Utah Breast Cancer Support Group for young women under the age of 45 - Young Survivor Sist

Skin Brushing to help lymph system

2012-01-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to an interesting video on using skin brushing to help the lymph system. It is worth a try.

LiveSTRONG Cancer Transitions Program comes to Utah!

2011-11-18T15:02:00.003-07:00

Good afternoon fellow pink warriors! I wanted to take a quick minute to share something amazing with you all: The Christi Anderson Rack Pack Foundation was picked up this year to perform LiveSTRONG's Cancer Transitions Program! Yeah!!! This is a 6 week program that helps ladies who have recently completed cancer treatment learn how to take their life back the healthy way. This first class is open to 20 ladies, and I believe that it will be the first 20 eligible ladies that apply that will be selected. I've attached the flyer's information so that you can find out more information on this event. Our own Becky Anderson will be coordinating the event so you will be seeing and hearing from her at each of the sessions - yeah!

The Christi Anderson Rack Pack Foundation is proud to present Cancer TransitionsTM which is a free 2 1⁄2-hour, six-week workshop for 20 breast cancer survivors. It is designed to help survivors make the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. Expert panelists including physicians, nutritionists and fitness experts will discuss exercise tailored to each participant’s abilities, training in relaxation and stress management and tips for nutritious eating. Cancer Transitions will answer many of your questions about cancer survivorship post-cancer treatment. Each session will feature a 30-minute exercise routine including yoga, aerobics, Pilates, Zumba and strength training – so wear comfortable clothing! There will also be healthy snacks and/or a light lunch at each session. The discussions will cover the following topics:

Session 1: Get Back to Wellness: Take Control of Your Survivorship
Session 2: Exercise for Wellness: Customized Exercise
Session 3: Emotional Health and Well-Being: From Patient to Survivor
Session 4: Nutrition Beyond Cancer
Session 5: Medical Management Beyond Cancer: What You Need to Know
Session 6: Life Beyond Cancer

Dates:
Jan. 14, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Rack Pack Central, Riverton
Jan. 21, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cancer Wellness House, SLC
Jan. 28, 2012 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. DASH Fitness, SLC
Feb. 4, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Weber State College, Ogden
Feb. 11, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Weber State College, Ogden
Feb. 18, 2012 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Downtown SLC, location TBA

Session facilitators include:
Becky Anderson, LCSW
Executive Director, Anything for a Friend
Lisa Anderson, RN, OCN
Nurse Manager
Jennifer Scott, Exercise/fitness specialist
Grace Gough, MS, RD, CD

Criteria for applicants: Age 21 or older, out of active breast cancer treatment for less than 24 months (acceptable to be on current oral maintenance treatment), able to receive your physician’s written permission to exercise, able to commit to attending all 6 sessions (carpooling recommended). Please e-mail your name, address and phone number to contact@rackpackfoundation.com by December 5, 2011. We will accept the first 20 eligible applicants!

2011-10-04T08:47:00.002-07:00

The Susan G. Koman Survivor lunch was so much fun on Saturday. We had a record number of our girls attending. Here is a picture of some of them.

We had 4 tables reserved and could have used one more. I apologize to anyone from the group who wasn't able to sit with us because we ran out of room.

Welcome to all the new women we met at the luncheon. We hope you decide to officially join the Young Survivor Sisters.

October Events for YSS

2011-09-28T13:21:00.002-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and with that comes many fun events for our group! Here are a few: Mark your calendars!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Susan G. Komen Survivor Luncheon @ 11:00am
1355 W. 3100 S.
West Valley City, UT 84119

The registration for this event is now closed, but those of you who have already RSVP'd make sure to look for our group. Candace Tatton and Jennifer Garza will be heading to this event early to save 3-4 tables, so keep a look out for them.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

South Area Social @ 6:30pm
The Cheesecake Factory
6223 S. State Street - Located near Fashion Place Mall
Murray, UT 84107

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Marci Lock Fitness Class @ 11:00am
Performax Gym - Clearfield
1659 E. 1400 S.
Clearfield, UT 84016

Join us and learn how to reclaim your strength and stamina with Marci Lock! (http://www.marcilock.com) Marci will be providing tips and showing us moves for those members who are concerned with getting back into shape after treatment or staying in shape during treatment. Marci will be teaching about all aspects of being healthy: mind, body and nutrition. This will be an excellent class!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Zumbathon Party in Pink! Event @ 4:00pm
Northwest Recreation Center
1255 Clark Avenue (300 North)
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

The Salt Lake Susan G. Komen Affiliate and Zumba Fitness are joining together to Party in Pink and raise money for our own local affiliate! Let's get together and have some fun while getting a good workout in. You don't need to have prior Zumba experience (I know that I don't!) but it will be a fun time with the girls. This class does cost $10 but the proceeds will stay in Utah so it's a great cause. Contact Jennifer Garza @ JGajeske@gmail.com if you're interested so that she can get a head count and arrange for carpools if necessary. Information and tickets to this event can be found here.

Young Survivor Sisters Spotlight on KUTV Channel 2 News at 4!

2011-09-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow Young Survivors! As some of you may have heard (or hopefully viewed!) Melissa, Candace and I did a 3-minute interview last week on KUTV Channel 2 news to promote the Young Survivor Sisters. I mean, let's face it, we are a pretty awesome group even though none of us ever imagined that we would be members of it, haha. Anyway, I don't have a really "nice" copy of our interview, but I do have a copy of a copy that I've uploaded to YouTube so that I could share it with those members who haven't seen it. I also hope that if there are some women out there who aren't members of our group yet but are checking this blog that they see the video and want to come join us! As the interview stated, we are not your typical support group where we sit around in a circle and complain and cry (though both may happen on occasion out of frustration!) We really like to share tips and techniques, laugh as much as we can, and try to make the best out of the cards that we have been dealt at this point in our lives. So, for you ladies that are reading this and aren't members yet - sign up! You won't be disappointed and I think that you will find it very calming to see with your own eyes how many young women are going through or have gone through EXACTLY what you're going through now. :)

With that being said, here is the YouTube video! (Once again, I apologize for the quality!)

I hope that you're all feeling as great as you can and kicking some cancer butt!

-Jennifer Garza

Lunch & Cold Stone Creamery Activities

2011-09-12T12:21:00.003-07:00

Thank you to Jennifer G. and Tonya S. for organizing a lunch social for this

Wednesday, September 14th @ noon

Kneaders Bakery

480 West Antelope Drive
Layton, UT 84041

Menu Map

For anyone who cannot make a lunch social we will have an evening activity on

Wednesday, September 21st @ 7 p.m.

Cold Stone Creamery

936 North Main Street

Layton, UT

This social was originally scheduled for the 22nd at Jamba Juice. An activity with my kids came up and Jamba Juice does not have any place for us to sit and talk. Sorry for the change.

Please email me at candytatton@yahoo.com to let me know if you are planning on coming.

Thanks

Candace Tatton

Pictures from the 2011 Ogden Rodeo

2011-07-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Here are a couple of pictures that my husband took at the Ogden Pioneer Day Rodeo. Enjoy!

Group pose

Walking out of the arena after being recognized

Hope that everyone is doing well and kicking some butt! :)

-Jennifer Garza

4th Annual YSS Family Swimming Party this Saturday

2011-07-27T11:35:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that this Saturday is the 4th Annual Young Survivor Sisters Family Swimming Party. My neighbor has offered the use of her pool again this year.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

1 to 3 p.m.

4356 South 3050 West

Roy, Utah

This is a family party so bring your spouse or significant other & kids or come by yourself if you prefer. It is a potluck so bring something to munch on. Come swim or just hang out and talk. The pool has a diving board and a slide. We have had a lot of fun at the past swim parties so we would love to have everyone join us this year. I will set up a shade for those who may not be feeling very well and who just want to relax and talk.

If you can please RSVP to me, Candace at 801-732-2707 or email me directly at candytatton@yahoo.com. It would help me to know if anyone is coming or possibly coming. If you forget to RSVP still come anyway. My cell phone is 801-628-8091 if you need directions on the day of the event. I hope to see a lot of you there.

Candace

National Anthem at the Bees Game

2011-07-04T12:42:00.002-07:00

Here is the link to watch some of our members singing the National Anthem at the Paint The Park Pink night at the Salt Lake Bees game on May, 7, 2011.

Fitness Problems

2011-07-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

Hello there, it's Jennifer Garza. I have been wanting to write a blog entry that dealt with fitness for some time now. In my journey, I have had a hard time, both physically and emotionally dealing with my weakened and fatigued body. I am still going through chemotherapy and will be having my first breast surgery this coming Tuesday - yikes! I have tried to get back into the gym and work out...but my workouts aren't the same as I remember them. Running is difficult, my muscles are weak so lifting is challenging, it's just all become such a stressful mess, especially when all I can focus on is how well I USED to be able to do these things. As for our diets, ha! For many weeks I was too sick to eat and had to rely on a can of ensure and some crackers every day. Other days when I was pumped full of steroids to avoid nausea all that I could do was eat! Needless to say I have gained some weight through all of this but I am not sure how to get myself back to healthy again. So here is my question to open up a discussion between us all: "How are you dealing with the physical changes of your body, and how are you making improvements to get "back" to healthy again?"

This evening our Past President Candace Tatton sent out an email talking about a fitness class that helps to transform our mind and body and should be a 2-3 hour class taught by Marci Lock. ( http://marcilock.com/) I know that there are other women out there like myself that are looking for some help putting the broken pieces back together that cancer leaves us with and it sounds like this will be a very good opportunity for that. So check out her website and make sure to email Candace at candytatton@yahoo.com

Make sure to read Candace's email and then respond to her with if you can go and what day would work best for you. The event is being scheduled for sometime in September or October and the class would be 2-3 hours in length.

Stay Strong, Fight Stronger, Ladies!!
<3 Jennifer Garza

July Lunch Social & Family Swimming Party

2011-06-28T10:59:00.003-07:00

I need to apologize for not keeping up with scheduling socials lately. For our new members who may not have had a chance to meet anyone yet I wanted to give you two chances to come to something in July. I know that summers are a hard time to get together because everyone is very busy so hopefully you will be able to make it to one or both of the activities.

North Area Lunch Social

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

11:30 a.m. in the Food Court of the Layton Hills Mall

Look for the pink heart balloon to find us.

Since I am in charge of North area socials we are meeting in Layton which is central to our members who live North of Bountiful. Although this is a north social because of the location, EVERYONE is welcome regardless of where you live. Feel free to bring your children if you want to. There are a lot of food options in the food court. Everything from Chick-Fil-A, pizza, Mexican, Chinese, Subway, & pretzels. I hope to see you there.

We are also going to have our 4th Annual Young Survivor Sisters Family Swimming Party. My neighbor has offered the use of her pool again this year.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

1 to 3 p.m.

4356 South 3050 West

Roy, Utah

Please RSVP to me, Candace at 801-732-2707 or email me directly at candytatton@yahoo.com. Please do not reply to this email because that will create a lot of messages that not everyone needs to see. My cell phone is 801-628-8091 if you need directions on the day of the event.

Pilates in the Park

2011-05-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! Before I talk about Pilates in the Park like this blog title says, I wanted to take a moment to say hello and introduce myself! My name is Jennifer Garza, and along with Kayla Thompson, we will be updating the blog monthly with information about the group, motivational material, new research, events, etc. So keep your eyes open for new entries! A little blurb about myself: I was diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer with it already in my lymph nodes in January 2011. I am still undergoing chemotherapy and am scheduled to have surgery in July, followed by radiation, Herceptin and Tomoxifen.

Ok - back to what I intended to write on the blog. :) I recently was on a KUTV News at Noon news television segment that showcased The Christi Anderson Rack Pack Foundation and got to meet one of it's founders, Sarah Dufour. The Rack Pack is hosting a really interesting benefit on Saturday, June 25th called Pilates in the Park. The idea is to come out and enjoy an hour-long Pilates session outdoors and then take part in brunch and a raffle drawing. The price is just $15 and ALL proceeds from the event will stay in Utah and benefit breast cancer patients! The event is at South Mountain Park in Draper, UT. This would be a really fun event to attend and if you live in the Ogden area, as I know some of our members do, we could organize some carpools! Here is the flyer for the event if you would like to check it out:

If you have any questions feel free to contact the Rack Pack and be sure to check out their website, which includes a blog about how to eliminate harmful cosmetic and household items from your daily life!

(http://www.checkitorchuckit.blogspot.com/)

Have a great week, ladies!

Just a reminder...

2011-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post this poem that has been stuck on my fridge since I was diagnosed back in December. It really helped me on those days when I felt like nothing was going my way because of breast cancer.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit.

Many of you may have read this before, but I hope it helps to lift your spirits and reminds us that we have choices. Happiness is not the destination, it's the journey!

North Area Social

2011-03-14T20:22:00.006-07:00

The next North Area Social is going to be on Thursday, March 24th at 6 pm at Dylans Drive Inn. Everyone is welcome regardless of where they live. I hope to see everyone there. Please RSVP to me at candytatton@yahoo.com.

Dylans Drive Inn

185 N. Main St.

Kaysville, UT

Follow this link to get a coupon for $1 off a combo meal.

Here is a copy of their menu.

