Impact Luncheon 2016

Susan G. Komen Missouri’s 7th Annual Impact Luncheon (formerly Power of the Promise), presented by Dowd Bennett LLP, will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Ballroom.

Join us for this afternoon of celebration, inspiration and education. The event includes a vendor expo, Kendra Scott jewelry pull, raffle baskets, luncheon, awards presentation, the granting of Komen Missouri’s community partner funding for 2016-2017, and a special ceremony to remember those we have lost to breast cancer and honor breast cancer survivors.

Jen Myers of Y98 will serve as our Mistress of Ceremonies.

 

The event begins at 11 am with an hour to bid on raffle baskets and shop vendor booths.

The luncheon and program will begin at noon and last until 2 pm.

Tickets are $25 each and are on sale through Friday, April 22, at http://www.komenmissouri.org/ImpactLuncheon

Questions? Contact Bree Maniscalco at 314.569.3900 or bmaniscalco@komenmissouri.org.

 

Shedding a Light: Breast Cancer Research Update

Three speakers. Thousands of possibilities. Join us for an update on breast cancer research.

Wednesday, April 13
6-8:30 pm
Emerson Auditorium, St. Luke’s Hospital

Speakers include:
Dr. Sam Achilefu, inventor/researcher, Siteman Cancer Center
Dr. Ron Bose, HER2+ and metastatic expert, Siteman Cancer Center
Dr. Teresa Deshields, psychologist, Siteman Cancer Center

6 pm – Networking
6:30 pm – Program Begins
8:30 pm – Program Ends

Location: Emerson Auditorium at St. Luke’s Hospital is located in the lower level of the North-South office buildings. Surface and garage parking.

This free, collaborative event is presented by Susan G. Komen Missouri, Cancer Support Community and the St. Louis Breast Cancer Coalition.

RSVP: www.cancersupportstl.org or call 314.238.2000

2016 Komen Greater St. Louis Race Honorary Co-Chairs: Kolten and Alissa Wong

St. Louis Cardinals Second Baseman Kolten Wong and his wife Alissa will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 18^th Annual Susan G. Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure®, to be held Saturday, June 11, in downtown St. Louis.

Kolten Wong is the second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, and played college baseball for the University of Hawaii, where he met his wife, Alissa. He has a big place in his heart for fighting cancer as he has lost both his mother and his uncle to their battles recently. Through losing people that he cared so much about, he knew he wanted to make a difference and help raise awareness and funding. He wants to help give an opportunity for more people to beat breast cancer.

Alissa Wong was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in Ohio. She furthered her track career running for University of Hawaii. Like Kolten, Alissa has had family members battle with cancer, including a grandmother and an aunt who are both breast cancer survivors.

“Kolten and I are extremely honored to have the opportunity to be this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2016 Susan G. Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure,” says Alissa Wong. “The opportunity to give back to the community of St. Louis and those who are battling breast cancer is extremely humbling. Our hope is that this year’s Race gives those who are battling breast cancer or celebrating life as a breast cancer survivor the comfort in knowing that the St. Louis Cardinals as well as the St. Louis community are cheering for them along the way. We are so humbled to be a part of this.”

“We are thrilled to have Kolten and Alissa Wong serving as Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2016 Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure,” said Helen Chesnut, executive director of Susan G. Komen Missouri. “With their support of Komen Missouri’s mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever, there is great potential to make an important impact in the fight against breast cancer in the Greater St. Louis region.”

Register now for the 2016 Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure.

Meet Our Intern: Claire Salazar

Guest Writer: Claire Salazar, Komen Missouri PR & Marketing Intern

My name is Claire Salazar and I am the new Public Relations Intern at Susan G. Komen Missouri. I am a senior at Lindenwood University, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations: Corporate Communications. I am from Glenside, Pennsylvania, which is right outside of Philadelphia. I decided to go to school in Missouri because I was given an athletic scholarship to play Division II field hockey at Lindenwood University. Being a student athlete has been difficult, but I love the challenge and I love always being busy with schoolwork and my sport.

Claire Salazar, Komen Missouri’s PR and Marketing Intern

I discovered the Komen Missouri Public Relations Internship while searching online for PR internships in the St. Louis area. With my field hockey career coming to an end, I knew that I wanted to intern with a great company or organization to learn a lot and gain experience, and because I would have a lot more time without field hockey practices and games.

