susan g komen san antonio insert for san antonio woman

18TH ANNUALSUSAN G. KOMEN SAN ANTONIORACE FOR THE CURE®

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015ALAMODOME

Our promise is to save lives and end breast cancer.

A SPECIAL SECTION FOR SAN ANTONIO WOMAN

OUR PROMISEThe promise of Susan G. Komen® is to save livesand end breast cancer by:

• Empowering people

• Ensuring quality care for all

• Energizing science to find the cures

Komen has played a critical role in every majoradvance in the mission to end breast cancer,transforming how the world talks about andtreats this disease. Millions of breast cancer patients are now breast cancer survivors!

Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization,funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofitwhile providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded approximately $800 million in research and provided more than $1.7 billion to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countriesworldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life.

Established in 1997, Susan G. Komen San Antonio has invested more than $16.5 million in our city.

2014 LOCAL FUNDING BREAKDOWN

1 IN 8 WOMEN will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

The disease is the second most common cause of cancer deaths.Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women.

EDUCATION

SCREENING/DIAGNOSTIC

RESEARCH

TREATMENT/SURVIVORSHIP

12%26%

30%32%


The funded breast cancer programs provided in Bexar Countywere selected by an independentgrants review panel through a competitive application process.

2014-2015 Komen San Antonio Grantees: American Cancer Society: Transportation to treatment appointments

CentroMed: Education, screening, diagnostics and case management services

CommuniCare Health Centers: Screening and diagnostics

Martinez Street Women’s Center: Educational outreach and support services

SLEW Wellness Center: Emotional and physicalsupport for survivors recovering from treatment including lymphatic drainage, counseling, wigs and more

ThriveWell Cancer Foundation: Nutrition and exercise sessions specifically for cancer patientsand survivors

University Health System: Screening and diagnostics

WINGS: Treatment support and patient assistance

YWCA: Educational outreach and support services

Last year, Susan G. Komen San Antonio awarded$750,000 to nine area nonprofits providing life-saving breast cancer services to local familieswho need our help the most.

Additionally, we invested $270,000 for breast cancer research taking place in our city.

Funds awarded were raised primarily through the 2014 Susan G. Komen San Antonio Race for the Cure. With your help, last year’s grants specifically addressed:

Breast cancer screening including clinical breastexams, mammograms and biopsies.

Treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Support and survivorship including counseling services, lymphatic drainage, wigs, bras,prosthetics, transportation, diet and nutrition classes.

Neighborhood breast cancer education and outreach programs.

Through community support, Komen San Antoniois helping women in our neighborhoods sufferingfrom breast cancer today, while fueling research to find the cures for tomorrow.

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Many times patients have to make quick decisions about treatment plans, financing, work and personal arrangements.

Empowerment Packs provide resources on treatment options, support groups, important questions to ask doctors, cancer journals and much more.

PINK EMPOWERMENT PACKS FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS

Are you interested in sponsoring the Pink Empowerment Pack program, or providing cards of encouragement? If so, please email [email protected] or call 210-222-9009.

LOCAL DOLLARS HELPING LOCALLY

“It’s invaluable. Breast canceris so overwhelming and itgave me clarity about what I needed to know and whatquestions to ask my doctor. I still refer to the packagetoday.” Irene H., Survivor

“My Empowerment Packcouldn’t have come at a better time. The thought of knowing someone else isthinking about me as I gothrough my radiation treatment is encouraging.”Deborah C., Survivor

To request an Empowerment Pack for a breast cancer survivor or patient,please email [email protected] or call 210-222-9009.


The Komen Breast Cancer Ambassadors (BCA) are a group of trained volunteers who participate in speaking engagements throughout the community. Ambassadors include survivors, co-survivors, advocates and anyone with a passion to serve!

Our PurposeTo educate about Komen’s promise to save lives, discuss vital breast cancer information andshare powerful testimonies on why breast cancer awareness matters.

Why Should You Get Involved?You have the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of others by educating peopleabout breast cancer through presentations, distributing educational materials and sharingyour personal story.

Are you interested in joining the Breast Cancer Ambassadors program?If so, please email [email protected] or call 210-222-9009.