Celebration of Life Dinner Donation List

2011-03-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of the companies that donated gifts to our Celebration of Life Dinner last Saturday. A special thanks to Dr. Marga Massey who sponsored the event. If you have questions about reconstruction or lymphedema you can visit her websites at:

Dr. Marga Massey
www.drmarga.com
http://nilymph.com/
Thank you also to Temple Square Hospitality and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for donating the room.
www.templesquarehospitality.com

Thank you to Linda Hill for such a uplifting speech. What an inspiration she is to us all. Laughter truly is the best medicine. If you did not win one of her t-shirts and would like to check out her additional designs or order one visit her website at:
www.somuchmoreonline.com

Group Donations

Thank you to the members and companies who donated items included in the gift bags that all of the survivors who attended received.

Happy Chemo – Don’t forget to join for free to receive additional great deals and discounts in the future
www.happychemo.com

Close To My Heart – scrapbooking supplies
http://www.closetomyheart.com/

Customize My Chocolates – Customize chocolate with any picture or logo
30% discount off an order until June when you mention the Young Survivor Sisters.
http://customizemychocolate.com or on HappyChemo.com http://happychemo.com/USA/1052/Customize_My_Chocolate.htm

(801) 698-0718

Live International – Green 2 O drink
Jolene Wondergem
http://happychemo.com/USA/1069/liv_international.htm
http://www.livsxinney.net/Liv_Sxinney/Welcome.html
801-808-5966

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystals
http://happychemo.com/USA/1073/naturally_fresh_deodorant_crystals.htm
http://www.naturallyfreshdeodorantcrystal.com/
1-800-653-4006

Susan G. Koman Foundation – post it notes
www.komenslc.org

Additional Company Donations

Anne Richards Massage
1399 S. 700 E. Suite 14-B SLC, UT 84105
801-363-2211

B-Jo Laing – paper banners & custom cakes
http://sweetsuehoneyb.blogspot.com/
801-756-4844

Black Swan Inn – Bed and Breakfast
http://www.blackswaninn.com/
746 E. Center Street Pocatello, ID 83201
208-233-3051

Brianna Chamberlain Designs – Custom jewelry designs
www.briannachamberlain.com
801-726-0992
Donated by Tana Coleman

Candy’s Eye Candy – beaded watch bands & parachute (survival) cord bracelets
Candace Tatton
www.candyseyecandy.blogspot.com
801-732-2707
Donated by Candace Tatton

Chic and Unique Boutique – Cute and inexpensive hats, flowers & headbands.
www.hatsandflowers.com & coming soon to HappyChemo.com
801-310-9065

Dove Chocolate Discoveries – Chocolate
Candie Williams
www.dovechocolatediscoveries.com/candiewilliams
candiesland@gmail.com
(801) 661-6884 cell (801) 295-3088 home
Donated by Melanie Thorpe

Debbie Price, LCSW, CBIS – Individual, Couples, & family counseling
DebbiePrice@netslc.com
801-953-9971
Donated by Debbie Price

Elase Academy – Pedicures
http://www.elaseacademy.com/the-spa/
10714 S River Front Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095
801-302-1650
Donated by Jeni Anderson

Famous Dave – Layton
Layton Famous Dave's 1977 North 1200 West Layton 84041
801-773-3994
Donated by Vicki Bell

Footloose Reflexology & Massage – Push muscle Therapy and Foot reflexology
Judy Smith - 801-529-8777
& Kris Fowers - 801-589-8861
http://happychemo.com/UT/1067/footloose_reflexology.htm

801-589-8861

Gano Café - chocolate/coffee
Viviana Nogales
http://www.myganocafe.com/VJimenez
karevil0401@hotmail.com
801-926-1896
Donated by Viviana Nogales

Get Naked Clothing
http://www.facebook.com/gnclothing
Donated by Cindy Contos

Hapari Swimwear
Save 10% through Happy Chemo
Online & American Fork Store
http://happychemo.com/USA/1075/hapari_mastectomy_swimwear.htm or
http://www.hapari.com/
Hapari Swimwear 69 East Main Street #4 American Fork, Utah 84003
866-525-SWIM (7946)

Hilton Garden Inn, in Layton
762 West Heritage Park Blvd, Layton, Utah, 84041
1-801-416-8899
Donated by Shayla Litster

Jolley's Gift and Floral - Flowers
1676 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
801-582-1625
Donated by Melissa Taylor

Jonia Blackburn – Wool Mittens
www.etsy.com/shop/jmariecreates
801-295-8355
Donated by Jonia Blackburn

L'Bri Pure n' Natural
Kezia Lee Willis
www.kezialee.lbri.com
509-476-2998

Lia Sophia
Lee Rasmussen
www.liasophia.com/leerasmussen
801-791-5986
Donated by Lee Rasmussen

Meyers Painting – Residential and commercial painting, finish carpentry, sheetrock repair, and tile
Jake Meyers
801-706-6233
Donated by Kathy Meyers

Miche Bag – Hope purses
http://www.michebag.com/
801-566-4243

Mindful Women Spa
http://www.mindfulwomenspa.com/
1525 E. 6000 S. South Ogden, UT 84405
801-337-5818

New York Nails – Nail salon
4865 w. 3500 s. West Valley City, UT 84120
801-966-0551
Donated by Kathy Hart

Petersen Inc.
1527 N. 2000 W. Ogden, UT 84404
1-800-410-6789
Donated by Lee Rasmussen

Pink Daffodil Photography
$25 off a photography package for Young Survivor Sisters members
http://pinkdaffodilphoto.com
801-495-3141
Donated by Erin Gadd

Send Out Cards
Lee Rasmussen
https://www.sendoutcards.com/leebee/
801-791-5986
Donated by Lee Rasmussen

South Valley Dermatology - Skincare products
www.southvalleydermatology.com
3570 w. 9000 s. suite 220 West Jordan, Utah 84088-8873
801-569-1456
Donated by Lyssa Davis

Square 1 Fitness - Kim Steadman
http://www.mysquare1fitness.com/
729 E 2100 S Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-467-4945
Donated by Melissa Taylor

Steur and Friends Salon
http://www.steurandfriendssalon.com/
1344 S. 2100 E Salt Lake City, 84108.
801-583-1214
Donated by Jannifer Young

Tactical Advantage Training Systems
dave@the tacticaladvantage.us
801-791-5497
Donated by Mary Mower

Teresa Olsen
Licensed Massage Therapist
Foot Zoning Session
teresao5757@yahoo.com
110 S. Angel, Layton, UT 84041
801-544-1697

University Federal Credit Union
www.ucreditu.com
(801) 463-3575
Donated by JoAnne Brown

Wei Therapeutic Massage - Susan DeLegge
Coming soon to HappyChemo.com & see her ad in current issue of Utah Cancer Connections
262 E. 3900 S. Suite 105 SLC UT
801-485-7887

Member Who Donated

You can contact these members directly if you would like to learn more about the items they donated but are not an actual business at this time.

Cindy Contos - dishcloths

Deb McKenzie – Hope necklaces

Ginny Nelson – socks

Laura Pexton - Healing Touch Sessions

Melissa Taylor - AromaTouch Technique Massage

Shelia Anderson – rose rings

Susanne Checketts – jewelry

Taeshae Souvsnnsvong – picture frames & hair bows

Discount on All-Natural Meat

2011-01-28T11:12:00.003-07:00

I love the Freebies 2 Deals website. I also know that most of us are concerned about what we eat. Freebies just posted the following post about a discount on all-natural meat so I thought I'd pass it on.

North Area Social Date Change

2011-01-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

My family has the flu so to prevent anyone else from getting this I am changing the date of our North Area Social, originally scheduled for tonight. The new date is Wednesday, January 26th. Sorry for the inconvenience

National Teleconference-Protect Yourself: What Young Women Need to Know About Genetics and Breast/Ovarian Cancer

2011-01-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

National Teleconference-Protect Yourself: What Young Women Need to Know About Genetics and Breast/Ovarian Cancer

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

8:00 pm EST
7:00 pm CST
6:00 pm PST

YSC and Bright Pink believe that, when it comes to your health, knowledge is power. That's why we are working together again this year to inform young women about the latest research on genetics and breast/ovarian cancer and the ins and outs of the genetic counseling and testing process. January is a time for resolutions and the perfect time to commit to taking charge of your health. We hope this teleconference will help you do just that.

Speakers:

Kenneth Offit, MD, MPH - Chief, Clinical Genetics Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Andrea Barmish Mazza - Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate

Amber Trivedi, MS, CGC

To RSVP, email your full name to rsvp@youngsurvival.org or call 646.257.3025.

To Participate on January 27th, dial:

US Callers: 800.741.5804

International Callers: +1.212.231.2920

January Social

2011-01-06T10:39:00.004-07:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the break from activities during the holidays. It went by fast but it seems like forever since I have seen anyone, except Lee, I ran into her at Sam's Club. We have several new members who have never had a chance to come to one of our socials and see what a positive, upbeat, fun group we are. Also there are a lot of you that were not receiving all of our emails, sorry, so you didn't always know what was going on.

That is why I can't wait until next week. We are having a North Area Social Friday, January 14th at 6:00 p.m. at

Cafe Zupas
748 W. Antelope Dr
Layton

As always, anyone can come to the socials regardless of where you live. Please RSVP to me at youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com. Our last North Area social has about 10 people. It was a lot of fun so I hope we can get even more people there this month.

P.S. Don't forget to RSVP for the Celebration of Life Dinner in February if you haven't already done so. There is still plenty of room.

Celebration of Life Dinner

2011-01-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

2011Celebration of Life Dinner.

Dr. Marga Massey has graciously agreed to sponsor our dinner again this year. Dr. Massey and her assistant Ashley are planning on joining us. The Temple Square Hospitality Group has also agreed to donate the use of the Wasatch Room on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. This is the same room we were in last year. It has a beautiful view of Salt Lake City and the mountains that we all love. We are very grateful to both of these sponsors. Without their generosity we would not be able to hold this dinner.

As you all know, our group has grown a lot this year. We currently have 129 members and counting. I am so grateful that we have all been able to get the word out this year about this wonderful support group. Because of every one's efforts we have been able to help and support 60 new women this year. The 4th Annual Celebration of Life dinner is going to be our biggest yet. I am hoping that we will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to come but that will depend on how many couples are interested in attending this year. I know that the dinner is still two months away but I need to start to get a count on who will be attending. You and a guest are invited. Please RSVP to me at youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com by 1/20/11 by sending me a NEW email message with your name and the name of your guest. PLEASE DO NOT hit reply to this email message. Start a new email so that everyone in the group does not receive multiple email messages from everyone saying that they will be attending. I will let everyone know if we reach the limit on how many people can attend. Attendance will be on a first come first serve basis so don't wait to email me and let me know you are planning on coming.

Candace

Christi Anderson Rack Pack Foundation

2010-12-04T14:45:00.001-07:00

Here is a website/foundation started by a family in Utah. Some of you may be interested in checking it out and possibly having your family sponsor a bag for you or for someone else. Here is the info.

Hi, my name is Sarah and my family and I just started a non-profit foundation in Utah called The Christi Anderson Rack Pack Foundation. We provide personal support to women going through breast cancer treatment. You can check out our website at http://www.rackpackfoundation.com/.

We currently have been making "treatment bags" which are cute tote bags filled with goodies for women that are going through chemotherapy/radiation. You can see our bags on the Shop/Donate bag of our website.
I lost my 32-year-old sister last February to triple negative breast cancer and we started this foundation in her honor and to help other young women going through treatment and help lift their spirits and provide support in any way we can.

Camp Kesem - Make the Magic

2010-12-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Camp Kesem is a week long Summer camp for kids age 6-16. This is a camp for kids whose parents have, or have had, or died from cancer. This camp has been wonderful for my kids. It is free to the children and their families. It is entirely run by donations. Make the Magic is one of their biggest fundraisers. It will be held December 11 (Sat) at 6pm in the Skyroom of the Wilkinson Center (at BYU). This is a silent auction dinner and there will be a short presentation about Camp Kesem. The dinner is free (I think). If you'd like to attend please RSVP via e-mail (BYU@campkesem.org) by Wednesday December 8. They should start accepting applications for the 2011 camp sometime in January. Make sure that you RSVP ASAP if you want to go to the dinner. http://www.campkesem.org/site/c.jvI0ImN0JuE/b.2536437/k.79B1/Camp_Kesem_BYU.htm

Top Breast Cancer Blog

2010-12-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Young Survivor Sisters Blog was just chosen by Online Nursing Schools as one of the 2010 Top Breast Cancer Blogs. You can check out our link as well as some other resources that might help you at
http://www.onlinenursingschools.com/features/breast-cancer/

Raw Foods

2010-11-23T11:37:00.003-07:00

We had so much fun at our November Guest Speaker last week. Joline Wondergem was so knowledgeable and motivating. She gave us some delicious things to try. My favorite was the Green Lemonade and the Chia Pudding. I have included the recipes below. I know that a lot of you wanted to come but for whatever reason were not able to. Joline also teaches Raw Food Cooking Classes at the Viking Cooking School in Salt Lake City. A list of the next three classes are listed below. Thank you Joline for such a fascinating class.

November Guest Speaker

2010-11-10T10:48:00.002-07:00

Our speaker for November is Joline Wondergem. She will be talking to us about a Raw Food or Whole Food diet and she will be bringing samples for us to try. This is a topic that many of you have expressed interest in so I hope we have a good crowd. I hope to see everyone there. Please RSVP to me at youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com.

December is a busy month for all of us so we are not going to have a guest speaker. Remember to keep February 26th open for our annual Celebration of Life Dinner sponsored by Dr. Marga Massey. More information will be available later.

