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Friday, February 24, 2006
Kim Wade Returns to Lend A Helping HandNOBCCF's Patient Coordinator for its Lend A Helping Hand Program, Kim Wade, has returned to work after an extended absence.
Kim left work last summer when she was diagnosed with a recurrence of her breast cancer. She's been in treatment
and even participated in a clinical trial at University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center. We're happy to have her back
and helping our LHH clients again. Give her a call and welcome her back!
New Guide to Handling Disputes With Your Health PlanThe Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumers Union have developed a guide to assist consumers in handling disputes with your health plan. It contains information about both internal and external
review processes. The link is to the guidelines for appealing health plans in Ohio and is a must have for anyone whose
claims for treatment, reconstruction or other breast cancer coverage has been declined.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Finding breast health services isn't easyI found this interesting article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette documenting a woman's struggle to find affordable mammography services.
Not surprisingly, the hurdles to access a biopsy or treatment are even higher, once you're diagnosed. If uninsured,
people suddenly don't return phone calls or can find no openings in the doctors schedules. Others are more blunt and tell
you to come up with a cash downpayment first.
Free mammography programs that aren't part of the CDC funded breast & cervical cancer screening and treatment program
present even bigger hurdles for uninsured women who have a suspicious mammogram, need a biopsy or are diagnosed with breast
cancer. These unfortunate women are usually abandoned by the mammography provider to find health care services on their
own.
Its time to get serious about ending breast cancer by providing patient navigation services to uninsured women after
they've been diagnosed and make sure they get into treatment as soon as possible.
As simple as it sounds, it still isn't a reality here in Ohio.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Announcing the George Crile, Jr., MD Award
This year's Pink & Silver Gala will see the culmination of a dream for NOBCCF. This year we will introduce the
George Crile, Jr, MD Award for excellence in patient care and advocacy in the clinical or research setting. We will
make awards to two area breast oncologists, surgeons or researchers who have demonstrated the highest standards of patient
care.
In the days when Dr. Crile practiced medicine, it was common practice for women suspected of having breast cancer to be
anesthetized for biopsy surgery and, if diagnosed, awaken with not only their breast missing, but also lymph nodes, chest
muscles and sometimes ribs. While it was difficult to fault doctors for being cautious, some began to question whether such
drastic measures were necessary in every case.
Dr. Crile showed exceptional courage in not only advocating for modified radical mastectomies and later, lumpectomies,
but also for allowing women to participate in their breast cancer treatment decisions. He did so under great pressure and
criticism from his peers who questioned his professional skills; but ultimately his view of allowing patients to participate
in decisions about their care evolved to become the standard of care in all fields of medical practice. All patients, including
breast cancer patients, owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Crile.
How will the Crile Award winners be chosen? You get to nominate them. We're asking breast cancer survivors and others
in the community to nominate the doctors who have demonstrated exceptional skills in patient care and advocacy. Visit our
web site today and submit your nomination for the award. Winners will be announced at the Pink & Silver Gala on March
11.
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