Breast Cancer Changed Me Too

I like Joan Lunden. I mean I like what I saw of her on TV. She was very professional and did a good job on the air. I am not sure I would have 'volunteered' to have a mammogram on television, even if it was to raise awareness of breast cancer screening.

Now, three years after her diagnosis, she is through with treatment and says that having breast cancer changed her. She has started a website to educate women about the benefits of early detection.

Then another woman, much younger, Yolanda Jenkins, has also been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has created a platform to encourage young women to get checked and wants to get the age for mammograms lowered so younger women have access to this critical tool.

These two women make me think should I be doing something different? I mean I have a blog that's about me. I don't run around educating people about cancer. I know I talk about breast cancer and other cancers but I don't educate or advocate or anything... Should I be doing something different? I am not sure I could.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

There is a national group - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) - which focuses on advocacy for people living with cancer. I detest the word survivor but I'm okay with it here. Their website url tells it all - www.canceradvocacy.org. They advocate on cancer issues.

Are you familiar with the oral parity issue? That's the one where cancer treatment given as an infusion is paid for by your health insurance which covers most of it. But if the patient is switched to a pill form of treatment, it is covered as part of the pharmacy benefit - usually as a branded premium medication which is covered by a huge copay. The oral parity bill is hoping to change this so that the coverage is the same.

They had a a recent event called "Putting the Patient First" which focused on more issues of payment reform. They also have all sorts of resources on their website and they talk about a lot of other legislative changes in progress. And they have local chapters.

I am a volunteer with the New England Coalition for Cancer Survivorship - or NECCS. Today is their annual luncheon where I helped get together the vendors for a small craft fair. I will bring my checkbook...

As part of the luncheon they award some people who have gone above and beyond. I nominated my oncologist for her cookbook for cancer patients so I am also introducing her.

If you are someone living with cancer and are looking to help in some way, the NCCS is a great way to help. I do not do as much on the advocacy side myself but am happy to help with their events and in other ways locally. Every little bit helps.