October Guest Speaker

2010-10-15T13:33:00.002-07:00

Sorry for the last minute notice about this months guest speaker. We had planned on talking about Raw Food Diets this month but our speaker had her baby early and will not be available until next year. Thank you to Melissa Taylor who has stepped up at the last minute to fill in. Melissa and her friend Lana will be talking with us about how we can use essential oils to help us regain our health after we have finished treatment. I hope to see you all there.

Koman Survivor Lunch

2010-10-03T18:30:00.006-07:00

Last week several of our sisters attended the annual Susan G. Koman Survivor Lunch. It was a lot of fun. A few of us that arrived early were able to sit together and even have this fun picture together. After everything was over we ended up finding a few more of our sisters that were scattered around the room. Next year we need to plan ahead so that we are able to all sit together. I think we could fill up several tables by each other.

The food was great and the speakers were uplifting. Brook Walker from Studio 5 even mentioned our group. She met some of our girls about 3 years ago (before my time). Her entire speech was about how we are all sisters fighting this disease together. The rest of the speakers tied their presentations into the whole sisterhood thing. In many ways I feel even closer to the women in our group than I do to my own 3 sisters. There are so many things that I can share (or show in some cases cases) with you and things that you all understand that my biological sisters will hopefully never understand. This is one experience that I never want to share with them. Thank you all for being my sisters. I know that my life would be very different without you.

If anyone did not get a copy of the group picture I have 4 additional copies. I also have the individual shots for Mary Mower, Melissa Taylor, Kathy Hart, and Kristen (in green shirt she hasn't joined the group yet.) Let me know if you want your pictures.

Lymphedema Guest Speaker

2010-09-20T09:25:00.005-07:00

Our guest speaker last week was great. I learned a lot that I didn't know about lymphedema. Here is the information that she gave us. You can click on the pictures to enlarge and print.

Ogden Regional Hospital Annual Family Picnic

2010-09-19T20:20:00.002-07:00

September Guest Speaker

2010-09-02T20:22:00.003-07:00

I hope everyone had a great summer. It seems live forever since we had any activities. Our next guest speaker is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15th at Davis Hospital at 6:30 pm. (see attached flier). Our speaker will be Heidi, a lymphedema specialist from the Wound Center at Davis Hospital. If you have any questions about lymphedema, which I know that I do, this will be a great meeting to attend. I hope to see several of you there.

Candace

National Anthem

2010-08-10T12:20:00.003-07:00

As most of you know our group was invited to sing the National Anthem for Tough Enough To Wear Pink night at the Days of '47 Rodeo last month. My husband recorded it for us. The video is very low quality and you can hear the audience singing along but it is still fun to watch and a great honor to have been able to participate. You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oP0NNX7YFQ

Cancer Survivor's Day 2010

2010-05-21T15:30:00.001-07:00

FYI just in case some of you want to go to this.

South Area Social - Night of Pampering

2010-05-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovely Ladies!

Jeni Andersen in our group has been so kind as to reserve a night at the Elase Academy for you to get some pampering that you deserve! The night is Wed May 26th from 7 to 9 PM. The girls there are able to do 7 pedicures, 5 manicures, and 4 facials each hour so please RSVP as soon as possible to me at whitneypoulsen@hotmail.com with your name, your first and second treatment preference (pedicure, manicure, or facial) as well as the time you prefer (either 7 or 8 PM). The cost will be $5 per treatment. We will schedule on a first come first serve basis and will try to accomodate everyone's preference. I will email you to confirm the treatment and time. We should be able to schedule up to 32 treatments total. If we get a bigger response than that and can't accomodate everyone we will definitely try to do this again in the next few months. Should be a great time! Look forward to hearing from you! Please RSVP if possible in the next 2-3 days so we can let the Academy know ASAP. See below location:

Elase Academy
10714 South River Front Parkway
South Jordan UT 84095
801-302-1650
http://www.elaseacademy.com/

All My Best!

Whitney

May North Area Social

2010-05-10T21:41:00.001-07:00

Sorry I forgot to post the details for the May North Area Social earlier. Hopefully everyone got the email I sent out last month. Everyone is welcome regardless of where you live. For May we are planning on meeting at my house, 3013 west 4450 south, Roy. This is NOT the house with the pool that some of you came to last year. We are having a potluck potato bar. I will provide the potatoes & DeAnn is bringing chili so let one of us know what you would like to bring. The main reason we are having it at my house is so we can make breast cancer watch bands. Some of you have seen mine and have said you would like to make one.

If you want to make one of these or one of the other ones I sell, I will teach you how that night. If you can't come I can make them for you and mail it to you. The bands will be $10 or $15 if you want me to mail it to you. If you already have a watch face you can bring it or I will have some my friend sells for $10 each. If you would prefer to make a different design you can see other options at my blog at www.candyseyecandy.blogspot.com. All bands will be $10 with is what it costs for the supplies. I hope to see you on Thursday.

May's Guest Speaker

2010-05-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here is the information about May's Guest Speaker. We hope to see you there.

Address of Davis Hospital

2010-04-12T18:22:00.003-07:00

Davis Hospital where we have out monthly guest speaker is located at 1600 West Antelope Drive, Layton, Utah. The meetings are in the conference room in the back of the cafeteria. Go in the main entrance and follow the signs to the cafeteria.

April's Guest Speaker

2010-03-18T11:23:00.002-07:00

Last night was our first guest speaker. It was a lot of fun. Gina Ward talked to us about nutrition and answered all of our questions. Some of us stayed around talking until after 9 p.m. We met a new person there who found out about us because of the class. I hope she will be joining us soon.

Next months topic will be Hormone Treatments: Tamoxifen vs Aromatase inhibitors. What are our options, what are the benefits and side effects. Make sure that you know if you are Estrogen, Progesterone, or HER2 positive or negative so that you will know what information applies to you.

This was the most requested topic from everyone in the group. Because of the high interest in the topic please RSVP to me at youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com if you are planning on coming so I can reserve a larger room if necessary. Oncologist, Dr. Carl Gray will be our guest speaker on Wednesday, April 21st.

Thank you to Cindy Stewart from Davis Hospital for arranging our speakers and providing a location for us to meet at.

Candace

Our First Guest Speaker

2010-03-06T18:24:00.003-07:00

I am please to announce that our first guest speaker is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17th at 6:00 p.m. at Davis Hospital in Layton. Gina Ward is the nutritionist that will be speaking to us. She will talk for about 40-45 minutes. We can ask questions during her presentation as well as after. I hope to see you there. The next guest speaker will be on April 21st. The topic will be announced later.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can a soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

2010-03-01T17:10:00.002-07:00

Helen Keller

Odd Vegetable Kills Breast Cancer Cells

2010-02-24T14:08:00.002-07:00

I just read this article and thought some of you might find it interesting also. I found it at http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/breast-cancer/bitter-melon?icid=mainnetscapedl5link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fcondition-center%2Fbreast-cancer%2Fbitter-melon.

Odd Vegetable Kills Breast Cancer Cells
Getty Images By Marrecca Fiore
A vegetable used in Chinese and Indian medicine to treat diabetes may also destroy breast cancer cells, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of “Cancer Research,” a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Lead researcher Ratna Ray, Ph.D., a professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University, uses bitter melon in her stir fries but was surprised to find the vegetable’s extract also appears to “kill” breast cancer cells and prevent them from multiplying.
“To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells,” Ray said in a statement. “Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread.”
Bitter melon gets its name because it's among the most bitter of all vegetables, although it's also called African cucumber, balsam pear and bitter gourd. It is widely grown and used in India, Southeast Asia, China, Africa, and the Caribbean. It resembles a shriveled cucumber or gourd and the texture of the vegetable is described as being similar to both a cucumber and bell pepper. It's high in fiber and vitamin C. It also contains the B vitamins, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin and B6, as well as magnesium, potassium and zinc.
In the East, bitter melon is often used in stir fries, soups, and stews, as well as for pickling.
In the U.S., bitter melon can purchased at specialty grocery stores, especially Asian and Indian grocers.
Ray told AOL Health she purchases the vegetable in either Asian or Indian grocery stores and cautioned that the taste may take some getting used to.
It's very bitter," she joked. "I don't mind because I like the taste, but some people might need to get used to it."Supplements have become very popular with Americans due to the vegetable's widely touted blood sugar benefits and can be purchased in both health food and health supplement stores such as GNC, as well as in drugstores. It can also be purchased as a tea. To date, Ray's research has not included the use of supplements and teas.
"We've only used the extract straight from the vegetable," she said.
Ray decided to test bitter melon's ability to fight breast cancer because it has been used for diabetes management and to lower cholesterol, .
She used human breast cancer cells in a controlled laboratory setting to conduct her experiments. She said the next step would be to test the extract in animals, which she plans to do within the next several months.
“Cancer prevention by the use of naturally occurring dietary substances is considered a practical approach to reduce the ever-increasing incidence of cancer. Studying a high-risk breast cancer population where bitter melon is taken as a dietary product will be an important area of future research,” Ray said.
Ray said bitter melon will probably not prove to be a miracle drug as women in places such as Asia where the vegetable is widely eaten still get breast cancer.
In the meantime, she said eating bitter melon does have many health benefits and certainly wouldn't harm anyone who wants to start adding it to their diets.

Raft for the Cure!!

2010-02-18T15:58:00.002-07:00

Anyone up for an adventure? How about a fun river-rafting adventure in Southern Utah? 50% off all proceeds go to Susan G. Komen. Here are the details...

http://www.raftforthecure.com/

Breast Cancer Fears Grow Around Household Cleaners - DailyFinance

2010-02-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

This is a VERY INTERESTING article. Everyone should read it.

Breast Cancer Fears Grow Around Household Cleaners - DailyFinance

Nutrition and Healthy Foods During Cancer Treatment

2010-02-10T12:44:00.002-07:00

I read a great article last week on Nutrition and Healthy Foods During Cancer Treatment. You can access it at http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/nutrition-and-healthy-foods-during-cancer-treatment or here is the whole text. I hope this helps those of you who are currently in treatment.

