{Scary stuff — my first mammogram at age 36}
{Jen stole my look}
{Saks Bal Harbour VP/GM Deborah Slack and moi in Saks’ Key to the Cure Emilio Pucci-designed tee}
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month and all, I dedicate my time and money to several philanthropic groups to support breast cancer research — but this year, in particular, I bore the emphatic feeling I was being hypocritical to my own being because I’ve never had a mammogram. Now that I’m 36 years old (The National Cancer Institute recommends that women age 40 or older have screening mammograms every 1 to 2 years — my personal doctor begs to differ and believes women age 35 and up perform one), I did it!
It was scary. I teared up a little thinking the worst. But I felt empowered knowing this truth: Early detection of breast cancer with a mammogram means that treatment can be started earlier in the course of the disease, possibly before it has spread. That’s huge! And for those of you who may think the actual procedure hurts — it so doesn’t. It’s just uncomfortable at times. No big.
As corny as it sounds, I decided to dedicate this past Wednesday to my boobs: As in, mammogram in the morning, and attending the Saks Bal Harbour Key to the Cure kick-off event that same evening. All guests in attendance paid an admission ticket of $25 where 100 percent went toward the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center (which happens to be where my mammogram took place). Shopping proceeds that night went to Mt. Sinai, too. Love that!
In keeping with the theme, I wore my Key to the Cure T-shirt by Peter Dundas of Emilio Pucci (priced at $35, all proceeds go to cancer research). With Jennifer Aniston tapped as the headliner for this year’s KTTC campaign, you can see me serving you my best Jen in photo #2. I blame 4 glasses of wine for that, fellow Fanistons.
Anyhoo, cheers to saving the tatas! And if you’re over age 35, I hope this post inspires you to get a much-needed mammogram.
We started a Foundation 2 years ago in order to help women who are uninsured or underinsured to help battle their breast cancer diagnosis. I myself am the Director of this Foundation (the Valley Breast Cancer Foundation) which is located in Van Nuys CA. We raise money to actually help treat our patients. There are plenty of other organizations that raise money for research. As that is terrific, it leaves the little guys like us that do so much to treat the cancer now. Maybe it is time to put the word out that for all the millions of dollars that are raised each year for breast cancer research, it is time for companies to start allocating some of their money to save the women already diagnosed that battle this disease every day.
More and more young women are being diagnosed these days.
Breast Cancer is an expensive disease to treat.
I myself was diagnosed very late due to not having any insurance. The people at The Valley Breast Care Center literally saved my life.
Our patients need help from those of you that have the financial means or know influential people that would be willing to help us through donations.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Valerie Kane
Director of the Valley Breast Cancer Foundation
Good for you! I’ve had one but should probably get another one sometime soon. I think it does hurt quite a bit but my experience was probably very different.