News and Events

Our long-time supporters at the Greater Bangor Women's Ski and Snowboard Club presented representatives of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition with an extraordinarily generous donation of $4,083.36 at a ceremony at the Ski Rack in Bangor. The money was raised at fundraisers the group held in 2019 to benefit MBCC. All of us at Maine Breast Cancer are thrilled, and we are so grateful to the women in the club. Thank you to all the club members for your continued support!

For more information about the club or to join, visit their Facebook page here.

Photo: front row, third and fourth from left, MBCC representatives Carol Beagan (MBCC treasurer and Support Service Fund Committee member); Ro LeGasse (Support Service Fund program assistant)

October 2019
Dr. Susan Love, of the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, has provided excellent clarification on some recent breast cancer vaccine articles. Read her press release, "Behind the Hype: Breast Cancer Vaccine" here. 

Click here to read about the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Artemis Project, which was referenced in Dr. Susan Love's press release.

Want to learn more about breast cancer advocacy? Click here to find out more or register now for NBCC’s 2020 Advocate Leadership Summit and secure the Early Bird registration rate through January 1. 

October 2019

Many thanks to our generous supporters at DND Disc Golf of Sidney. For the third consecutive year, they have chosen MBCC as the recipient of funds raised at their annual benefit disc golf tournament in memory of Effie Tillson, who passed away from breast cancer in 2014. The tournament was held on Saturday, October 5, 2019. 

They raised an amazing $2,406 for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund in just one day! That brings the three-year total of funds raised at the tournaments to well over $8,000! All proceeds were donated to MBCC’s Support Service Fund and will help Maine residents with unmet breast cancer or breast health related needs.

All of us at Maine Breast Cancer Coalition are grateful to the owners of DND Disc Golf and all those who took part in the fundraiser!

October 2019

For the sixth consecutive year, Darlene and John Gleba held the annual Gleba Open Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund. Many thanks to the Glebas for their generosity! Thank you also to all the union carpenters who came from out of state to help raise the money. This year's tournament raised $5,651! This donation will go a long way in helping qualified Support Service Fund applicants in need. All of us at MBCC are so grateful for the long-term, generous support!

 

 

October 2019

The third annual Pink Cart to the Cure benefit golf event was held at the Sunset Ridge Golf Links in Westbrook on September 15, 2019. It included a golf game, food, music, a silent auction, raffles, and prizes. It was a huge success and a lot of fun, too, raising $5,000 for Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund! 

Many thanks to Sunset Ridge Golf Links, which hosted the event, to all who attended, to the business and individual sponsors, to the many volunteers, and a special thank you to event chair April Burnell and co-chair Charlotte Darling, who both worked so hard all year to make this wonderful event happen. All of us at Maine Breast Cancer Coalition are so grateful!

During October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Three of Strong Spirits, a craft rum distillery in Portland, is donating $4 from every short-sleeve tee sold to support MBCC. Stop by the distillery at 35 B Diamond Street in Portland to pick one up. There are many colors and styles to choose from. Many thanks to the generous owners of Three of Strong Spirits!

Mark your calendar! School Street Pub and Grill, 29 B School Street, Gorham is donating 10% of their Saturday October 26, 5:00-10:00 PM sales to the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. Many thanks to owner Matt Troiano for the generous support of MBCC.

Hope to see you there!

 

Get the facts on breast cancer this Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and learn what you can do to "Think BEYOND Pink" for those who are living with and at risk for breast cancer in your life! 

The 13th Annual Downeast Living with Cancer Conference is set to take place on Thursday, November 7, 2019. The 2019 conference will encompass and explore “The Many Faces of Cancer Survivorship”.

Guest speakers at the conference will include motivational speaker, Barb Cookson; Stephanie McLeod-Estevez, LCPC, (The Psychology of Cancer); Ralph Moss (author of the Moss Reports). The conference will also include a patient/survivor panel, break-out sessions, complementary therapies, community resources, and a complimentary lunch.

The conference is FREE and will be held at the Atlantic Oceanside Conference Center, 119 Eden Street in Bar Harbor from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, with registration beginning at 8:00 am. For more information please call the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 207-664-0339. REGISTER TODAY.

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition will have a table there. We hope you will stop by!

For the second consecutive year, through the month of October, the Bangor Chick-fil-A Restaurant will donate $1.00 to MBCC's Support Service Fund from every 6-count of chocolate chunk cookies sold in the restaurant. Many thanks to the folks at the Bangor Chick-fil-A Restaurant and their customers!

Registering your vehicle with a pink ribbon plate only costs an extra $15 above the standard annual renewal fee, and 100% of the proceeds stay right here in the state of Maine to benefit breast cancer initiatives of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Programs!