When I came across Komen Missouri’s internship while browsing online, I became very excited about the opportunity to learn while working for such a wonderful organization. Working for an organization whose goal is to end breast cancer forever really hit home for me because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago and I lost my grandmother to breast cancer many years ago. My mom’s strength throughout her treatments was so inspiring, and I thought that it would be amazing to work for an organization with an amazing mission.

When I met with Janet to talk about Komen Missouri and the internship, I really felt like I could learn many new things about public relations, and everyone working at Komen Missouri seemed wonderful and welcoming. I was very eager to begin this internship in the months leading up to its start.

I have really enjoyed my time at Komen Missouri thus far. Although I have only been interning for about a month, I have learned so many new things about public relations, event planning, and about the Susan G. Komen organization. I love helping out and preparing for the many events that Komen Missouri has had, like Trivia Night. Trivia Night was so much fun preparing for and it was a great event. My friends have been very supportive of my internship with Komen Missouri, and have attended a few events, which has been awesome.

I am really looking forward to the events that Komen Missouri has coming up in the next few months. I love that there is a community of people that are so supportive of the organization and its mission. It is so inspiring to see so many people working hard to end such a horrible disease.

As I am graduating in May, I have been thinking about my future a lot. Right now, I am planning to stay in the St. Louis area for the next few years. I have been applying for jobs and I am also thinking about staying at Lindenwood University for graduate school. My dream job in the future would be to work in public relations for a fashion brand.

Call for Nominations: Komen Missouri Pink Tie Guys 2016

Susan G. Komen Missouri Pink Tie Guys are partners in the Komen promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. These men are not afraid to wear pink, for they know pink is a symbol of hope, courage, strength and survivorship.  

Do you have what it takes to be a Komen Missouri Pink Tie Guy?

Do you know someone who is Pink Tie Guy worthy?

Learn more and complete the 2016 Pink Tie Guy application/nomination form.

Applications are due by Feb. 22.

Breast Cancer Survivorship: Intimacy

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can take a physical toll on your body, not to mention your intimate and sexual health. Breast cancer and treatment for breast cancer can sometimes make it difficult to be sexual and intimate with another person, and that is okay and natural.

Self-Image

A woman’s breasts symbolize so many things, including motherhood, sexuality and being a woman. For some women, breasts now represent cancer. Most women, and their partners, will need to take time to grieve the loss of (or changes in) their breast(s).

Joining a support group may help you cope with the changes in your body and self-image. Remind yourself that healing takes time and at some point, you will become more comfortable with your new normal.

Accepting yourself as you are is all part of the process.

How to Talk with Your Partner

While there is no such thing as a perfect time to talk, certain times are better than others. Choose a moment when you are alone and relaxed. When you feel comfortable, give yourself and your partner permission to talk about your feelings, both good and bad. Above all else, be honest.

Your biggest fears. You may not feel pretty or worry that your partner finds you less attractive. You may be afraid your partner will reject or leave you due to your breast cancer.

Your partner’s fears. Your partner may be afraid of physically hurting you during sex. He/she may be confused or unsure of the best way to show support and affection and is waiting on you for cues on when to resume an intimate and/or sexual relationship.

Birth control. Treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy and tamoxifen can cause birth defects, so it is import to talk to your partner about birth control. After treatment, do not assume that you can no longer become pregnant.

Your “new” sex life. Breast cancer may change what you like to do and how you like to be touched during sex. You may not even want to have sex for a while, so it is important to talk to your partner about how you are feeling.

Other Things You Can Do

Get romantic. Bring romance back by planning a candlelight dinner, taking a bubble bath or other romantic gestures. Take the time to nurture your sexuality.

Go slow. Kissing and touching can provide pleasure and help with intimacy. Do not rush into something until you feel comfortable with it.

Get comfortable. Sex may be painful because of changes in your body, due to breast cancer treatment.

Try using water-based lubricants just before sex. To help with vaginal dryness, try an estrogen-free vaginal moisturizer. These products are available over the counter without a prescription. Since they do not contain estrogen, they’re safe for breast cancer survivors. If vaginal dryness is still a problem, contact your doctor.

Try something different. Change your sexual routine; try new things and have fun!

Get some advice. Consider seeking advice from a marriage counselor, sex therapist or joining a support group. You can go with your partner or by yourself.