Candace Tatton

Nutrition and Healthy Foods During Cancer Treatment
Now, more than ever, you need good nutrition.
By R. Morgan GriffinWebMD Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
When you're getting treatment for cancer, your body is under assault -- both from the cancer and the treatment itself. So it's more important than ever to make sure that you're getting the nutrition, vitamins, and minerals you need to stay strong.
But sometimes during cancer treatment, eating anything is tough. While chemotherapy is notorious for causing nausea, other cancer treatments -- from surgery to radiation -- can also affect how you eat. Just the psychological stress alone is enough to interfere with a person's appetite.
What's more, the whole notion of "good nutrition" may be turned on its head when you're in cancer treatment. "Eating healthy can mean something quite different during cancer treatment than it does before or after," says Rachel Zinaman, MPA, RD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Evelyn Lauder Breast Center.
So what is good cancer nutrition? And how can you eat well when eating is the last thing you feel like doing? Here are some tips from the experts.
Cancer Nutrition: Maintaining Strength and Energy
When it comes to fighting cancer fatigue and boosting strength with good cancer nutrition, you have to pay attention to protein. "The radiation, the surgery, the chemo, and the cancer itself can all increase the body's need for protein," says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Protein makes you heal faster. How can you get enough protein?
"Meats, poultry and fish are great sources of protein," says Sheri Knecht, RD, a dietitian at the South-Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society. "But some people have trouble tolerating them during cancer treatment." So she also recommends easy-to-digest foods such as:
· Eggs
· Dairy products such as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt
· Beans, soy, and nuts -- including peanut butter or almond butter
As with any nutrient, dietitians recommend getting protein from natural food sources. But if that isn't working for you, try adding protein powders -- like whey or soy -- or powdered milk to your diet. If you have trouble chewing or swallowing because of your treatment, try mixing them in with soft foods such as mashed potatoes or fruit smoothies.
Don't wait until after you're already in treatment to beef up on protein for cancer nutrition. "We want people to be as healthy as possible before going into surgery, because their bodies will be under a lot of stress," Zinaman tells WebMD. "It's important to go into treatment with adequate stores of protein."
Cancer Nutrition: Avoiding Weight Loss
Unwanted weight loss can be a serious problem for some people in cancer treatment. As your body fights the cancer, and undergoes the stress of treatment, your metabolism may kick into high gear. But while your body might need more food, you're feeling too sick to eat it. Losing too much weight can affect your treatment or even force your doctor to stop it altogether.
Cancer Nutrition: Avoiding Weight Loss continued...
What should you do if you're at risk for weight loss?
· Dietitians suggest you eat foods that are calorically dense -- packing a lot of calories per ounce. Again, protein is ideal.
· If treatment is making your food taste bland, try spicing it up with curry, oregano, or cinnamon, says Zinaman.
· And -- odd as it may sound -- you may need more fat in your diet. Remember that the risks of weight loss are serious. Many dietitians say you can indulge in high-fat pizza or ice cream if that's the only way you can get enough calories.
However, not all cancers and cancer treatments lead to weight loss. For instance, breast cancer treatment often results in weight gain, says Zinaman. So don't assume that good cancer nutrition always means lots of high-calorie and high-fat foods. Ask your doctor or dietitian whether weight loss is something you actually need to worry about.
Cancer Nutrition: Fighting Nausea
Thanks to new drugs, debilitating nausea during chemotherapy isn't inevitable like it once was. But 70% to 80% of people on chemotherapy still have at least some nausea or vomiting. What foods will help?
Ginger is one old remedy for nausea. Experts say ginger does help some people, although by no means all. Other standards, like dry toast, may work too. "Many of the starchy foods often work with nausea," like crackers, pretzels, dry cereals, potatoes, and white rice, says Knecht.
On the whole, it's hard to make blanket suggestions about foods that fight nausea. The specifics vary from person to person.
"I had one person who said that fast-food fried chicken was the only thing that calmed his stomach," says Knecht. "Obviously, that's the exact opposite of what we usually recommend, but I told him if it worked, he should go with it."
Other techniques may help. Since it's hard to sit down to a full meal, eat frequent small snacks instead. Knowing you have to eat can be stressful when you're sick, says Zinaman, and that stress in turn makes it harder to eat. So she recommends breaking your usual dining habits -- try eating by candlelight, or with music on, or outside. Anything that avoids the normal associations may help.
Cancer Nutrition: Staying Hydrated
Drinking enough fluid is a key part of cancer nutrition. According to the American Cancer Society, many symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment -- fatigue, light-headedness, and nausea -- can actually result from dehydration.
People getting chemotherapy need to be especially careful about drinking enough -- usually eight to ten glasses a day. Some chemotherapy drugs can be tough on the kidneys, and lots of liquid can help protect your kidneys. If you're having diarrhea or vomiting, you're probably losing a lot of fluid that you need to replace.
Cancer Nutrition: Staying Hydrated continued...
"Just about any kind of liquid that the person can tolerate is OK," says Knecht, as long as the doctor doesn't say otherwise. Water, juices, and sports drinks are all fine. However, if your cancer treatment puts you at risk of gaining weight -- or for that matter, losing it -- pay attention to how many calories are in your drinks.
Are caffeinated drinks okay? Generally yes, although your doctor may not want you to count them among your eight to ten glasses a day. Ask your doctor if you should completely cut out alcohol. The answer depends on the type of cancer and the treatment.
Cancer Nutrition: What Foods Should I Avoid?
The short answer is simple: during treatment, avoid the foods that you can't tolerate. Just about anything else is OK, unless your doctor tells you something different.
Should you aim for a typical well-balanced diet, high in fruits and vegetables and low in sugars and unhealthy fats? Of course. That's always the ideal goal.
But if some of those foods aren't sitting well with you, don't worry about cutting them out right now. People with mouth sores may find that some fruits are too painful to eat. People who have nausea and diarrhea may find that they just can't tolerate the high-fiber breads and cereals. That's OK. Remember that treatment won't last forever. Once it's over, you can go back to healthier eating habits. The goal right now is to get through treatment however you can.
Of course, always follow your doctor's advice about cancer nutrition. Depending on your situation and any other health conditions, he or she might have specific recommendations.
Cancer Nutrition: Supplements and Risky Diets
While we hear a lot about using food as medicine these days, experts say that it's not a great idea when you're in cancer treatment. Don't adopt an extreme diet or start taking mega-doses of specific foods, supplements, or vitamins. Doing so could have real risks.
For instance, experts worry that eating excessive amounts of soy products -- such as tofu -- could theoretically encourage the growth of breast cancer. Even antioxidants -- thought by many to prevent cancer -- could have dangers during treatment, Zinaman says.
"Antioxidants help protect cells," Zinaman says. "So if someone were taking lots of antioxidants, they could theoretically be protecting the cancer cells we're trying to kill with treatment."
Never start taking any supplements -- or eating large quantities of specific foods -- without checking with your doctor first.
Getting Help With Cancer Nutrition
Dietitians are unanimous about one thing: there's no single cancer diet. The best approach to cancer nutrition depends on the type of cancer you have, the type of treatment you're getting, and perhaps most of all -- what you want. The diet that gets one person through cancer treatment won't work for someone else.
So don't fret over checklists of "good" and "bad" foods for cancer nutrition. Instead, talk to your doctor or schedule an appointment with a dietitian.
"The advantage of working with a dietitian is that you'll get more than vague, general statements about what to eat," says Zinaman. "A dietitian can come up with a targeted plan for you as an individual."

Celebration of Life Dinner...as told by Erin Gadd

2010-02-06T00:58:00.001-07:00

Hello sisters!

I blogged this recently on my family blog and decided I would share it with all of you. Since, you are after all, my sisters!!

A special thanks to Ginger Johnson and Candace Tatton for the AMAZING Celebration of Life Dinner. You guys are seriously amazing. Love you both! Thanks a million!

Here's my blog entry...

So, I'm part of the best group ever.  It my breast cancer support group entitled, The Young Survivor Sisters . It's a group another girl and I started after we were diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago. It's a support group for women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 45. One in every 8 women will get breast cancer...usually not in their twenties though. So we're a rare breed.

When a nurse coordinator put me in touch with another young woman battling breast cancer I felt an immediate connection. Ginny Nelson ... (Ginny and her hubby)

and I were instant pals the second we started talking on the phone seven years ago. Then we decided to meet for lunch along with another young survivor, Cheryl Pulsipher. (no relation, but the irony....) After having lunch together and feeling so relieved to talk to someone about our experiences, challenges and fears, we knew we had something good going. While I have AWESOME friends and family support, there is something extra special about connecting with another "sister" who has been through the same crap I have.

Ginny and I started meeting other young women at various places and realized what a benefit it was to get together and share stories. Even if it was just to laugh and sometimes cry, it feels great to have someone who understands. It proved to be an AWESOME resource for surgeons, doctors, reconstruction options and where to get the best wigs. Ginny and I kept meeting more and more young women and decided we need to form a group and name ourselves. We decided that ever since we've met each other, it was like having a sister...hence...Young Survivor Sisters.

Along the way, we met an AMAZING survivor named Ginger.   (Ginger and her hubby)

Ginger saw that keeping the group going was becoming somewhat burdensome on Ginny and I and she stepped in to help out. Ginger has done AMAZING things for our group. In the one year since she has been president, our group has gone from around 40 members to almost 80. She designed these super cute cards to put in doctors offices to advertise our group.

She has worked tirelessly to get the word out. We knew there were lots of young women out there who needed our group, but just didn't know how to find us. Ginger has done so much to improve that. Ginger started a yearly donated dinner entitled, Celebration of Life. We have a nice dinner, (donated by a generous plastic surgeon Dr. Marge Massey) and enjoy a nice program and each other's company.

This year was AWESOME. It was overwhelming to see so many faces that I'd never seen before. Ginny and I were both so taken back that what was a small lunch in a McDonald's 7 years ago, has turned into this!!! (click image to see larger...oh, if anyone wants a copy of their picture, just email me and I'll send it right over!)

I'm so grateful for the experiences, life lessons, and humility I learned from having cancer. The experience was forever life-changing. I feel like the person I am today, is due in large part to the lessons I learned while battling the disease. Everything from self worth to physical illness and lots of lessons in between. I grew an unbelievable amount spiritually and my testimony of the gospel has deepened imeasurably.   I know that meeting Ginny was not a lucky happen-stance. It was a blessing from above. These amazing young women have changed my life. I have learned from them, laughed with them, and will forever be their best friends.

If you know a young woman who could benefit from our group, please refer them to our website. It can make all the difference.
The Young Survivor Sisters

Celebration of Life Dinner/Social

2010-01-13T14:16:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder:

Celebration of Life Dinner/Social will be Jan. 22nd.

Please contact youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com for details

Camp Kesem Summer Camp

2010-01-07T00:14:00.001-07:00

We received this information about Camp Kesem and wanted to pass it on. Please contact them directly for more information.

Dear Cancer Support Groups,

I am writing this email on behalf of the BYU branch of Camp Kesem. Camp Kesem is a nonprofit summer camp that gives children affected by a parent's cancer the opportunity to just be kids. Campers at Camp Kesem engage in camp activities like sports, arts and crafts, and drama to give them a fun-filled week. Campers also participate in "Cabin Chats" with fellow campers and counselors, giving children the chance to share their experiences with each other. To answer a few questions you might have, here is some information from the website:

Q: What is Camp Kesem?

A: Camp Kesem is a free, week-long summer camp for children of cancer patients. Campers must be between 6-13 years old to participate. Each camper has a parent who currently has or has had cancer. At Camp Kesem BYU, our campers come from all over Utah, Colorado, and Idaho.

Q: How much does camp cost?

A: Camp Kesem is free to all campers. Along with the emotional and physical burdens that cancer can place on families, there is also a major financial strain. Thanks to the generous donations from community members, business, and other organizations camp is free to all campers.

Q: When and where does camp take place?

A: Camp will be held August 16-21, 2010 at Camp Kostopulos, which is in Immigration Canyon, by Hogal Zoo in Salt Lake City, UT. To know more about the camp site you can visit their web site at: http://www.campk.org/

We are currently searching for campers! We would love to send you information (i.e. brochures) that you can pass along to anyone you know who would benefit. Email me back if you are interested. Thanks so much!

Nathan McMurray

Camper Support

BYU Camp Kesem

P.S. For more information, go to our website, http://www.campkesem.org/site/c.jvI0ImN0JuE/b.2536437/k.79B1/Camp_Kesem_BYU.htm. To view a short promotional video made this past summer by the BYU Camp Kesem, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ3s1VNwSLg.

Upcoming Image Reborn Retreats

2009-12-14T20:33:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that the Image Reborn Foundation has posted their schedule for their free retreats for the beginning of 2010. Their mission is to provide no-cost healing retreats to women
who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The focus is on encouraging women to reclaim their sense of personal power and to strengthen them in their journey toward healing on all levels and living fully.

January 8-10 (2010)
Open to all breast cancer survivors

February 5-7
Young Survivors Supported by a grant from the Salt Lake City affiliate of the Susan G Komen

March 5-7
Stage IV Advanced Breast Cancer supported by a grant from the Salt
Lake City affiliate of the Susan G Komen

April 16-18
Open to all breast cancer survivors

I am not sure how many openings they have or how they decide who gets
to go. I just registered for the February retreat. You can register
at http://www.imagerebornfoundation.org/registration.php
I would love to have some company if I get to go.
~ Candace

Utah Mama has invited us all to New Moon

2009-11-11T19:52:00.001-07:00

You're Invited! http://bit.ly/1om64m

Stop pretending that you haven't been counting down the days until New Moon hits theaters....that you haven't pondered, "Edward or Jacob"...

Just because you love a book for teenagers doesn't mean that you have to resign yourself to seeing the movie adaptation in a theater crammed with shrieking girls.

Because lets be honest - a theater full of shrieking moms? SO much more entertaining.

JOIN US for the New Moon Mama's Night out on Friday, November 20th. This hot ticket will get you a cozy seat at our private screening at the Gateway, a special goodie bag with treats from Park Citiy Mountain Resort, The Utah Mama's Handbook, Petit Elefant, The Sweet Tooth Fairy, Utah Truffles, Wasatch Woman Magazine, E.L.F. Makeup and more. You'll also get the chance to win all kinds of prizes during our pre-show prize drawings from Park City Mountain Resort, Mama Bargains, Children's Discovery Museum and signed copies of John Brown's newest book.

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE FOR $15. http://bit.ly/1om64m

Thanks to Park CIty Mountain Resort's Start Now program for making this our best Mama's Night Out yet!

Utah Jazz Breast Cancer Awareness Night

2009-11-04T23:41:00.001-07:00

If you are unable to view the message below, please go to http://race.komenslc.org/site/MessageViewer/.

UTAH JAZZ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT

THE UTAH JAZZ ARE HOSTING A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT TO BENEFIT THE SALT LAKE CITY AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE®

UTAH JAZZ VS. TORONTO RAPTORS

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18^TH 7:00 PM

Discounted tickets available in the upper bowl for $27 and $40

(REGULARLY $32 AND $47)

Lower bowl seats also available for $71 and $86

(REGULARLY $79 AND $94)

THE UTAH JAZZ WILL DONATE $5 BACK TO THE KOMEN SALT LAKE CITY AFFILIATE WITH EACH TICKET PURCHASED

CALL SCOTT (801) 325-2569 TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Salt Lake City Affiliate

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Re: Romp to Stomp out cancer - Snowshoeing anyone???

2009-11-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

I have been to this before- at least once, and I can verify that it is indeed a very fun one!

Cecily

From: Young Survivor Sisters <youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com>
To: young-survivor-sisters@googlegroups.com; youngsurvivorsisters.post@blogger.com
Sent: Sun, November 1, 2009 8:24:22 PM
Subject: Romp to Stomp out cancer - Snowshoeing anyone???

Hi Everyone!

Who likes to snowshoe? I just learned about the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out breast cancer and thought it would be a fun activity! Kellie B. went last year and said it was a really fun time. If you want to learn more you can visit their site and register early for a discounted price.

:) Ginger

Register Now
& Save $15
Registration is now open
for the 2010 Romp series!
Register now to save up to
$15 with the Early Bird
Registration discount.

Save the Date!
Romp to Stomp 2010

NJ - Jan 23	WA - Feb 20*
VT - Jan 30	OR - Feb 27
UT - Feb 6	CO - Mar 6
*NEW for 2010

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Romp to Stomp out cancer - Snowshoeing anyone???

2009-11-01T20:24:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone!

:) Ginger

Register Now
& Save $15
Registration is now open
for the 2010 Romp series!
Register now to save up to
$15 with the Early Bird
Registration discount.

Save the Date!
Romp to Stomp 2010

NJ - Jan 23	WA - Feb 20*
VT - Jan 30	OR - Feb 27
UT - Feb 6	CO - Mar 6
*NEW for 2010

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Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.

