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Dear Reader,
The 2017 extended end-of-year season begins appropriately with a holiday that focuses on gratitude! Your support for ZBC on #GivingTuesday sustains a mission you believe in; The promotion of breast cancer risk reduction through translation of scientific research and evidence-based recommendations that support health and wellness at key stages of life. Thank you!
The job of achieving health and wellness as survivors is happening for some - but not all - who are diagnosed with breast cancer and much work remains to be done.
This month ZBC shares our review of the book "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande in the next segment of this email. We don't mean this to bring you down at the holidays but rather to support you with an amazing resource should you need it now or in the future.
A dear friend in her early sixties has been battling metastatic breast cancer for over five years. She is running out of time and it's heartbreaking. She is starting to come to terms with the fact that she won't see her daughter graduate medical school, won't be around to celebrate when her daughter finds a life-partner and possibly starts a family. I am guessing that you may have lost someone dear to you to cancer and you may have experienced that helpless, by-stander feeling as your loved one grappled with similar issues.
30 years ago I was that daughter. My Mom was 53 when she died of ovarian cancer. I was 27. I also inherited the BRCA1 genetic mutation that puts me at high risk myself. Thankfully one of my daughters has already tested negative for this mutation. I am anxiously awaiting information on my other daughter when the time is right. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or are of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish decent talk to your doctor about the value of genetic testing. You should share the family history about BOTH sides of your family (birth mother's and birth father's family history) if you know it. There are proactive steps you can take to manage these risks.
I am thankful that in 2017 my MRI and mammogram were both clear, that I have the opportunity to get fantastic walks on the beautiful trails of Marin, access to plenty of unprocessed nutritious foods, a loving and supportive community and a practice of gratitude to help manage stress. Armed with evidence-based information and knowledge I have made simple changes in my home and at work to reduce toxic chemical exposures. I am thankful that I have a platform to encourage and inspire you to proactively prioritize your own health, wellness and breast cancer risk reduction and to do the same for your family - especially for your pre-teen and teen daughters.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving this is also a timely opportunity to appreciate you as a ZBC e-news reader, volunteer, donor and/or advocate because you stand together with your community to achieve the vision of a world with zero breast cancer.
Best wishes to you during these days of giving thanks, eating up a storm, shopping for bargains, taking long walks and giving back!
One more time a heartfelt thank you!
Rose Barlow
Executive Director
PS No need to wait to make your #GivingTuesday contribution to support breast cancer risk reduction education for the youth and teens in your family and your community. You can do it right now.
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