FORCE and Renew Denim on live tv!

We got some great press for our FIX OUR GENES event to raise awareness and money for heritatry breast and ovarian cancer reserach. Check us out on a live broadcast on Sacramento and Company this week:

http://www.news10.net/video/default.aspx?bctid=1251483195001

Help men at high-risk for prostate cancer

Action Alert: FORCE Responds to USPSTF Guideline Changes for PSA Screening The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently issued a draft recommending against PSA screening for men of any age and risk status. Although the guidelines were not written specifically for men with BRCA mutations, FORCE is concerned that the proposed screening guideline changes may have serious negative health implications, lead to confusion, and make it more difficult for high-risk men to get insurance reimbursement for PSA screening. The USPSTF is accepting public commentary on these draft guidelines until November 8, 2011. Visit the FORCE website and learn how you can take action on behalf of high-risk men.

May the FORCE be with you!

This knowledge saved my life - now I want to pass it along. Will you help me? I will be on a radio show Friday called How She Really Does It hosted by Koren Motekaitis talking about all this. Tune in at 10-11am PT on 95.7 FM or via live webstream directly from Koren's websitewww.howshereallydoesit.com. There is a button to click to listen to the podcast.

Force: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Today FORCE begins an awareness campaign. Did you know that approximately 750,000 Americans are affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. It is our goal for 1%, or 7,500 of our friends and family to join us on Facebook and help us spread the word about HBOC. We have 5,011 to go. Please suggest this page to your friends, share your stories and comments, and pass the word. We're grateful for your support.

Help raise awareness of Hereditary Cancers

Sweet Followers of this here blog,

I haven't yet used this forum to advance any agenda so far (I know I also haven't used this blog to do too much of anything SO FAR), but this issue is urgent and extremely relevant to the awareness raising I do hope this blog will generate. If you are with me, please read on:

We need your help now! We need to have ALL co-sponsors on board by August 2nd. PLEASE email your representative today.

This week, FORCE joined Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to introduce HR#1522 – legislation to establish Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Week.

The legislation calls for designating the last week of September as “National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week” and Wednesday of that week as “National Previvor Day.” HBOC Week and Previvor Day will raise awareness of hereditary cancer, leading to more education, research and resources. Knowledge of a genetic predisposition to cancer, available risk management and treatment options can save lives!

We need your help now! At least 100 co-sponsors are needed to pass the bill.

Let your House Representative know that HR#1522 is critical in the fight against hereditary cancer.

You may be asking: “How can I help?”

The answer is: Very easily! All you have to do is copy & paste what’s already written and it can all be done online in about 5 minutes!

1. Find your House Representative by going to this link: http://www.facebook.com/l/1abebKw-WyjTWcx-ZtJ56cC5KQA;https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

2. Copy, paste and send the e-mail below.

Dear Representative____(delete this & put in your Rep’s name)_:

I am writing to urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the legislation to establish Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, HR#1522, introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

The legislation calls for designating the last week of September as “National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week” and Wednesday of that week as “National Previvor Day.”

HBOC Week and Previvor Day will raise awareness of hereditary cancer, leading to more education, research and resources. Knowledge of a genetic predisposition to cancer, available risk management and treatment options can save lives!

—You may wish to insert a statement on the personal impact. Personal notes make your correspondence more meaningful. If you insert a personal statement, keep it short (no more then 3-4 lines. Sample: I carry the BRCA1 mutation. I lost my Grandmother, Mother and Aunt to this disease before we knew anything about BRCA and it’s effects. The knowledge I gained about this disease allowed me to take steps that have significantly reduced my risk. I want to make sure ALL women (and men) have that knowledge.—

If you are willing to co-sponsor this bill, please contact Coby Dolan (Coby.Dolan@mail.house.gov) or Danielle Gilbert (Danielle.Gilbert@mail.house.gov) at Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s office.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Full Name
Address (Including City and State)

_______________________________________

Thanks so much for your time!

I'm a Previvor

"What's a Previvor?" some of you may ask. Two years ago I was one, but I didn't know myself.

It was my genetic counselor Maude who first introduced me to the word.

I felt like I was being inducted into a club that I didn’t really want to join but at the same time I was curious to know more about. Over the ensuing months, as my genetic test results came back positive for the BRCA genetic mutation, putting me at advanced risk for both breast and ovarian cancers, FORCE became a regular fixture in my life. I regularly visited the website and various postings to learn about the different options for surveillance, surgery, and surgeons. I met other BRCA+ women through the site and a local support group organized by FORCE, and even raised funds for the organization during my first half marathon. Those five letters represented a lifesaver, in the midst of relatively uncharted waters.

So why tell you all this now. FORCE is one of several organizations taking part in the CHASE Community Giving Campaign that is giving away a total of $5 million dollars to split between 200 charities. All you have to do is vote for FORCE through Facebook and you could affect the lives of thousands of women like me - many of whom don't even know that there is a gentic test out there that can save thier lives. Thanks so much for reading this far, now get to the end and don't forget to vote!

A little bit about FORCE and the CHASE Community Giving Campaign (from Teri Smija):

FORCE is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of and improving the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. They provide lifesaving information on the latest medical treatment and risk management, resources, and awareness.

Voting on Facebook starts on June 15, 2010 and the lucky 200 winning charities will be announced on July 13, 2010.

What would FORCE do with the money if they won?

For starters:

• $1,000 delivers the latest in BRCA research and information to 500 families.
• $500 gives 60,000 visitors access to their website for one month.
• $300 provides a scholarship to FORCE’s annual conference to one person that could not otherwise attend.
• $200 provides life-saving information to 100 people through their newsletter.
• $100 provides phone-based support and resources via the Helpline for one month.
• $50 provides a package of informational brochures to doctor’s offices and hospitals.

Just think – if $2250 can do all of that – how much good could be done even if we only place among the bottom 195, and win the lowest amount of $20,000! That’s a whole lot of help, to a whole lot of people!