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The Top 10 Things Young Survivors Probably Don't Want To Hear

2009-10-30T23:47:00.001-07:00

OK gals...I found this and laughed my guts out! It's just so true! So here's a little something to brighten your day...

Love ya!

Erin

“The Top Ten Things that Young Survivors (Probably) Don’t Want to Hear”, by Marika Holmgren:

1) "You have a beautifully shaped head! In fact, you look GREAT bald!"

We know this is not true. We don't feel pretty. We don't want to stay bald. We want our hair back.

2) "Oh, you have breast cancer. My (aunt, grandmother, mother, sister, friend) died from breast cancer. But I'm so glad to see you're doing well."

I don't know how to say this politely, so I'll just say it: some of the people you say that to WILL die of breast cancer, even though they look great and are doing well. We want to hear the stories of long term survivors.

3) "Well, you're young, so at least you caught it early."

Folks, this is THE single biggest misconception out there, and it drives me nuts because I have to have the awkward conversation with people that in fact, my cancer was already quite far along and very aggressive. Cancer in young patients, pre-menopausal, is usually more aggressive than in older patients. Finally, your chances of getting a second cancer when you've been diagnosed young is much greater. So unfortunately, when you're talking to someone young who's been diagnosed, it's less likely that they caught it early, so just tread carefully.

4) (after treatment is complete) "So, you're cured now, right?"

Currently, there is no cure for cancer. I'll know I'm cured when I die of something else.

5) "Well, if you have to get cancer, breast cancer is the one to get.”

I totally get that this is said with good intentions, but it's like saying, "Well, if you had to lose a family member, a second cousin is the one to lose." It all sucks. It's all bad. We do not sit down and thank god or whomever that we "only" got breast cancer. At least I don't.

6) "Cancer is a gift. You really learn to appreciate what's important."

If cancer is a gift, can I return it please? A gift card would have been better.

[Note from LH: Or as Breast Cancer Action's executive director, Barbara Brenner, said in Help Me Live: 20 things people with cancer want you to know, “A gift is something you would give to someone.”]

7) "Isn't it great that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month? Think of all the awareness and money that's raised."

Perhaps if Target wasn't hawking pink rice cookers where a nickel goes to Komen (ok, I made that up, but it's possible), I wouldn't quite feel so nauseated at the site of all this cause marketing. Of course it's great that more money is going to fight the disease, but I do worry that companies are making LOTS of money off this disease.

8) "You'll get back to where you were before cancer."

This is a hard one, and this may be unique to me - I don't want to claim that this is universal. I know that people only mean well here, but the reality is that my body, is completely different than it was before cancer and before all the drastic treatment. I don't know that I'll get back to where I was, and frankly, I'd rather spend my energy making peace with where I am rather than spending all my time trying to get back to my pre-cancer self. Rather than push me to get back there, accept me as I am and help me love my new scarred, crazy body.

[Note from LH: Marika, you are not alone in feeling this way. As Lawrence LeShan said in my book, about people who say such things, “Do you have a golden telephone to God?!]

9) "I can relate. When I was pregnant, I (insert comment about body changes, bad sleep, nausea, hair changes)...."

I know that cancer seems to have a lot in common with pregnancy with all the nausea, hair changing, hormones, etc., and it's particularly tempting to make the comparison because that's what most of my peers are doing now - having babies, not getting cancer, but there's a pretty damn big difference. And again, I know you're just trying to connect, but it's a painful comparison (particularly since some of us, as a result of the disease and treatment, will not likely be able to have children).

10) "Cool! Free boob job. Lucky!"

Groan.

Thanks again to Marika Holmgren for this not brutally, but kindly honest list. Please forward – and add your own - to help all of us punched by cancer receive the support we need and our friends want to provide!

Image Reborn ~ Living Beyond Breast Cancer

2009-10-25T21:56:00.002-07:00

For those of you who need a break from the stresses of breast cancer and life in general - I strongly suggest looking into Image Reborn retreats. The Image Reborn Foundation provides FREE retreats for breast cancer survivors! I was able to attend a retreat last year in Park City and a group photo from that fun time is currently on the home page of the Image Reborn site. I met

several wonderful girls there and was rejuvenated! The weekend retreat was full of fun things - massages, facials, gourmet dinners, life journaling classes and more. You can find out more information about Image Reborn by visitng their site at http://imagerebornfoundation.org/!

Contact them asap to get scheduled for the next retreat! You won't regret it.

Information about Inflammatory Breast Cancer - Amber Chase's Musings on Cancer and Life

2009-10-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Information about Inflammatory Breast Cancer - Amber Chase's Musings on Cancer and Life

Amber Chase bravely fought Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer for 2 years. She wants
EVERYONE to know her story so that they can be prepared and informed.

October Social

2009-10-12T18:59:00.009-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone about our group get together this Thursday, October 15th. I have good news for those of you who want to make a beaded watch band. I found a supplier that is letting me bring a selection of watch faces in case you still need one. They will be $10 each. The watch bands will be $10 each also. I have a large variety of beads from small to very chunky.

We will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. at The Best Western Cottontree Inn at 1030 N 400 E, North Salt Lake, UT‎ - (801) 292-7666‎. Take exit 315 (by Kmart in North Salt Lake/Bountiful). I have attached a map. Please come even if you do not want to make anything. Hope to see you there.
Call me if you have any questions.

Candace Tatton
801-732-2707
801-628-8091 cell

Our own Ana Taylor in SkyMall Magazine!

2009-10-09T09:05:00.002-07:00

Ana Taylor was recently features in the Delta SkyMall magazine as a breast cancer survivor! She was flown to NY compliments of Delta to see Melissa Etheridge perform!
Thanks for sharing Ana!

Hello Lovely Ladies how are you!! hope is all well seems i had fallen out of the planet huh? I just want to give you and update and hopin gto hear from you all!
Just got my mammograph and still cancer free yayyy!! traveled alot during the course of the summer, went to some fun trips with my girlfriends and had a blast! now that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, My company Delta Arlines have many wonderful events to support and make funds for the BCRF, and we have a pink Plane with the logo its so neat!! well I gto to go to NYC last week and had Melissa Etheridge sing for many of the Cancer Survivors Ladies from the company it was a neat experience and there is a pic of me there and also I wanted to show a little article on the Sky Magazine on all Delta planes that highlights the Delta Care fund who helped paid some bills, anyways wanted to share what was going on my life! I hope to see you soon!!

Sincerely

Ana Taylor

Breast Cancer Survivors Fashion Show - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

2009-10-08T14:20:00.002-07:00

Tana Coleman and two other young survivors were beautiful models for the BCSFashion Show preview on Good Things Utah. Check it out!

Breast Cancer Survivors Fashion Show - ABC 4.com - Salt Lake City, Utah News

Posted using ShareThis

$20 Donation to Komen just for test driving a car!

2009-10-01T10:48:00.001-07:00

Ford Advantage Plan – Test Drive

As part of its ongoing commitment to the fight against breast cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Ford is donating $20 for each test drive of a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle between April 21 and December 31, 2009, up to $1 million. Additional information and test drive certificates are available at fordcares.com or click here.

In addition, Ford dealers will have the option of matching these donations up to $1,000 per dealership. Below is a list of local Ford dealerships that are participating in the matching program. See a list of dealers below:

KEN GARFF FORD
AMERICAN FORK
UT
LAPOINT FORD LINCOLN MERCURY
MURRAY
UT
WESTLAND FORD
OGDEN
UT
ST. GEORGE FORD LINCOLN MERCUR
SAINT GEORGE
UT
LARRY H. MILLER FORD
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
CHAMPION FORD
SANDY
UT
SMITH AUTO COMPANY
SPANISH FORK
UT

Let's get the word out!

2009-09-28T22:21:00.001-07:00

Calling All Sisters!

This October join with us to spread the word about the Young Survivor Sisters support group. Email/Text/Tweet/Facebook/Blog and tell everyone you can about our group. Although our group has almost doubled this year we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to the amount of women out there with breast cancer. Take the challenge this month to encourage all you know to spread the word about our group! We know the value of what we have - Let's share it!!!!

:) Ginger

2009-09-24T11:54:00.004-07:00

I am posting the email that I sent last week here on the blog in case someone didn't get the original email.

Several people mentioned to me that they liked the pink ribbon watch band that I made. So for our October get together we are going to make pink ribbon watch bands or bracelets. I have a wide variety of beads and jewelry supplies so you can make something else if you would rather or just come and visit. For the pink ribbon jewelry I will need to purchase the white heart beads and round beads with the pink ribbons at the gem fair on 9/25/09 so call me ASAP if you want one. So far I have only heard back from 3 sisters so I will probably buy a few extra pink ribbon beads in case someone didn't get the email in time. The rest of the jewelry you can just make whatever you want from the supplies that I bring. The cost will be about the same as for the pink ribbon jewelry. The cost will be $10 for watch bands and $5 for bracelets (see attached pictures). That will cover the cost of all the supplies EXCEPT for a watch face. Many of you already have a watch face that you may want to use. If you don't already have one you can purchase them at craft stores, online, or buy a watch that has a removable bar which holds the band on (usually leather band) at any store. I am checking into a source that has several different styles. I am hoping that she will let me bring the watch faces to our meeting so you can buy them there. I will let you know what I find out. One online source is www.thevirtualtouch.com/watch_slide.html. I haven't purchased from them before but they have a wide selection and their watch faces are between $5-$10 dollars. If you plan on ordering online keep in mind the shipping time so that you have the face before our meeting. You will need to bring your watch face with you so that the watch band and face when put together will fit your arm.

We would love to see you there even if you don't want to make anything. We will be meeting on Thursday, October 15th from 6 p.m. to whenever we are done at the Best Western Cottontree Inn 1030 N 400 E, North Salt Lake, UT‎ - (801) 292-7666‎. They are donating the use of a conference room for us to meet in. They will have tables set up so that we can make the pink ribbon jewelry and misc. jewelry. Please come even if you don't want to make anything. Bring snacks to munch on. We hope to see everyone there.

P.S. Don't forget to call me at 801-628-8091 or 801-732-2707 or email me at candytatton@yahoo.com ASAP and let me know if you want to make a pink ribbon watch band or bracelet so that I have enough supplies. You can pay me when we get together. If you miss the group get together we can try to arrange a time when I can meet you to make yours. I am having my last reconstruction surgery (I hope) on October 29th so keep that in mind if you need to get together separately.

Thanks, Candace Tatton

Be Bright Pink

2009-09-21T13:24:00.001-07:00

Hi Girls! I found a great site to share with your sisters/family/friends that focuses on early detection and overall health for those who are high risk to get breast and ovarian cancer. Check it out: http://www.bebrightpink.org/

:) Ginger

New breast cancer test lets doctors customize care for patients

2009-09-01T21:33:00.001-07:00

KSL news story about breast cancer

New breast cancer test lets doctors customize care for patients

New breast cancer test lets doctors customize care for patients
August 27th, 2009 @ 10:30pm
By Jed Boal
SALT LAKE CITY -- When a doctor tells a woman she has breast cancer, the news can be overwhelming. But oncologists now have a new test that lets breast cancer patients make more personalized decisions about their treatment.

Chandy Bronson is a breast cancer survivor.

"We pulled through it, but it was really difficult," she said.

Today Bronson is healthy, happy and in remission. Last October, when she found out the lump in her breast was cancerous, she was devastated and had to break the news to her four boys.

Chandy Bronson meets with her doctor
"That was the hardest part about this whole situation, telling your little kids that you have cancer. Of course they all thought, is mom going to die?" Bronson said.

There were many tough questions, but her oncologist, Dr. William Nibley, used a new test called Oncotype DX to answer questions about treatment.

The test uncovers the genetic makeup of a patient's tumor to determine the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence and whether the patient will respond to chemotherapy.

"We can actually look at each individual's tumor, specifically, based on the genetics of the tumor. We can tell them more specifically how their tumor is going to behave and what treatments will be appropriate for them," Nibley said.

That's valuable information, especially since 96 percent of stage one breast cancer patients do not benefit from chemotherapy, yet a majority pursue the costly and toxic treatment anyway. For a small group of patients there's a great benefit from chemo; the majority can avoid needless treatment.

"We're able to personalize this recommendation," Nibley said. "So, the people who get chemotherapy, it's much more effective for them."

When doctors can customize treatment for breast cancer patients, they can save more lives.

"We're able to take the therapies that we have and really apply them to the people who need them the most," Nibley said.

Bronson was cancer-free after surgery, but the test told her the tumor was more aggressive than they originally thought, that he needed treatment and she would respond to chemo.

"Because of this test, it made making that decision much easier to do chemo radiation. I wasn't guessing," Bronson said.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women living in Salt Lake County. Statewide, more than 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. In the past, the prognosis for breast cancer was dependent on the size and stage of the tumor.

When Bronson started to lose her hair during chemotherapy, 23 boys and men--friends and family--shaved their heads with her. That support was crucial, but so was the Oncotype DX test.

"It's a personal test that shows: Yes, you're going to need additional treatment, or no, you're not going to need additional treatment. Knowledge is power, and this was a big piece of information for me," Bronson said.

For the cancer doctors, Nibley says they can be more effective with treatment. They can also tell many patients who dread chemo they won't need it.

Intermountain Healthcare now will submit a study on how this test changed the therapy for a large group of patients. It will be presented at a San Antonio Breast Cancer convention, the biggest worldwide meeting of its kind.