Make sure to share this information with your partner. Getting the intimacy you need should not be your responsibility alone.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/SexandSexuality.html

We are celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use #Komen365 to join in the conversation.

Breast Cancer Survivorship: Psychosocial Factors and Breast Cancer

One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and more than 40,000 women and 440 men in the U.S. will die from the disease this year.

It is no surprise that, when faced with this news, women possibly experience shock, fear, sadness, disbelief or other feelings of psychosocial distress. Many women are able to adjust to and manage the disease, survivorship and their “new normal.” Some women will experience times of persistent psychosocial distress and would benefit from interventions.

Intervention is important because distress can interfere with a woman’s ability to cope with cancer treatment and can extend along the continuum from common feelings of vulnerability fear, and sadness, to true depression, anxiety, panic and feeling isolated.

Coping with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

• Learn about breast cancer at your own pace. Get information about clinical trials, treatment options and side effects. Doctors can make suggestions, but decisions should be made together.

• Seek professional help if you need help managing your issues with breast cancer and how to cope with your feelings.

• Talk to your doctor honestly about your breast cancer journey.

• Be patient. Coping with breast cancer requires time, acceptance, a fighting spirit and support.

• Lean on your network of family and friends. They can help:

• Lend support from diagnosis through treatment and beyond

• With day-to-day tasks

• Gather information for you about breast cancer

Coping with Fear of Recurrence

It is normal to have thoughts and concerns about recurrence (being re-diagnosed with breast cancer). Fears of recurrence often peak right after treatment, but they can happen at any time. You can take control of your fears and learn effective triggers and coping strategies to keep these fears from consuming you. Some of these strategies include:

• Get and stay informed. Learn about your cancer and risk of recurrence, continue your follow-up-care plan and take care of yourself.

• Remove any blame. Never blame yourself for your cancer diagnosis. Cancer does not choose to punish people and it doesn’t discriminate. Cancer can happen to anyone.

• Talk to your doctor and begin an appropriate exercise program. It can improve your mood and make you feel healthy, confident and strong.

• Find ways to relax like yoga, meditation, prayer, etc.

• Acknowledge your feelings. Talk to family, friends or other survivors. Journal, craft, or find creative ways to give voice to your emotions.

• Focus on the positive. Find ways to stay hopeful and use your energy to stay as healthy as possible.

• Control what you can. Empower yourself by taking an active role in your healthcare team.

Learn more: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/QualityofLife.html

Learn more about breast cancer recurrence: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FearofRelapse.html

We are celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Connect with and follow Komen St. Louis and use #Komen365 to join in the conversation.

Vote for the 2016 Race for the Cure T-shirt Design

Ready. Set. Vote for your favorite 2016 T-shirt design for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®.

The Komen Race for the Cure T-shirt is a unifying symbol of the spirit of strength and hope, a sign that we’re all in this fight against breast cancer together.

Help choose the official 2016 Komen Race for the Cure T-shirt!

Vote now.

Calling All Artists: Design the 2016 Komen Race for the Cure® T-shirt!

Each year, more than a million people across the globe participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure^® series. Each participant has a personal story. Race participants run in honor of someone they’ve lost. They walk to support a friend or loved one currently battling breast cancer. They walk for themselves. No matter their story, they rise before the sun, put on their Komen Race T-shirt and join a community to race for a better future.

As we look to the future, we need your help…and your creativity! We’re calling on all breast cancer survivors, co-survivors and our supporters to help us design the shirt that a million fellow walkers and runners will be wearing in 2016. Would you like to showcase your original art on the front of our 2016 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure T-shirts worn at Races around the world? Get creative and help us inspire!

Want to submit a T-shirt design? Simply follow the guidelines below: 

• Design theme should be focused on the power and passion of a global community coming together for a common goal – to end breast cancer
• Please do not use stock images, photos, copyrighted work or clip art, we are looking for your original designs
• The design should include the color pink and up to 5 additional colors from this palette
• Please submit your entry as a web-friendly image (.jpeg, png, pdf) not to exceed 5MB in size

This is YOUR Race T-shirt for YOUR community, so don’t wait! The due date is July 26.

National Pink Day

It’s National Pink Day!

The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer awareness. For us, the color pink represents hope, courage, strength and survivorship. We believe in pink.