma is cancer cells that begin in the ducts and then grow outside of the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive lobular carcinoma is cancer cells that begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to breast tissues that are close by. Stages of Breast Cancer Stage 0 : A non-invasive breast cancer, meaning it hasn’t spread outside of its original location on the breast tissue. It’s highly treatable when it’s detected early. It can spread into surrounding breast tissue if untreated. Stage 1 : Stage 1: The earliest stage of breast cancer that is invasive. The cancer is no longer contained in its original location but is generally small and found in the early stages when it can be most effectively treated. This stage is divided into two categories: Stage 1A and Stage 1B , which is based on the size of the tumor and whether it is only in the breast tissue or has spread to the lymph nodes. Stage 2 : The breast cancer is growing, but it is still contained in the breast or growth has only extended to the nearby lymph nodes. The stage is also divided into two categories: Stage 2A and Stage 2B . Chemotherapy is done first. Surgery and radiation therapy follows after. Stage 3 : The breast cancer has extended beyond the immediate region of the tumor and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and muscles but hasn’t spread to nearby organs. This stage is divided into three categories: Stage 3A, Stage 3B, and Stage 3C . Treatment options may consist of a combination of two more treatments which is mastectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Stage 4 : The breast cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the brain, bones, lung and liver, and known as metastatic breast cancer. It’s not curable but is usually treatable. This stage may respond to a number of treatments and can extend your life for several years. Want to learn more about the stages of cancer, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org for more information. Risk Factors Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to many factors. Simply being a woman and getting older are the main factors that influence your risk. Breast cancer found in women and men are 50 years old or older but some women will get breast cancer without any risk factors that they know of. Having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get breast cancer and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most men and women can have the risk factors but not get breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about ways to lower your risk and screenings for breast cancer. You can lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health by keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, choosing not to drink alcohol or drinking it in moderation, and if you are taking oral contraceptives, ask your doctor about the risks . Staying healthy will lower the risk of developing cancer and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it ever occurs. If you have a family history of breast cancer or genetic changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, talk to your doctor about ways you can lower your risk. Breast Cancer and Pregnancy Even though it's rare, it's possible to be diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy, but breast cancer is not caused by the pregnancy. There is still hope for both mother and child because of the many treatment options available . If you have been diagnosed while being pregnant, be sure to communicate carefully with your obstetric care team. They will take extra care in designing the treatment plan that best controls the breast cancer while protecting your unborn child. Even though breast cancer is more common in older women, if you’ve been diagnosed at a younger age, you may wonder if breast cancer will affect your ability to have children and if there will be any risks if you become pregnant. Women are able to become pregnant after being treated for cancer but some treatments can make it harder to get pregnant . Talk to your doctor before you begin treatment if you want to have children or want to keep that option open. Studies have not shown that pregnancy increases the risk of the cancer coming back after successful treatment . However, some women may not be able to breastfeed after breast cancer treatment, depending on what type of treatment they have received. For those who are able to breastfeed after treatment, it’s not thought to increase the risk of breast cancer coming back because there is less information on if it can lower the risk of it coming back after treatment.

Night at the Movies! Please register by Saturday, March 7th. Sorry, but this form is now closed. * First name * Last name * Email * Phone * Are you a breast cancer survivor? Yes No * Age * How did you hear about this event? If you would like to join our mailing list, please enter your mailing address. Submit HOME

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Treatment Breast cancer is generally treated with many different options but most treatment plans include more than one type of treatment. Choosing the right treatment for you may be difficult. Your doctor will explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and their side effects. Treatment Options Surgery : An operation where doctors cut out the cancer and is the most common treatment. Surgical options include a lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, radical mastectomy, and reconstruction. Chemotherapy : Uses a combination of medicine that shrinks or kills the cancer cells. These medicines can be given orally by pills or through the veins to travel in the bloodstream. Radiation Therapy : An operation that uses high energy rays to kill the cancer cells. It only affects the part of the body that is being treated and can also be used to destroy other cells that remained after surgery. Hormonal Therapy : Blocks the cancer cells from getting the estrogen and progesterone it needs to grow. Biological Therapy : Works with your body’s immune system to help fight cancer cells or to control the side effects from other cancer treatments. Targeted Therapy : This treatment attacks specific cancer cells without harming the normal cells. This method is commonly used in combination with chemotherapy. Targeted drugs tend to have less severe side effects than standard chemotherapy drugs. Follow-Up Care Checkups help ensure that any changes in your health are noted and treated so you’ll need regular checkups after breast cancer treatment. If you had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, your care team will want to see you every few months and then as time goes on, your appointments will be more spaced out. Checkups also help detect health problems that may result from treatment such as lingering side effects or if you’re experiencing any new side effects. Checkups include an examination of the neck, armpit, and chest area. You should also continue to have regular mammograms , since it’s possible for a new breast cancer to develop. During your follow-up appointments, it’s best to ask your doctor about the probability of developing a recurrence within the breast tissue or a distant recurrence in another organ based on the treatments you had.