E-mail: jboal@ksl.com

Lymph Node Transplant

2009-08-26T13:49:00.003-07:00

When we were at the social in January, Dr. Massey's nurse Jill announced that Dr. Massey is now doing lymph node transplants. When I was in New Orleans for my reconstruction, Dr. Massey did the first transplant there on a sweet woman named Sharon. We stayed at the Hope Lodge together and got to know each other. Check out the video link on Dr. Massey's web site at www.drmarga.com to see a great news report on lymph node transplants. There are very few doctors that can do this procedure. Tell everyone you know that this is now available. You never know who it might help. I told my massage therapist and one of her other patients is now scheduled with Dr. Massey to have it done.

Congratulations Andrea!!!

2009-08-09T22:37:00.002-07:00

After chemo, radiation, surgeries, 5 years of Tamoxifen and a whole lot of patience, one of our young survivor sisters just had a baby!!!

Andrea Lanham delivered a beautiful healthy baby boy August 2nd. Owen weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 inches long. Congrats Andrea!!!

We love you and couldn't be happier for you!!

5th Annual Family Picnic

2009-08-04T23:49:00.003-07:00

Click on image to enlarge:
So you and your families are ALL invited!!! Join us!! Please email your RSVP and the number of people that will be attending to eringadd@gmail.com. We will have a giant sub from SUBWAY! I need to order ASAP...so don't wait! Send your RSVP TODAY!! Thanks! Erin.

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo

2009-07-27T11:06:00.004-07:00

Here's a few of us out in the arena...

A few more....

We all got beautiful pink roses...

A few of us...Jan, Erin, Becky--And Rachelle is barely out of the frame on the far left...(Sorry Rachelle!! I thought I grabbed you to be in the pick too!!!)

This is the first time I (Erin) met Becky Hill. Funny thing, our husbands picked seats right next to each other!

The group of Survivor seating...

Here's Rachelle and her cute hubby enjoying the rodeo....

Texting someone!! Telling them how awesome the rodeo is!! :)

The rodeo clown's horse did some amazing tricks!

Loved the Weber "posse" shooting their guns...

Gotta love the bucking broncos!!!

The night ended with a BANG!
Thanks to all the survivors who participated! It was lots of fun! See ya'll next year!

(photos courtesy of Pink Daffodil Photography)

So You Think You Can Dance for breast cancer

2009-07-22T23:48:00.002-07:00

This is an amazing masterpiece. Take a few minutes and watch. Awesome.

manda 8 @ Yahoo! Video

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo

2009-07-06T09:18:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to let everyone know of a fun event that is coming up.

It's the Tough Enough to Wear Pink night at the Ogden Rodeo on July 23, 2009.

I got a phone call from the rodeo committee and they are looking for some breast cancer survivors they can honor that evening. They need 10 more survivors.

If you choose to participate you and 1 guest will receive:

-2 free tickets to the rodeo

-2 free tickets to a BBQ dinner prior to the rodeo

-a cute Tough Enough to Wear Pink T-shirt

Ginny Nelson and I did this last year, (along with several other survivors we didn't know) and we had tons of fun. The dinner was yummy and then at the beginning of the rodeo, we walked out into the arena in our fun shirts and were honored as breast cancer survivors. Then we got great seats to watch the rest of the rodeo with our 1 guest. I am planning to attend this year, and I'm buying tickets so my boys can come too!

The event is on Thursday, July 23rd and the dinner starts at 6PM. If you think you might be interested in doing this, please email Hanny Martindale genehanny@comcast.net

There are only 10 spots open, so Hanny will accept the first 10 emails she gets. She has to have a final count by tomorrow evening, so don't delay!

Send her an email with the following information:

Name

Mailing Address

Telephone Number

Shirt Size

Again, send this information to genehanny@comcast.net Hanny will mail you your tickets and information for the evening.

I'm excited to see who can come!

And don't worry, if you don't like being in the spotlight, you can still come to the rodeo and support the cause! A portion of the evenings proceeds are donated to a local breast cancer charity. (Not sure which one this year, last year it was McKay Dee Hospital Breast Cancer Center) If you wear pink you get a discount too! For those of you who have never been to a rodeo, this one is AWESOME. I have been to tons of rodeos, and this one was so much fun. After all the bull riding and barrel racing, they usually have some cool motor cross too. It's a super fun evening for the entire family. And the food is very tasty too!

Anyway, send an email to Hanny ASAP if you want to go!

Hope to see you there!

Thanks!

Erin Gadd

This is me at the rodeo last year:

This is a picture of all of us out in the arena. I am in the middle to the right of the girl in the white cowboy hat and Ginny is third from the left.

Utah Cancer Resource, Education for Women

2009-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Young Survivors,
I hope you all are doing well and that you all will soon be enjoying simmer.
I am writing to let you know of an upcoming Cancer Survivors Conference on Sept 25 at the Train Depot. We will also be having a train the trainer on Cervical Cancer in the near future.
Let us know if you need any information on upcoming events and check our website for the Needs Beyond Medicine Program.

We are still meeting the second Tuesday of the Month, and our next meeting will be July 14th at Health Insight which is on 45th South and 348 East suite 300. We invite you or a representative of your group to join us. Phillip Brown is in charge of sending out information and I have included him on this e-mail. You can also reach him at 801-892-6634.

Sylvia G. Rickard
UCREW
Please visit our website: www.ucrew.org

Dell Days of Deals! June 15-24 - A New Deal Everyday!

Fwd: Komen News

2009-06-07T13:20:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tracy Kelley <info@komenslc.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Komen News
To: snaps75@gmail.com

If you are unable to view the message below, please go to http://race.komenslc.org/site/MessageViewer/.

2009 Komen Salt Lake City Race for the Cure® a Huge Success!

The Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® extends a heartfelt thank you to over 17,400 participants who made our 13^th Annual Komen SLC Race for the Cure a huge success raising over $760,000! The top individual fundraiser was Dusty Silvester, who in only a month was able to obtain $6,600 in donations on behalf of his Mom, Margo, a recently diagnosed breast cancer survivor. The top fundraising team, bringing in close to $10,000, was the Bodacious Ta-Tas, raising funds and walking in memory of Bonnie Schlotterbeck. What commitment and passion they exuded in their efforts!

Up to 75% of all money raised from our Race will stay in our community to fund lifesaving awareness, screening and treatment programs. The remaining 25% helps to fund the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Research Grants Program. The purpose of these funds is to help us fulfill our promise to end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Again, thank you to all who participated in this inspiring event. We especially would like to thank our volunteers and committee, without whom none of this would be possible.

Ford Advantage Plan Test Drive

As part of its ongoing commitment to the fight against breast cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Ford is donating $20 for each test drive of a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle between now and June 13^th, up to $1 million. In addition, Ford dealers will have the option of matching these donations up to $1,000 per dealership. Additional information and test drive certificates are available at fordcares.com or by clicking HERE.

Upcoming Events

June 27, 2009 Raft for the Cure in Moab a fun river trip for all experience levels with 50% of all proceeds going to the Salt Lake City Affiliate. For more information, click on this link: www.raftforthecure.com

July 18, 2009 Breast Dialogues in SLC a unique breast cancer awareness program at the Rose Wagner Theater sponsored by the Utah Pride Center. For more information, click on this link: www.utahpridecenter.org

Our New Office

Our Affiliate now has office space at 1088 S 1100 E, Suite B, SLC. We would like to acknowledge and thank the property owner Kristy Blair of Summit Sotheby's International Realty 801-467-2100 for the discounted rent we receive.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® please visit our website at komenslc.org. For answers to breast health questions please call 1-800 GO KOMEN or log onto komen.org.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Salt Lake City Affiliate

Affiliate Home | Race Home | Unsubscribe | Email Preferences

Cancer Survivors Day 2009

2009-05-26T20:54:00.001-07:00

Hello Sisters!

I hope you all had a fun Memorial Day and were able to spend time with loved ones. I wanted to let you know about the 2009 Cancer Survivor Day celebration being held by Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital and Logan Regional Hospital Centers on Saturday, May 30th from 11am to 2pm. A local survivor, Kevin Garner will be speaking and they will also have activities centered around celebrating life. Live music will be performed by Tongue-Tied, Glenn Register and Mike Christiansen. Registration begins at 10am at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. Call 801-387-7400 for more information.

:) Ginger

Ginger Johnson has shared a video with you

2009-05-21T21:27:00.001-07:00

Hi there.

Ginger has shared a video with you: Young Survivor Sisters - 2009 Race for the Cure

His/her message:
Enjoy 30 seconds of pics.

http://animoto.com/play/B9n4Skb52yqPDUSzd39izw

If you like it, why don't you try creating one yourself? It's free and really simple, so head over to our site and give it a try:

http://animoto.com/

We look forward to your visit!

Sincerely,
The ANIMOTO Team

Fwd: The Power of Positive Pinking, May 2009

2009-05-16T20:37:00.001-07:00

May 2009

The Power of Positive Pinking

In This Issue

May Pink-Linker

Studies Available

Survivor Cruise

May Featured Pink-Linker, Kelly Henderson

Kelly Henderson, mother of two and founder and owner of Iwearitwell.com, has been making lemonade from lemons for many years. In addition to surviving what the current economy has thrown her way, she has also survived cancer.

Read Kelly's story

Various Studies

Are you available to participate in a study to help find a cure for breast cancer? The National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland is looking for Metastatic survivors for 3 different studies they're organizing. To find out more information and/or to sign up for the study, please contact:

June Kryk or
Linda Williams
Immunotherapy Referral Office
National Cancer Institute
CRC, Room 2-1730
10 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: 301-451-1929
Fax 301-451-1927

Don't forget to mention how you heard about the studies!

Dear Ginger,

May can be a very hard month for some people. For some, Mother's Day is a day to remember a mother that has passed. For others, it's a day of celebrating with family. But, for both, it's a day to celebrate women, our accomplishments and the love it takes to achieve them.

My journey with breast cancer has brought me to realize how special it is to be a woman and the tremendous need we have to support each other. Pink-Link now has over 3,200 members across the country and internationally! For the past 3 years, Pink-Linkers have made over 1,000 connections! And last year, our website was visited by people from 109 countries. We just added the capability to search our survivor database based on age range: under 25, 26-40, 41-55 and over 55.

We ARE making a difference in how women are getting the emotional support they need during a very trying time in their lives. I hope you're feeling well and empowered!

Victoria Tashman
Founder
Pink-Link

p.s. You can follow me on Twitter and join our cause on FaceBook!

2010 Survivor Cruise

Since 2007, the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine has organized the only Breast Cancer Survivor's Cruise. The magazine is a nonprofit organization and it's mission is to empower and educate breast cancer survivors. They do this particularly well on their annual cruise with a variety of speakers and topics addressing various breast cancer issues.

Pink-Link is proud to be a partner with the magazine in promoting the 2010 cruise in the Caribbean. The cruise departs Ft. Lauderdale on May 2, 2010 and returns on May 8th. When you book a cabin using the code "PinkLink", we will receive a $25 donation! So, besides having the time of your life, you are also donating to your favorite charity! What can be better than that? Please click on the link for more information and to register.

Cruise Information

Lymphedema Questions?

I recently connected with Gail Pekelis, owner of Women's Physical Therapy in Southern California. She is a Lymphedema specialist with 22 years of physical therapy experience. I asked her to write a series of articles addressing lymphedema and ways to control it. The following is the first in her series of articles.

"In a three part series of short articles, the following information about lymphedema will be examined.
This first article will define lymphedema, the risk factors and provide some helpful suggestions for self-education and care.

Article II will discuss assessment and treatment options for lymphedema.

Article III will discuss Axillary Web Syndrome and its presence with or without lymphedema. This condition may appear following axillary node dissection."

Read the Article

Pink-Link Nutritionist

Our nutritionist, Janice Baker, was interviewed by San Diego Live online. Click here to watch the interview and learn about cutting calories at home.

Watch the Video (click on the second post on the right dated March 24, 2009)

Forward email

This email was sent to snaps75@gmail.com by vtashman@pink-link.org.

Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

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Race for the Cure

2009-05-09T20:56:00.003-07:00

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Race for the Cure today! Being that it was my first race ever, I've got to say how impressed I was with the amount of support from locals and even people from out-of-state. They estimated that around 18,000 people showed up today for the race - and I believe them. I have never been surrounded by that many people before today and it's not something that I will soon forget. I teared up a couple of times as I thought of the significance of the race and of my gratitude for all the people there supporting us - the Survivors.

It was fun to see the sayings on the custom made shirts of different teams as they walked by. If you didn't get a chance to see the guys dressed in black shorts and tights - wearing pink underwear over them with words written on their bums - stay tuned. I'll post pictues soon! LOL! The support was overwhelming and I'm so grateful that we were able to be a part of it all.

Most importantly I was grateful to participate in the Survivor March with all of you! I hope you all know how important you are in my life and how important you are to so many others in our group. Your advice and friendship means so much to me and I know that my breast cancer journey would of been completely different without all of you!

Today we were able to pass out some YSS contact cards to other young survivors we passed as we walked. I hope they all take the opportunity to become part of the group. I know their lives will be blessed if they do - just as mine has been.

Thanks for everything Sisters - You are all WONDERFUL!

:) Ginger

2009 Race for the Cure

2009-04-16T20:34:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone! I hope you will join with the Young Survivor Sisters on May 9th for the Komen Race for the Cure! The Young Survivor Sisters have created a Team for everyone to join. Visit our group page at http://race.komenslc.org/goto/youngsurvivorsisters and click Join Team!.