BREAST CANCER AMBASSADORS

COMMUNITY PROFILE

"As a survivor and chairwoman of theBreast Cancer Ambassadors, I was saddened to find so many people wholacked information about our local resources. Through the BCAs, we areable to create a passionate group thathas a desire to speak openly about their cancer journeys. Komen’s hope isto educate San Antonio in our efforts to encourage early detection." Lucie Arteaga

The Community Profile allows Komen San Antonio to better understand local breast cancer issues and remain responsive to the needs in Bexar County. The project reviews the following:

• Local breast cancer trends, including incidence, mortality, screening and stage of diagnosis

• Strengths and weaknesses in the local health care system

• Analysis of breast cancer public policy

• Community feedback through focus groups and health care professionals

For questions or information about the Community Profile, please visit www.komensanantonio.org or call (210) 222-9009.

Priority Areas Two priority areas were identified based on demographic and socioeconomicinformation that may put certain areas within Bexar County at higher risk forlate-stage breast cancer diagnosis and early death.

Zip codes with higher percentages of Black and Hispanic/Latina women withlower education, employment and poverty levels, as well as higher medically underserved numbers, were chosen. These socioeconomic factors make it difficult for residents to access cancer care and prevention.

Information gathered allows the Affiliate to effectively reach the Bexar Countypopulation through responsive grants, community outreach and public policyefforts. The full Community Profile Report will be available June 2015.


Be Bald and Be Free!

by Dezare Cedillo

When I first got diagnosed with breast cancerat the ripe age of 28, one of the things they toldme was that I would lose my hair. I remainedhopeful that I would be one of the 5 percentthat didn’t. Well, I wasn’t!

Everyone said, “Shave your head beforeyour hair starts falling out,” but I felt I wasgoing through this for a reason beyond myself.So I decided to see what it’s like to lose themost precious possessions that society saysmakes us women beautiful. I wanted to usethis opportunity to let inner beauty shine outand not follow the mold of how the world saysyou have to look.Well, I’m glad I did.Because throughout this journey of losing my

hair, my eyelashes (which I loved so much, bythe way), one of my breasts, which I now call mymoob = missing+boob, I have learned how tofeel beautiful in every season of my life–whetherI have hair or no hair!

I have embraced the phrase “NO HAIR,DON’T CARE” and made that my motto at howI look going through hard times. It isn’t justabout your hair, it is a boldly positive outlook atany situation you go through. Whether you’vebeen through cancer or not. Nothing that we gothrough in life defines who “you” are! You arenot the mistakes you’ve made nor the cancerthat may be inside you. All of us are fighters!Fighters at life! And survivors of life!

If you’re reading this now, you are a SURVIVOR!

Life can be tough, but it’s how you perceivesituations that will make living worth it. I may be

battling cancer, but I don’t feel like it. I chooseto believe that God created me for a purposeand it’s through his son, Jesus Christ, that I havecome this far in my breast cancer battle journey.He has given me the supernatural strength,courage, love, support and hope! Through theHoly Spirit my perspective was changed to seethe blessings and positivity in life. That’s whatgets me through each and every day with greatjoy! I am grateful for today and pray for tomor-row. Thank you, Jesus!

So go out there and be the beautiful YOUthat you were created to be!

Forget what the girls on the magazineslook like. Those girls don’t even looklike “those girls” in the magazine.

Forget about what society or social mediasays is beautiful….you go out there and be thebest version of yourself in this season! Your timeto shine is now! So be bald and be free!

Learning toSpeak Cancer

by Eileen Lundin

I am fortunate to have learned several lan-guages throughout my life: Southern, English,Spanish, Portuguese, French and Cancer.

Whenever we can, my husband, Robert, and Itravel, research travel, plan travel and pack suit-cases for travel. We just love that brisk feeling ofjet lag. We love the fascinating people we meet andthe wonderful places we’re privileged to visit.

I was found to have breast cancer in 1996: a rou-tine mammogram, an impossible diagnosis andthen the whirlwind of treatment. I learned aboutKomen San Antonio through my “chemo-buddy,”Gen, and I started working on the volunteer com-mittee before my hair had grown out to a re-spectable length.

