Utah Breast Cancer Support Group

Non-denominational breast cancer support group in Utah for young women in their 20's, 30's and 40's. Friends by Chance. Sisters by Choice.


Young Survivor Sisters is a free, non-denominational breast cancer support group for women living in Utah who are in their 20's, 30's and 40's. We've been supporting each other like sisters since 2003 and welcome your participation. Together We Survive! To join the conversation, please join our Facebook Page

Friday, February 20, 2009

Young Survivor Sisters on FaceBook

Young Survivor Sisters has started a cause on FaceBook to try to reach more women in utah. You can visit the link below to view the cause and to join it.

We are asking everyone who joins the cause to donate the price of a stamp to our group. Please visit http://apps.facebook.com/causes/220591?m=c23b5141 to see the cause page.

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

March Get Together

North group is planning a get together on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Mimi's, 874 west Antelope Drive, (North of Target) in Layton. Of course, kids are welcome. Please call Teri at 801-593-8953 or email her at gemskids@comcast.net to RSVP so she can get an appropriate table reserved. See you there.

P.S. Make sure that all the new girls know about this.

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Helps for Financial aid, Medications and Insurance

Thanks to Nancy for helping put this list together. We will try to post more information regarding financial aid and other forms of cancer aid as we receive it.

Medical expenses/general expenses resources:

Sense of Security
www.senseofsecurity.org
Click on the "FAST" button on the left side to> go to the quick questionnaire.> >
Sense of Security can fund the following expenses while you are receiving breast cancer treatment: Mortgage or rent, Medical insurance premiums, Transportation costs, Child care, Utilities, Groceries

The Patient Advocate Foundation
www.copays.org
The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) currently provides direct financial support to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, who must financially and medically qualify to access pharmaceutical co-payment assistance. The program offers personal service to all patients through the use of call counselors; personally guiding patients through the enrollment process.

Needs Beyond Medicine
http://www.ucrew.org/needs.html
The Needs Beyond Medicine's goal is to offer assistance to enhance the quality of life for those diagnosed with breast cancer. The Needs Beyond Medicine project will provide financial assistance to women or men who are diagnosed with breast cancer, and because of the high cost of treatment, the women/men and/or their families are faced with temporary financial difficulties.

Cancer Care Inc
www.cancercare.org
Cancer Care is a national non-profit organization that providese free, professional assistance to people with any type of cancer and to their families. They offer education, one on one counseling, financial aid for non-medical expenses and referrals to community services.

Cancer Fund of America
www.cfoa.org
CFA is dedicated to providing direct aid to financially indigent patients in the form of goods such as canned foods, medical supplies, and other staples.

Credit Counseling Centers of America (CCC America)
www.cccamerica.org
CCC America is a non-profit organization that provides a wide array of consumer and creditor services for individuals and families experiencing financial distress.

Health insurance Association of America
www.hiaa.org
HIAA is a lobbyist group for insurance companies. They can help answer questions regarding health insurance coverage.

Hill-Burton Free Care Program
http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/osp/dfcr/
This is a national government agency that provides referrals for free medical crae at participating medical facilities, mostly hospitals, and helps low-income individuals pay their medical bills.

Cover the Uninsured
www.covertheuninsured.org
The website contains insurance and medical coverage resources...

The First Mile Foundation
www.thefirstmile.org/charities.html
Provides financial support to families and individuals in order to alleviate the added everyday stresses associated with cancer.

Sensational in Survival
www.sensationalinsurvival.org
Committed to improving the quality of life for those battling breast cancer by providing financial assistance in the form of grants during treatment to those in need.


RX resources:

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
www.pparx.org
Helps qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need. Website offers access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs.

NeedyMeds
Nonprofit organization aids people who can't afford medicine or other health care costs. www.needymeds.com

RxHope
Web-based patient assistance program is a link between the pharmaceutical> industry and physicians t provide prescription aid.
www.rxhope.com

The Medicine Program
This national non-profit organization provides free prescriptions for those who qualify.
http://www.themedicineprogram.com

Together RX Access
www.togetherrxaccess.com
Free prescriptions savings cards for eligible US and Puerto Rico residents who have no prescription drug coverage, are not eligible for Medicare, and meet certain income guidelines.


Other Helps:

Young Survival Coalition
http://www.youngsurvival.org/
The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international, nonprofit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Inc
NAHHH is a service organization of hospital hospitality houses (HHH). Member houses provide a variety of services - primarily no-cost or low-cost housing for families and patients requiring hospital treatment or care away from their homes. At present, there are approx. 150 HHH-type facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
http://www.nahhh.org

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
This network of independent groups and individuals provides information and resources about cancer support, advocacy, and quality of life issues as well as helps cancer patients deal with insurance or job discrimination and other related legal matters.
http://www.cansearch.org

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation (503) 829-4486
Provides an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients to fulfill a dream or wish.
www.makingmemories.org

Read more...

Managing Stress - Something we all could do better

Managing Stress
February 1, 2009 by http://www.cancer.net/

An illness such as cancer can be one of the most stressful events of a person’s life. The stress of cancer and its treatment is increased by family, work, and financial concerns, in addition to everyday stress that was present before the cancer diagnosis. Stress has not been shown to cause cancer; however, chronic stress may weaken the immune system, causing other health problems and decreasing feelings of well-being.

Tips for reducing stress
Some sources of stress (known as stressors) are predictable and can often be avoided. Making small changes, such as planning your schedule carefully and reducing your workload, can help lower the number of stressors in your life. The following general tips can often help to reduce stress:

Avoid scheduling conflicts. Use a day planner or personal digital assistant (PDA) to keep track of your appointments and activities. When scheduling activities, allow plenty of time to finish one activity before starting the next. Don't schedule too many activities for the same day or week, especially activities that require preparation.