Mark your calendars for the Komen luncheon on May 2nd and plan on meeting early so we can all sit together!

See you there!

KOMEN LUNCHEON ~ EVERYONES INVITED!

2009-04-14T09:44:00.004-07:00

2009 Salute to Survivors Luncheon

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Little America Hotel
500 S Main, SLC, Utah

Registration begins at 11:00am Luncheon and Program begin at Noon.

Featured Speaker: Anna C. Beck, MD, Survivor and Oncologist
Emcee: Rebecca Cressman, FM100 Morning Show Host

Free for Survivors --$30.00 per Guest
Cash Bar -- Seating is Limited

Invitations from Komen will be sent out soon

Please RSVP no later than April 30, 2009
You can RSVP by emailing tkelley@komenslc.org or by calling 801-446-2980 option 6
Checks can be made payable to Komen SLC and sent to PO Box 522320, SLC, UT 84152

To download a printable copy of the invitation please click here

To download a printable version of the RSVP please click here

Upcoming Cancer Events

2009-04-05T22:00:00.001-07:00

This message was emailed to the group to inform us of upcoming Relay for Life activities:

Hello Survivor Sisters!

My name is Melissa Brown, and I was recently in Roberts Crafts talking to a woman named Deanne who is a member of your group. I told her that my mother works for the American Cancer Society and is in charge of Relay for Life and Making Strides fundraising events.

Deanne wanted more information about participating in these events. The website is: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp?level=0

Click on Join in the Fight and then participate, and you will find a way to look up events in your area. This year there are relay's in Kaysville, Weber State, Roy, Layton, Bountiful, U of U, and several in the Salt Lake Valley. The making strides event is in October this year and my personal team is called Conciseness for Cans. These events start about April and go till September and October. American Cancer Society also does golf tournaments, although I don't know much about those, as I usually participate in relay's and strides.

ACS events are a great way to connect with others, have a great time, and promote the name and cause of your website. You can join a group already doing an event or even better, make your own group! People show up for Relay Events with team names, decorations, and lots of family and friends. I am always trying to recruit new members for my team, and I am currently working on my website. My email is bmelissa@xmission.com

Like I mentioned before, my mother is in charge of the events, and I have been to A LOT of them, so if you have questions that are not answered by the website, feel free to email me!

Thank you, and I hope to see youngsurvivorsisters at an event very soon!

The Ice cream social was great!

2009-04-03T12:28:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all of you who came and participated in our social at Leatherby's. For those who came we had a great time chatting and getting to know each other. I love to come to these because I feel so at home when we all start talking about life experiences. It is always nice to talk to someone who has been there. Thanks again if you came, you made it a success.

Laurie

p.s. Brittany pulsipher took some pictures so I hope we can post them on the blog or something like that.

-------------------

Here are the pictures! Sorry it took me so long. That was a fun social! Thanks for planning it, Laurie!

-Brittany

Diagnosis and Staging

2009-03-13T09:24:00.002-07:00

There are many wonderful sites in cyberspace that provide helpful information regarding breast cancer. We are working to post as many of these sites as possible on our blog and welcome any links to sites you have found helpful. Links will be posted under the TOPICS section by category.

A great resource for Breast Cancer Basics can be found on the http://www.PinkRibbonGirls.org website under Resources in the left menu bar.

Something to consider

2009-03-08T20:39:00.002-07:00

Opposition:

You can never know the good,
if you've never known the bad.

You can never be happy,
if you've never been sad.

You've got to taste the bitter,
so you can know the sweet.

You've got to be hungry,
to be glad that you can eat.

You've got to be sick,
to be grateful for your health.

You've got to need money
to appreciate wealth.

There's got to be some problems to rise above
You've got to know lonely so that you can know love.

It's called Opposition, my friends.
Opposition.

A necessary condition in this world of ours.

Sister Social ~ South Group

2009-03-06T15:20:00.001-07:00

March 18th @ 7pm - The South group will be meeting at Leatherby's to get some icecream and chat for a while. Everyone is invited to attend - no matter where you live. :)

The address is:
Leatherby's Family Creamery (801) 967-2566
Address: 1872 W 5400 South, Kearns, UT 84118
MAP: http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/leatherby_s_family_creamery-b985685

We're hoping that since we're meeting at night and not on the weekend, more will be able to come.

We have some new girls to introduce and who will have lots of questions to answer, so we'll see you there!

Young Survivor Sisters on FaceBook

2009-02-20T13:06:00.003-07:00

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.

March Get Together

2009-02-19T16:05:00.004-07:00

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.

Helps for Financial aid, Medications and Insurance

2009-02-03T20:31:00.004-07:00

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

Managing Stress - Something we all could do better

2009-02-03T20:18:00.001-07:00

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.

New blog format

2009-01-24T15:25:00.002-07:00

Please be aware that we are updating our blog. I promise it will look great when it's done. :)

The 2nd Annual Celebration of Life Dinner

2009-01-10T23:26:00.010-07:00

Our new President for 2009...drum roll please....

GINGER JOHNSON!!!

Woo hoo! We are SO excited to have Ginger as our new President. Thank you so much for help putting this entire dinner together! We are looking forward to an awesome 2009!!

A few of you weren't camera shy...YAY!!! Cutest couples EVER!!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO CELEBRATE WITH US!!!

HERE'S TO A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2009!!!!!

2nd Annual Celebration of Life Dinner was a success!

2009-01-04T17:12:00.003-07:00

Thanks so much to all who came to the largest gathering of Young Survivor Sisters yet. There were over 60 people in attendance at last nights event, and we were so happy to see you all there! We need to send a big Thank You to those who helped make last night a success! Ginny worked very hard to obtain all the donations given out. Laurie arranged for the speaker, Rick Bojak to speak to us and inspire us to think positively. Erin set up the musical number performed by Lara Garner (Wasn't she amazing?!) And Jan put together the information sheet that will be used to match new sisters to those currently in the group.

The thank you cards you signed have been delivered to some and will be mailed this week to those who were on the program or who paid for everything. Thank you to Dr. Marga Massey who paid for the food (www.diepflap.com, or www.drmarga.com) and Niel Wilkinson, Temple Square hospitality Corp. who arranged for the location.

We will be posting the list of businesses who donated as well so you can make sure to visit them in the future!

I THINK PINK - Send your Stories!

2008-12-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

I THINK PINK
Now Accepting Stories for 2009

Ginger Johnson was selected as the 2008-2009 honoree for IThinkPink.org. Now the company that sponsors this breast cancer event, For Every Body, is looking for the next honoree for 2009-2010. This is the information from their blog: www.ithinkpink.org

For Every Body would like to sincerely thank each of you who shared your experience with breast cancer with us in 2008. Each of the stories we received was touching and heartfelt. We appreciate your willingness to remind us all how far reaching this disease is and what each of us needs to do to help eliminate the fear associated with breast cancer and vigilantly work towards finding a cure. We truly do admire your courage and strength.We are excited to announce our plans to continue our involvement with breast cancer. In 2009, we plan to again support a survivor, a child who has lost his or her mother, and a woman currently fighting breast cancer.We invite each of you to spread the word about our search for stories. You are welcome to share yours again. We will keep the search open until summer 2009, but encourage you to share as early as possible so others may find inspiration and hope through reading your experiences.To share your story or to receive more information about Think Pink, please visit www.ithinkpink.org. Check back here often to read updates from our 2008 Honoree, Ginger Johnson.

Celebration of Life Invitation Correction

2008-12-06T20:45:00.001-07:00

Please note that the Celebration of Life dinner is being held on SATURDAY January 3rd. The invite reads Friday. Darn chemo brain! :)

Celebration of Life Dinner & Social

2008-12-04T13:07:00.002-07:00

We have received confirmation of attendance from the following:

Ginger Johnson & Guest

Erin Gadd & Guest

Jan Kunz & Guest

Ginny Nelson & Guest

Ambery Myers & Guest

Heidi Peterson & Guest

Rachelle Betsuie & Guest

Carolyn Killpack & Guest

Laura Kimball & Guest

Lyssa Davis & Guest

Cecily Heiner

Laurie Nelson & Guest

Lara Garner & Guest

Cheryl Pulsipher & Guest

Brittany Pulsipher & Guest

Nancy Phillip & Guest

Debbie McKenzie & Guest

Tana Coleman & Guest

If you are not listed above but wish to attend, you MUST email your confirmation to youngsurvivorsisters@gmail.com no later than Dec. 14th! Please note that I was able to get the confirmation deadline moved back by a week to make sure that everyone gets a chance to RSVP. We don't want anyone left out! :)

Life is about Joy

2008-11-11T13:17:00.001-07:00

Life is about Joy. It's true! I know many say life is about making money or living well or getting this or that. But honestly, life is about Joy. It's about the little things that make each day special. Seeing the sun rise, smelling the rain, listening to a child's laughter or truly laughing yourself. I'm talking - a serious good chuckle! It's about finding happiness even when it seems that there is none to be found. It's about lifting those around you and feeling the love that comes because of your deeds. It's about learning to overlook the small things that would otherwise bug you and forgiving as quickly as possible.

One of my favorite quotes that hangs on my kitchen wall is this: "In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." ~Pres. Gordon B Hinckley

That is so true!!! Life IS to be enjoyed. Now I'm not saying that everything will always be peaches and cream and that rose colored glasses will be the trend of the day. But as we live each day on this wonderful earth, we have the opportunity to choose how we will respond to the things around us. What a beautiful gift choice is. It is in our power to take any situation, good or bad, and make it better. It is in our power to overlook the slights of others so that we are not poisoned by our own hate. We get to choose how most things affect us and we can choose to find the good in every situation. I have a dear friend who underwent a nasty divorce and still was able to find humor in the situation. Of course, she was making fun of her estranged husband - but he really was doing humorous things! Poor man. Oh, the opposition we face in life. Sometimes it can seem so overwhelming, like the sun will not shine and the dark clouds just won't go away. I know. I've been there. But I've also seen the beauty of the sunrise and the silver and gold lining on those same clouds as the storm passes. Another quote I love: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

When was the last time you let go of the stresses of the day and did just that - dance in the rain. When was the last time you left your 'adulthood' behind and said the word "Echo" really loud in an open area. I have to say that I truly love and appreciate the opportunity to experience cancer because now I do dance and I do shout 'Echo'. All the time! I dance with my kids, I dance while I clean. I smile and just dance. I also scream with excitement when my favorite movies are about to play. Yes, while I'm in the theater! (Sorry to all those moms in High School Musical 3 - and hooray to all the young girls who joined in with me! :) )

I know that some people out there can't stand other people who seem to be happy all the time and I truly pity those people. I often wonder what sadness has caused them to reach that point. What hurt in their life can they not let go of? I know first hand that holding on to hate and anger sours your soul. But as soon as you let it go, the burden is lifted and you can smile once again and really experience the joy that is around you.

So go on - let go of the things that are holding you back and learn to truly live! Have 'much fun and laughter' so that your life journey can be 'enjoyed, not just endured!'

All my love!

Ginger Johnson

New Contact Cards!!!

2008-10-30T13:07:00.002-07:00

Wow! This looks almost Purple on my screen - but it's really PINK!!

These are the new Contact Cards that we've created for the group! You can use these cards to hand out to women you meet who don't know about our group yet - or even better - give a handful to your doctors! They will be a means to help us spread the word about the group!

The cards will be available to you at our Celebration of Life Dinner and Social on January 3rd 2009 being held at the Lion House in Salt Lake City! More info on that coming soon!

Now it's Ginny's Turn To Shine!

2008-10-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

Featured Mama
Survivor To Triathlete
When faced with a cancer diagnosis at 24 years old, Ginny threw herself whole-heartedly into fighting the disease. After 6 cancer-free years, Ginny is a conquering triathlete.
Name:
Ginny Nelson
City / State:
Layton, UT
What was your big dream?:
My overall dream was to live to see my son grow up, and to hopefully have more children in the future. In 2002 I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 24. By the time we found it, the cancer had already spread to my lymphnodes and my odds of survival were not the greatest. My only child had just turned one and all I could think about was being here for him. That gave me the push to do whatever I could to fight. I was going to beat cancer and that was that. After meeting my 6 year cancer free mark, I decided that it was time to push my body to see what it was capable of after all that it had been through with cancer treatments. I decided to train for the Ogden Valley Triathalon and I completed it this past September.
How did you accomplish it?:
I did everything I knew I could do to fight. Medically, I had the most aggressive treatment I could have. It began with a radical mastectomy, 6 months of chemotherapy, and 25 rounds of radiation. Meanwhile I was doing whatever I could holistically with herbs, raw fruits and vegetables, and juicing. I also started taking classes in yoga, meditation, and Tai Chung to help relieve stress and to get me through the ordeal mentally. I read a lot of inspirational books, and books that made me laugh. I had a friend who had been through cancer years earlier and she gave me some great advice. She told me to laugh as much as possible. She said that studies had proven that laughter heals. So she said to read funny books, watch funny movies, live and enjoy my life to the fullest each day even if I didn't feel great and I would heal faster and get through it easier. I think she was right. Six years later I am the mother of 3 children and healthier than ever.
Where did you find inspiration to get started?:
I had a lot of support from friends and family who were cheering me on. I would get cards and letters in the mail from friends who were thinking of me and praying for me. I would even get cards from people I didn't know who said they had heard about me from a friend or family member and that they were praying for me and my family. People would leave little surprise packages, or flowers at my door to sweeten the day. It was just amazing to see the outpouring of love and kindness that was shown to me and my family.
What motivated you to keep going?:
My family. I wanted to live more than anything else in the world. That was all that mattered.
What's your next Big Dream?:
I want to get to my 10 year cancer free mark so I can have a huge celebration and invite all of my family and friends for the greatest party ever. I would also like to continue doing Triathlons and progressively get faster with each one that I compete in.
When you were 5 what did you want to be when you grew up?:
A mother
What about when you were 15?:
A marine biologist
Now, what do you want to be when you grow up?:
Forever healthy, and an amazing wife, mother, friend, cook, seamstress, gardener, and accomplished musician. I better have more time because I still have a lot to learn!
What book is on your night stand?:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
What's your Guilty Pleasure? (Grey's Anatomy, Peppermint Mocha Lattes):
Anything chocolate
What song moves you?:
Crazy Love by Paul Simon

Our Erin is a STAR - and promoting us as well!