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Maine Breast Cancer Coalition volunteers around the state of Maine will be keeping an eye out for all of our pink-plated supporters. If we spot one, a “You’ve Been Pink’d” card will be left behind for the vehicle’s driver. On the card, the recipient will be told how to go online to register their “Pink’d” card for a free entry into a special breast cancer awareness raffle drawing to be held on November 5, 2019!

If you have received a “You’ve Been Pink’d” card on your vehicle, please submit your drawing entry here.

 

For the sixth consecutive year, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hannaford Supermarkets will make it easy for its customers in Maine to help individuals with breast cancer or breast health-related needs. Hannaford customers may donate $2 or $5 at the register of their local store to support the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition's Support Service Fund. The donation program will be available at all Maine Hannaford stores. Read more.

For the third consecutive year, our generous supporters at DND Disc Golf of Sidney have chosen MBCC as the recipient of funds raised at their annual benefit disc golf tournament in memory of Effie Tillson, who passed away from breast cancer in 2014. The tournament will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019. 

Last year, they raised $3,620 for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund in just one day! The year before, they raised more than $2,300. This year’s proceeds will also be donated to the Support Service Fund and will help Maine residents with unmet breast cancer or breast health related needs.

DND Disc Golf is located at 214 Philbrick Road, Sidney. For more information about this fun event, contact DND Disc Golf at 207-313-6222 or visit their Facebook page here. 

Our friends at Sunset Ridge Golf Links are hosting their third annual Pink Cart To The Cure event to benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. Save the date and get involved in this fun-filled event! 

Check out the online benefit silent auction at Bidding Owl. There are lots of great items up for bid!

The event will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at Sunset Ridge Golf Links at 771 Cumberland St, Westbrook, Maine. 

See the poster above for signup information and details!

Representatives from the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition were honored to attend the Brewer Fraternal Order of Eagles annual charity dinner on June 24, 2019.

The Brewer Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie and the Brewer Ladies' Auxiliary presented checks totaling $3,169 to the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition Support Service Fund. They also announced that the Support Service Fund will receive an additional donation of $5,240 through the statewide Eagles organization, making a total donation of $8,409! This extraordinarily generous contribution will go a long way in helping Maine residents in need of breast cancer or breast health related assistance. 

The Brewer Maine Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie and Ladies Auxiliary, along with the State Eagles organization, have been a major source of funding for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition for many years. We deeply appreciate their hard work in fundraising throughout the year, and their hospitality on this wonderful evening!

Top photo, left to right: 
Larry Dawson, Secretary of the Brewer Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Eagles State organization; Ro LeGasse, MBCC Support Service Fund program assistant

Bottom photo, left to right: Brenda Thurston, past President of the Brewer Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary; Steven Johnson, Vice President of the Brewer Aerie; Christine Haiss, MBCC Board of Directors and Support Service Fund Committee member

The Pink Fund is a non-profit breast cancer organization that provides 90-day non-medical cost-of-living expenses to breast cancer patients in active treatment for breast cancer, so they can focus on healing, raising their families, and returning to the workplace. Find out more.

The Maine Breast Cancer Coaliiton is pleased to announce that we are now able to accept donations as part of the Paypal Giving Fund.

Please use this link to support the important work of our organization - helping women and men living with and at risk of breast cancer here in Maine. All donations through the PayPal Giving Fund go to our Support Service Fund.

October, 2018

October, “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”, is a time to reflect on the impact that breast cancer has on the lives of many Maine residents. The need for research leading to eradication of this disease is urgent. But there is also a need to take action to assist those currently dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis or in need of breast health services. The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund strives to fill this need for Maine residents.

For the past eighteen years, the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s Support Service Fund has been an important “safety net” program for Maine people needing breast health or breast cancer related assistance and who have nowhere else to turn. This month marks an important milestone for the Fund: During the past eighteen years we have helped more than four thousand Maine residents with a total of more than $2,000,000 in grant awards. Read more.

Click here for the monarch E flyer for patients. To find out more, please call 866-576-4989.

Monday, October 1, 2018 Press Release 

AUGUSTA, Maine—Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap today announced the 10-year anniversary of the initial release of Maine Breast Cancer Support specialty license plate, which raises funds to combat breast cancer in Maine. 

 

The plates were first made available to the public on October 1, 2008. Today, there are 25,002 of these “pink ribbon” plates on the road, which have raised $3,141,385, with more than $2,950,047 going to the Breast Cancer Support Services Fund over the past 10 years.