I joined the board in 2001, and was elected pres-ident in 2003. During that time, Komen washoused at University Health System, Robert B.Green Campus (where I started my nursing ca-reer), and we had no paid staff. Finally we acquiredan administrative person and a volunteer coordi-nator. When those two ladies went on to more lu-crative jobs, I was the entire Komen staff for asummer. My first Race was Komen’s second in SanAntonio, so I have been there practically from thebeginning. From bald to blonde to grey.

Through my many roles as a volunteer boardmember, board president, and involvement in Racefor the Cure, community grants and the CommunityProfile, I’ve learned the most important function of

Komen has been, and continues to be, educationand awareness. I am regularly amazed by how mis-understood breast cancer is, even today, as I workat the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. I wantwomen to take control of their health. I want themto be intelligent consumers of health care services.And I want them to know what questions to ask. Iwrote three guidebooks and participated in theproduction of a few more; I translated the languageof breast cancer into Spanish; I helped run a sup-port group for Latinas for several years — all in thename of education. For a woman who was a totaldisaster at teaching middle school Spanish in Biloxi,Mississippi, I think I’ve come a long way!

What does Komen mean? It means, I think,that there is help and hope for women whohave breast cancer or who fear it. We show upwith our bright, shiny smiles and our pink shirtsand we hug. We find resources for those without, we

hold hands as they navigate the path of treat-ments, and we inspire the terrified to embracethe process of cure.

We raise the funds to help women and to un-derwrite the cure. It is my most fervent hopethat someday, someday soon, we will hold aRace to Celebrate the Cure and that no womanneed ever fear breast cancer again.


Now, It’s Personalby Debra Medellin-Beyer

I've always run for fitness, but more for my mental well-being. My first involvement with Susan G.

Komen was the 1999 San Antonio Race for the Cure. I had never seen so much pink! There were

participants with homemade signs on their backs running in honor or memory of those women in

their lives who had survived, were currently in treatment, or had lost their battle with breast cancer.

To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement! After completing the race I decided that next year

I would do more than just run, so I volunteered and helped register people.

Since then, each year I have become more involved, and now I take a week of vacation from my

full-time job, and I organize registration and packet pick-up for the entire race. I’ve served on the

Komen San Antonio Board of Directors and co-chaired the race two years in a row.

People have often asked me why I volunteer, and I tell them that EVERYONE will be affected by

this disease. They will either have a mother, sister or friend who will be diagnosed, and even ONE is

too many. In all the years I have volunteered, served on the board or been in charge of the race, I

have received far more than I have given.

I've met some amazing women and have been truly blessed that our paths crossed. Throughout

the years I've been a volunteer, not a week goes by when I don’t meet someone who has been re-

cently diagnosed, is going through treatment, or has lost someone to this disease. If that isn't a val-

idation of why I am involved with Komen or why we all need to do more, I don't know what is!

My husband, Robert, has become involved as well and helps every year with race operations and

puts up hundreds of pink lights for my registration tent. He always wears pink at any Komen event.

Being in a male-dominated field as a paramedic with the San Antonio Fire Department, he has met

and helped many of his fellow brothers and sisters just by listening. And he refers them to Komen

for resources for their own loved ones who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Since the beginning, I've never had any connection to breast cancer. I've always just beenpassionate about the cause. In September of 2014, it became personal.

My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. The doctors called it “invasive ductal car-

cinoma.” I call it a monster. Because of the extent of this monster, my mother will succumb and lose

her battle to breast cancer. As we care for my mother realizing this, not a day goes by that I don't

wonder if she's in pain or if there is any more we can do to keep her comfortable.

What I do know is that as long as I'm able, I will do whatever I can to educate people about early

detection and prevention and to help find a cure!

If you've never been to the Race for the Cure, I ask that you come see what it's all about. Cele-

brate with San Antonio the many women, and some men, who have fought this battle and won,

those who are fighting now and honor those who have lost their lives. If you do, come by the reg-

istration tent and say “hello.” It’ll be the one lit up with hundreds of pink lights to honor my mother.

Join us on Saturday, April 11, 2015,at the Alamodome for the

18th Annual Susan G. KomenSan Antonio Race for the Cure®

Be part of Komen’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures!

Visit www.komensanantonio.orgto sign up online today.

Thank you to our local title sponsor:

Register Today!

susan g komen san antonio insert for san antonio woman

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