2008-10-20T14:18:00.002-07:00

UtahMama.com highlighed our own ERIN GADD! WAY TO GO ERIN! WE LOVE YOU!

Dream Big
Mamas are known for cheering on their children, their husbands, their friends. But when was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back? Put yourself in the spotlight with women who can appreciate the joy of what you've done whether you completed a marathon, lost 20 pounds, or just cleaned out that scary garage.
Tell us about it!

Featured Mama
A Survivor’s Dream

When Erin was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at age 26 her hopes where simple – to live to see her babies go to school. Dealing with the obstacles and fears of a young cancer patient, she and a fellow cancer patient were inspired to create a support group, The Young Survivor Sisters.

Name: Erin Gadd
City / State: South Jordan, Utah
What was your big dream?: To beat cancer and see my boys go to Kindergarten and to maybe someday have a daughter.
How did you accomplish it?: After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, I knew I had a long, tough road ahead of me. The cancer was aggressive enough it required surgery, 6 months of Chemotherapy followed by 6 weeks of radiation and a year of another type of intravenous treatment.I felt so nervous and scared and wanted to talk to someone who had been through it so I could ask the dozens of questions I had. But everyone the doctors knew were all A LOT older than me. Finally a nurse called with the name of another girl who was 24 and was going through the same thing. To make a long story short, we ended up starting a support group for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer under age 40... The Young Survivor Sisters. These sisters helped me accomplish my goal of getting healthy.

Where did you find inspiration to get started?:My husband and sweet boys (then age 3 and 1) helped me realize that even though the road would be tough, it would be worth it. My Heavenly Father ultimately blessed me with the strength and courage to start that first treatment and helped sustain me through the most difficult time of my life. With the support of my dear friend Ginny, who helped create our support group, we could talk to one another and help each other through all the many questions that come from this diagnosis.

What motivated you to keep going?: My husband and 2 little boys kept me focused on the goal. Get through chemo and be healthy. I wanted to live long enough to see their cute smiling faces the day they headed off to Kindergarten. I also was motivated by the other survivor sisters and their positive outlooks. Just having another person there who knows what you’re going through is such a tremendous help. I was not alone!!!I also tried to serve others. By thinking about what I could do for other people helped me forget my troubles and get my mind on something else. During my treatments I served as the President of my church’s youth organization, helping girls ages 12 to 18 achieve their spiritual goals. I never realized that I would be the one who benefited from this service. The girls would often bring me fun gift bags with hats and treats; they decorated my house with hearts and would baby-sit for ALL of my radiation appointments. I couldn’t have done it without them and all of my great neighbors who brought me dinner and cleaned my house!!I also used humor… A LOT! Because a lot of times if I wasn’t laughing, I’d be crying! I started collecting humorous quotes to help me along. My favorite is… Even when you fall flat on your face…at least you’re still moving forward!!Two years after finishing all my treatments, I was able to get pregnant and have a daughter! We call her our miracle baby!
What's your next Big Dream?: I would love to live long enough to be a Grandma! I know that’s asking for like 20 or 30 more years, but it would be great! Also, I’d like to make my little photography business a BIG success! Last year I decided to start a photography business because I wanted to capture the precious moments we have in life. I feel so blessed to have been given a second chance at life, so now I try to enjoy each day a little more, no matter what the day brings. I look at my daughter everyday and realize what a miracle she is. I send my boys to school and realize what a miracle it is that I get to see them off every day.I named my business Pink Daffodil Photography. Pink is for breast cancer, of which I’m a survivor!! YAY!! And Daffodil is the cancer flower. I hope to help others realize the everyday miracles they experience in their own lives by capturing them on film. You can check out my work at www.pinkdaffodilphoto.blogspot.com.
When you were 5 what did you want to be when you grew up?: A ballerina
What about when you were 15?: A Psychologist or a photographer
Now, what do you want to be when you grow up?: A great wife; a great Mom; and a great photographer!
What book is on your night stand?: Way to Be! By Gordon B. Hinckley
What's your Guilty Pleasure? (Grey's Anatomy, Peppermint Mocha Lattes):
Oh, how I love sweets!! Easter candy is my favorite with jelly beans and malted eggs…mmmm; but in the off season, I settle for some Mike and Ike’s or caramel Werther’s…so tasty!
What song moves you?: This is a tough question for me because I LOVE music. I play the piano and write music of my own. There are so many to pick from…. For songs that emotionally move me, I really love the church hymn “Where Can I Turn for Peace?”, Sarah Mclachlan’s “Ordinary Miracle” and Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying.” Songs that PHYSICALLY MOVE me I would have to say “Move This” and “Pump up the Jam” by Technotronic…(that’s what I exercise to!!)

Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act Petition

2008-10-16T20:00:00.003-07:00

The blue writing is an email that I received today. I had one of the 'drive-through' Mastectomies. I know that many of you may have also experienced this first hand. The first paragraph is from a nurse that could have been mine. Please take the time to read this, sign the petition if you haven't already, and pass it on to others so they can also sign.

From a nurse:
I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies. So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You' they muttered.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/ tissue . If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery. It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important. Please take the time and do it! Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're reading this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stays for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through' Mastectomy where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and some times with drainage tubes still attached. Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name, state, and zip code. Click: www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php This takes about half a minute. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women.

I wish this bill had been passed last year. My surgery started at 1:15 p.m. The surgery took 3 hours. I went home 2 hours later. I would have gone home sooner if the hospital had it's way. I was nauseated so I didn't want to leave but the out-patient center was closing so they wanted to send me home so they could go home. I was still so out of it that I don't even remember anything my nurse said to me before they sent me home. The drive home was miserable. The surgery was on Thursday. I had to drive back to Salt Lake, an hour away, on Friday to have a check up with my surgeon and again on Monday for a second check up. The drive back to Salt Lake on Friday was still pretty miserable. By Monday I was doing well enough that the drive wasn't too bad. I don't remember much about the first few days after surgery. I was pretty out of it. I do remember getting sick when I tried to eat something and had to have my 70 year old mother-in-law help me to the bathroom. I don't blame my doctor for doing my mastectomy as an out-patient but it would have been a lot easier on me if I had been able to stay at least 1 night in the hospital. Thank heavens that I did not have any complications. My doctor promised me that I would be able to reach her even over the weekend but I would have still been over an hour away from her. My mastectomy had good results but it could have been easier at the time. This bill would help other women to not have to go through a 'drive-through' Mastectomy like I did.

On September 25, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would end the practice of "drive-through" mastectomies, when women are forced to leave the hospital within hours of undergoing major breast cancer surgery. But the act still needs your support! Sign the petition below now and urge the Senate and the president to take the next steps to pass this bill.

The Lynn Lectures

2008-10-14T12:17:00.002-07:00

The Salt Lake City Affiliate ofSusan G. Komen for the Cure® presents

The Lynn Lectures
"Beyond Just Surviving: How to Thrive after Cancer"
Featuring Susan Bauer-Wu, PH.D., RN
With Heidi Marble
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:00pm
Huntsman Cancer Institute Auditorium, Sixth Floor
Tickets: $7.00 per person

Register by sending your check made payable to the Komen Salt Lake City Affiliate at PO Box 522320, SLC, UT 84152. Phone reservations with credit card orders can be made by calling 801-446-2980 and leaving a message.

A pre-lecture reception with Susan Bauer-Wu and Heidi Marble in the fourth floor conference room will also be held at 5:30pm requiring a minimum donation of $25.00.
Beyond Just Surviving: How to Thrive After Cancer

Thriving beyond the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be the essence of this presentation that will certainly inspire cancer survivors, families and the general public. Based on scientific research, observations and interviews with individuals who have transcended devastating life circumstances, particularly remarkable cancer survivors who have lived fully and 'beat the odds', Susan Bauer-Wu will describe a prescription for how to thrive after cancer. Then, Heidi Marble will share her incredible journey and how she continues to thrive 8 years after the diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer. With touching stories, beautiful images, poetry, and practical suggestions, Susan and Heidi will set the stage for hope and inspiration.
The 2008 Lynn Lectures feature Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, a highly regarded lecturer, researcher and retreat facilitator. From 2001 to 2007, she was instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and served as director of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing & Patient Care Services. In her role at Dana-Farber, she led research efforts aimed to improve both the quality of life and quality of care for cancer patients, with a particular focus on breast cancer patients. In 2007, she was selected for Distinguished Cancer Scholar of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, while beginning a new position as Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She is the principal investigator of a large randomized, controlled trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), currently conducted at Dana-Farber and Emory, evaluating the bio-behavioral effects of mindfulness meditation for cancer patients.
The Lynn Lectures was established to honor the life and spirit of Lynn Tucker Grogan, an ordained minister who, during her battle with breast cancer, promoted the importance of the interrelation of body and mind in the healing process. She inspired others by her fortitude, compassion and ability to live an incredibly full life with joy and grace. Lynn wrote in her journal, "Cancer has been my search engine on a magnificent and intricate spiritual journey." The purpose of the Lynn Lectures is to further Lynn's exploration and provide a forum to help others become proactive participants in their own healing.

Great Dog Story

2008-10-08T11:30:00.003-07:00

My sister sent this to me and I loved it so much I thought I would share it with everyone. Remember that attitude is everything. Enjoy and fight.

GREAT DOG STORY

Anyone who has pets will really like this.
You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one! Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character.
Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit
they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open
because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.
Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement
and there the treasure would be, and all of Lucky's other favorite toys.
Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box
and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box. It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.
Something told her she was going to die of this disease
....in fact , she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.
The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky.
A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky?
Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim,
he was Mary's dog through and through.
If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought.
He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him.
The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death. The double mastectomy was harder on Mary
than her doctors had anticipated
and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks.
Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully,
but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable. Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital.
When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted
she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom.
Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.
Lucky stood watching Mary
but he didn't come to her when she called.
It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong.
She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.
But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem.
She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!
While she had slept,
the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement
bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.
He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying.
Instead she and Lucky began living again,
walking further and further together every day.
It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free.
Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box
but Mary remains his greatest treasure. Remember....live every day to the fullest.
Each minute is a blessing.
And never forget....
the people who make a difference in our lives
are not the ones with the most credentials,
the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care for us.

Festival of Trees... Calling all Creative minds...

2008-10-02T20:15:00.002-07:00

So I sent an email to our group and got some really great responses so far....What do you think? I'd LOVE to hear your ideas! More importantly, I'd love someone to volunteer to head up this effort!!!

Here's what Ceclie said:

I think the trees look like something from a Dr. Seuss book, and I propose that would be a fabulous theme for at least one of these crazy trees! You could for instance do "Oh, the places you'll go!". Buy several Dr. Suess books for beneath the tree, and/or a train. I would read Dr. Seuss books and study the illustrations for inspiration. If you want to do a cancer twist, you could do Oh, The Places You'll go! and do a hospital, a toilet, a barbershop/wig shop, a mastectomy boutique, etc. for buildings around the train track.

We could also do a "Race for the Cure" themed tree, and make a skirt from all of our old race for the cure shirts, and decorate it with pink ribbon shoe laces and raspberry gu gel and pink gatorade and granola bars.

Here's what Teri said:

I think it will be fun, just an idea for decorating would be to do an "angels among us" and have each person submit their angels that helped them through cancer, or to have each of us submit a bald picture and put it as the head of an angel and then write the names of people who were our angels. I don't know but I like the angels theme obviously. I was thinking of the gingerbread ornament angels to write on.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!!! WHAT'S YOUR GREAT IDEA!

WHO WANTS TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER??? PLEASE!! VOLUNTEERS??

Evening In Pink

2008-09-26T10:27:00.002-07:00

Hello Sisters!

I just wanted to make sure that you all were invited to attend the 2008 Evening In Pink @ 6:30 PM at the Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point. It's a HUGE breast cancer awareness event sponsored by For Every Body. It is going to be a wonderful event and the best part is that it's FREE!!! Kevin Sharp will be performing and speaking! They are giving away gift bags to the first 100 people in attendance so show up early. I'm not sure what's going to be in the bags - but knowing these people it's going to be good! There will also be a Silent Auction and Tributes to Breast Cancer Heroes.

You can learn more by visiting www.ithinkpink.org

I hope you can all make it!

:) Ginger

P.S. I'm working on putting together a phone directory for the group - so if you would be willing to send me a picture of yourself/family in a jpg file to add to the directory I'd sure appreciate it!

Also - Don't forget to watch for upcoming announcements about the 2nd Annual Celebration of Life Dinner and Social coming up later this fall. There will be giveaways this year and it will be fun to get to know the newest memebers of the group!