 

“I am proud that the State of Maine has been a leader in the fight against breast cancer. It’s nearly impossible to find someone whose life has not been touched by cancer, whether they’ve experienced it personally or through the journey of a family member, friend or coworker. And that’s probably why this plate is so popular,” said Secretary Dunlap. “The pink ribbon license plates have allowed Mainers in every community to make their voice heard and to contribute to this ongoing battle. The funds raised by these plates make a difference in people’s lives throughout the state.”

Read more.

Access to quality care for all remains the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) priority. While we fight for that goal, one of NBCC’s highest legislative priorities this year is to enact legislation to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility and the 5-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for individuals with metastatic breast cancer who qualify for social security disability. Read more.

by Bethany Zell, Maine Breast Cancer Coalition President
May 16, 2018

The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is heartbroken at the recent loss of long-time volunteer member, Carmen Darkis. When Carmen was 19 years old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away at the age of 62, just four short years later. It was at this time that cancer changed Carmen’s life forever.  

Carmen’s connection to breast cancer became personal when she was diagnosed in 1988. Carmen had a mastectomy and soon after surgery, joined the support group “Encore” at the YWCA. In her own words “the support group helped me cope, educated me about my cancer, enabled me to make new friendships…It was very much a learning experience for me and I wasn’t afraid anymore to talk about breast cancer. It also helped me cope with life at my workplace.”

In 1993, Carmen was again diagnosed, this time with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and despite being in constant treatment, in 1998 she decided that it was time to stop talking about breast cancer and do something about it. She signed up as a volunteer member of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC). During her 20 years as a faithful MBCC advocate and volunteer, Carmen was actively involved in the work of the Coalition. For 12 years, she held the office of secretary, and when the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition established our Support Service Fund in 2000, Carmen - passionate about the mission to help financially assist women and men who were diagnosed with breast cancer or had other breast health related needs - jumped in with both feet. She found great fulfillment in sitting on the Support Service Fund Committee which oversaw that fund - right up until metastatic breast cancer robbed her from us earlier this month. 

During her time with the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, Carmen made three trips to the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Advocate Conference in Washington, D.C. and lobbied on Capitol Hill to encourage Maine’s congressional delegation to enact policies impactful to the lives of those living with and at risk of breast cancer.

In 2012, Carmen was the recipient of the "Lifetime Inspiration Award", awarded by the Maine Cancer Foundation to "an individual who has achieved success above and beyond the ordinary in the fight against breast cancer in Maine." She was nominated by long-time friend, Robin Long of Caring Connections at the Bangor Y. Robin had this to say when she nominated Carmen in 2012: “For close to 20 years Carmen has been on some kind of breast cancer treatment. I find her inspirational because, in her own words, ‘I don't let the cancer live my life, I live my life because I love being alive.’ In spite of being in treatment almost continously for the last two decades, she has done the things she enjoys. She is always willing to speak with someone who has been newly diagnosed with metastatic disease, providing a postive and hopeful message.”

This is just who Carmen was…positive…hopeful…strong. Even though she had no idea where her strength came from, she was a miracle who beat the odds (and 3-year average life expectancy for being diagnosed stage 4 metastatic) by living with metastatic breast cancer for 25 years. She didn’t just live, she thrived. She was actively involved in our work right up until the very end and will be greatly missed when we convene for our next face-to-face meeting in June. There is no doubt that looking ahead, much of our MBCC mission will be compelled forward under the motivation of being “for Carmen.” 

Finally, we would like to leave you with a message to anyone out there who has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer from Carmen herself: “Because there are so many different kinds of breast cancers, everybody is so different. What is right for one woman might not be right for another. Communicate with your oncologist. Let him/her know how you feel and be your own advocate or if you can’t, let a family member be one for you. I believe that everyone should live their life one day at a time and to the fullest, and always remember that quality of life means more than quantity.” Carmen fully embodied this message every single day of her life – before and after her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis - and we will continue to carry on our mission in her memory and honor.

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is offering breast cancer survivors still less than five years from diagnosis to take part in a great research opportunity. Participants must be finished with all chemo and radiation and will need your physician to sign off on your participation. Find out more here.

Open Arms Support Group is a non-profit organization of women helping newly diagnosed breast cancer patients navigate through the process of healing and surviving. Groups meet at the Carol Strauss Conference Room, St. Joseph Hospital, 360 Broadway, Bangor.

For information call 207-478-0388 or email Brooke Ismail at brookeismail@yahoo.com

In 2012, Penny McKenna joined the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition as a volunteer member. She often represented the Coalition at health fair events and served as the Vice President of our Coalition from January 2015 until she had to step down in late 2016 when her health declined as a result of her breast cancer.

The members of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition were heartbroken to hear that Penny died on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Androscoggin Hospice House, after living with metastatic breast cancer for several years. We are so thankful for the time we spent with Penny and for her dedication to the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. We extend our deepest condolences to Penny's husband, Kevin, her son, Chris, stepdaughter, Kate, and all of her extended family and friends.