Be aware of your limits. Allow yourself to say "no" when people ask you to take on tasks you don't have time or energy to complete. At work, don't volunteer for projects that you don't have time to work on. Cancer and treatment may leave you feeling fatigued, and you may need to take on fewer tasks if your energy level is low. Ask for help. Ask family, friends, and coworkers for help. People are likely to offer their help, so think about what you need in advance, such as help with shopping or picking up a child from school.

Prioritize your tasks. Make a list of the things you have to do (including work, chores, etc.) and rank them in order of importance, considering both things you must do and things that are important to you. If you don't have time to do everything, concentrate on the tasks and activities at the top of your list.

Break down tasks into smaller steps.
Break large tasks or problems into smaller steps and approach the steps one at a time. This process can make seemingly overwhelming problems easier to handle. For example, instead of spending an afternoon cleaning your house, tackle one or two rooms each day.

Concentrate your efforts on things you can control. For instance, the doctor’s schedule and traffic are out of your control, even with the best planning. People who can remain flexible keep their stress low. Sometimes the only aspect of a problem you can control is how you react to it.

Get help with financial problems. Ask an oncology social worker or a financial adviser who is familiar with cancer for advice on dealing with cancer-related insurance and financial matters. Do not wait to seek financial help; late bills and debt can quickly become overwhelming if not handled properly. Learn more about financial support resources.

Stress management strategies
While you can reduce your overall stress, it is not possible to eliminate all the stress in your life. Stress management strategies help you feel more relaxed and less anxious. The following list includes suggestions of what you can do everyday to help reduce stress:

Get frequent, moderate exercise. Moderate exercise, such a 30-minute walk, swim, or bike ride, lowers stress when done daily or at least several times a week. Talk with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. Learn more about physical activity and cancer.

Schedule social activities. Plan times to socialize with family and friends. Having supportive friends and family is one of the most significant ways to reduce stress.

Eat well and get plenty of sleep. Maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough rest will give you more energy to deal with daily stressors. Learn more about nutrition and cooking resources for people living with cancer and strategies for a better night’s sleep.

Join a support group. Support groups offer you the chance to talk about your feelings and fears with others who share and understand your experiences. You can also talk with a trusted friend, a counselor, or a social worker. Learn more about support groups.

Schedule daily leisure time. Spend time doing an activity you find relaxing, such as reading a book, gardening, or listening to music.

Do things you enjoy. Eat at your favorite restaurant or watch your favorite television show. Laughter reduces stress; see a funny movie or read a humorous book. Learn more about coping with cancer through humor.

Write in a journal. Writing about the stresses and events in your life provides a private way to express your feelings. Learn more about finding comfort through journaling.

Learn a new hobby. Engaging in a new and challenging activity gives you a sense of accomplishment and provides distraction from daily worries. Examples include enrolling in an art class or playing a musical instrument.

Relaxation techniques
The following techniques may help you relax when feeling stressed. These techniques must be learned and practiced to become effective. Most can be learned in a few sessions with a counselor. Many hospitals and cancer centers have classes to teach patients relaxation techniques. Some of these techniques can be learned by following written directions. These techniques can be done daily, as well as at specific stressful times, such as during a medical procedure.

Relaxed or deep breathing. A technique that involves deep, slow breathing while concentrating on filling the lungs and relaxing muscles.

Mental imagery or visualization. A technique for creating peaceful and relaxing images in the mind.

Progressive muscle relaxation. A technique that involves tightening and then relaxing muscles, starting at either the toes or the head and progressively relaxing all the muscles either up or down the body.

Meditation. A technique in which you learn to relax your mind and concentrate on an inner sense of calm.

Biofeedback. A technique in which you are taught to relax and control your body's response to stress by paying attention to signals from the body.

Yoga. A technique that focuses the mind on breathing and posture to promote relaxation and to reduce fatigue.

Read more...



Books Available

Ginny and I (Erin) have collected a bunch of really great breast cancer related books and would love to share them with anyone interested in reading...Just leave a comment here on the blog and we'll arrange getting you the book!

Here's the list:

Finding the “CAN” in Cancer
By Nancy Emerson, Pam Leight, Susan Boonan and Terri Schinazi

Fighting for our future- How Young Women Find Strength, Hope, and Courage While Taking Control of Breast Cancer-
Forward by Ann Curry of the Today Show
By Beth Murphy

Voices of Breast Cancer- The Haling Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort & Strength
Edited by the Healing Project

Just a Lump in the Road- Reflections of Young Breast Cancer Survivors
By Debbie Leifert, Gina Castronova, Dr. Tamara Brennan, Jackie Ehrilich, Cindy Goldberg, & Donna Palmisciano

Breast Cancer Survivor Fitness Plan
By Carolyn M. Kaelin, M.D., M.P.H.

Facing the Mirror With Cancer- A Guide to using Make-up to Make a Difference
By Lori Ovitz and Joanne Kabak

Breast Cancer Husband-- How to Help your Wife and (Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment, & Beyond
By Marc Silver

First You Cry- The Classic Inspiring Story of One Woman’s Triumph Over Breast Cancer
By Betty Rollin

The Middle Place- A Memoir of Kelly’s battle with breast cancer
By Kelly Corrigan

Crazy, Sexy, Cancer Tips-
By Kris Carr--Forward by Sheryl Crow

Tools & Tips From the Trenches- Heartfelt Advice for Survivors Families & Friends
By Mary Olsen Kelly

Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul
By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, & Mary Olsen Kelly

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