< Back Grant Administrator/Writer We are seeking a student who is a meticulous, sharp, articulate and research-savvvy Grant Writer, who can turn heart-wrenching stories into compelling arguments for funding. In this role, you will learn the art and science of securing funds from foundations, corporations, and government entities. You will be drafting narratives that result in real dollars for breast cancer awareness, education, support and patient aid. If you enjoy research, have impeccable grammar, and want a skill set that is highly employable in the non-profit sector, this is the internship for you. Requirements Research and identify new funding opportunities that align with our mission and programs. Assist in applying for full grant proposals. Write compelling narratives that blend statistical data (e.g., cancer survival rates, age, gender, etc.) with emotional storytelling (e.g., patient testimonials). Also responsible for updating the Grants Calendar to ensure no deadlines are missed for applications or reports. Assist in gathering data for "Grant Reports" (documents sent to funders explaining how we spent their money). Maintain digital files of grant agreements, acknowledgement letters, and budgets. Collaborate with other team members to gather the latest statistics on how many patients we served, ensuring our proposals use the most current data. Qualifications Needed Develop superior writing skills and the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Attention to detail and accuracy. Follow instructions and able to dig deep to find information. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel (basic budgeting skills are a huge plus). Job Description

Let's Tackle Breast Cancer! Sorry, but this form is now closed. First name* Last name* Email* Survivor?* Yes No Product* Ticket $40 Submit BACK HOME

< Back Mackenzie Currans's Story Hello, my name is Mackenzie Currans, I am 48 years of age. On October 4, 2013, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2NEU positive ER/PR negative breast cancer at the age of 36. I did 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 8-hour days, which was followed by a bilateral mastectomy. After the bilateral mastectomy I then received 38 rounds of radiation, then continued with Herceptin infusions for another 6 months. I have had a total of 13 surgeries and I’m still standing strong today! Everyone suggested that I go to Northwestern or Rush Hospital. However, I chose to listen to my doctors and their recommendations to receive my treatments at Alexian Brothers. Alexian Brothers Hospital was only 2 miles away from home which made it easier for me to get back and forth to treatments. Because of Ascension Alexian Brothers Cancer Center Care team, I am here today! In October 2019, after getting the wonderful news that I was 5 years cancer free, I made the decision to give back to other breast cancer patients by starting the Mac-Attack event and helping those in the fight. Previous Connect Next

CONTACT US Pink Divas & Gents NFP Organization P.O Box 7193, Westchester, IL 60154 We're here to help. Please fill out the form on the right and our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible. In Regards To: Select One Submit Thanks for submitting!

< Back Ann Caple's Story Hello, my name is Ann Caple, I’m age 64. I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2009. I scheduled a routine mammogram and waited for a letter in the mail to tell me that my results were negative for breast cancer, as had been since I started having mammograms at the age of 40. Instead, I received a phone call. They said they’d seen something in my breast like rings of sugar. March 2009 – My doctor scheduled me for an ultrasound and MRI, then a biopsy of my left breast. April 2009 – I received the phone call telling me I that I had early-stage breast cancer. “I screamed on the phone. I was nervous. I was scared and I was home alone. I said, “God if it’s meant for me to be here, you will let me be here. If it’s meant for me to go, then I’ll go. But I know that you’ve got me! At my first appointment, I told my doctor that I didn’t want radiation or chemotherapy. I also had reconstructive surgery. After surgery, I decided to take a form of chemotherapy. Now, after an intensive 27-week healing process, and chemo pills for 10 years, I go to the doctor every 3 months and gets a yearly MRI to ensure I remain breast cancer free. My grandmother and my mother never discussed cancer. I attend the support group at West Suburban Medical Center and is on the breast cancer support group and champion survivors’ committee with Pink Divas & Gents Org. I speak at churches and share my experience with people in my daily life. We must share our stories and discuss the importance of screening with other women. Every life matters! Previous Connect Next

< Back Theresa Oliva This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Previous Connect Next