We were all very blessed to have known her and will continue to advocate for all those living with and at risk of breast cancer to honor her memory.

You may read the obituary and leave condolence messages here. 

We need to fix a critical gap in insurance coverage for lymphedema treatment. Ask your members of Congress to cosponsor the Lymphedema Treatment Act.

Currently, Medicare and many private insurance policies fail to cover the costs of the daily compression supplies people with lymphedema need to control their swelling. People who can’t afford these supplies are left with worsening lymphedema, which can lead to infections and even long-term disability.

The Lymphedema Treatment Act would end this injustice by changing Medicare law to cover compression supplies—setting an important precedent for Medicaid and other insurers to do the same. Read more.

On May 20, 2017, Maine Breast Cancer Coalition President, Bethany Zell, and advocacy committee co-member, Laurel Bezanson, (both volunteers) once again headed to Washington, DC to represent the MBCC at the National Breast Cancer Coalition Advocate Leadership Summit. 

MBCC President Bethany Zell wrote, "Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® is the National Breast Cancer Coalition's global initiative to know how to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. As leaders in the breast cancer movement and supporters of Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®, we are committed to being a part of this important work."

While at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 10, 2016, Maine Breast Cancer Coalition President Bethany Zell had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Hyman Muss of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center to discuss Assessment and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Older Adults. View the video here.

Please show your support for the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition by donating the proceeds from your returnable bottles and cans to MBCC through the Hannaford CLYNK program.

Help transform our understanding of metastatic breast cancer.
If you have metastatic breast cancer, join a nationwide movement of patients, doctors, and scientists by sharing your tumor samples, your medical information, and your voice. Together, we can speed the development of future therapies.

Sign up or learn more at MBCproject.org. For a printable one-page information sheet, click here.

Metastatic breast cancer patients, this is your last chance to complete the Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project questionnaire, which is part of the Health of Women (HOW) Study™. The questionnaire closes on September 25th, 2016 at 11:59pm PDT.

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation launched the opening survey for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project. If you have metastatic breast cancer, you can play a role in improving quality of life for people with this disease by taking 15 minutes to complete a five-question survey.

The survey is a critical first step in documenting the full extent of collateral damage caused by the disease or its treatment. The long-term goal is to develop a set of recommendations that will improve the quality of life for people living with metastatic breast cancer.
TAKE THE SURVEY

The Pink Album is an exclusive 2-CD collection of contemporary music by 27 of Maine's leading female singers and songwriters to benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition Support Service Fund. Nearly two hours of great music! 

To purchase: This double CD set is available for only $19.99 at all Bull Moose Music locations statewide. It can also be ordered from Maine Breast Cancer Coalition directly. Download the order form here.

 

Cleaning For A Reason is a nonprofit organization that serves the United States and Canada. Services are currently available in the Portland, Maine area. Their mission is to give the gift of free house cleaning for women undergoing treatment for any type of cancer. Their goal is to let these brave and strong women focus on their health and treatment while they focus on, and take away the worry and work of, cleaning their homes– free of charge. Find out more at www.cleaningforareason.org.

Did you know that the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is one of the three organizations, along with the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program and the Maine Cancer Foundation, that receives a portion of the proceeds from Maine’s pink ribbon license plate?  

If you have a pink ribbon-plated car, be on the lookout for a special THANK YOU note from the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition … coming soon to YOUR CAR!!! 

Help for the body, soul, and pocketbook---when you need it most!
The Breast Cancer Freebies website provides information and links to many organizations "whose mission it is to make the breast cancer journey a little easier and take the burden off your wallet with free wigs, hats, make-up, house cleaning, transportation, and more."

SHARE is a non-profit organization for women facing breast and ovarian cancer. Because a cancer diagnosis can be so overwhelming, SHARE makes it their mission to provide support services to those affected by these potentially fatal diseases. 

All services are free of charge. SHARE provides telephone support, support groups, educational programs, and advocacy activities. 

TOLL-FREE HELPLINE: 844-ASK-SHARE (844-275-7427)  

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has a unique history and an unmatched record of accomplishment in breast cancer. Since NBCC’s inception in 1991, the organization’s mission has been to end breast cancer. Now, NBCC has set a deadline: Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® – to know how to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020.

 

Click here to join the HOW Study or find out more. 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) seeks to create greater access to health care by getting more people covered by insurance. For women who have purchased coverage on the Marketplace or other privately purchased plans, but continue to be burdened by premiums, deductibles and co-pays that prevent them from receiving breast cancer screening services, the Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) can be a valuable resource for women needing breast and/or cervical cancer screening and follow-up services.