National Breast Cancer Foundation

www.nationalbreastcancer.org

The Breast Cancer Site is proud to be partnered with the nonprofit National Breast Cancer Foundation in its mission to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and providing mammograms for those in need.

Founded by 26-year breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, NBCF has a four-star Charity Navigator rating and has funded tens of thousands of free mammograms for working poor, homeless, and uninsured women, and reached many more through its educational initiatives. More than 80 percent of National Breast Cancer Foundation funds go directly to its programs.

NBCF's focus is to save lives now through early breast cancer detection. Mammograms are one of the best methods to catch the disease before it's too late. In fact, if the disease is caught early enough, the five-year survival rate is 96 percent.

The Foundation has forged relationships with hospitals all over the United States, and together they reach out to the surrounding communities, especially to women who might not otherwise have access to mammograms. Learn more about the work we are achieving together by reading the following stories of hope from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

"What greater gift can you give than hope for the future?"

—Janelle Hail, NBCF Founder

Celebrating "Nothing"

The National Breast Cancer Foundation recently gave an additional grant to White Memorial Medical Center's Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California. The funding will provide free mammograms to women who are uninsured and unable to qualify for state programs.

Many low-income women cannot afford the annual mammograms that are a part of an early detection plan. By the age of 40, a woman should have a baseline mammogram; women 40-49 years old should receive a mammogram every year or two, and women 50 and older should have a mammogram every year.

This new, state-of-the-art cancer center (named after the mother of boxing great, Oscar De La Hoya) serves communities east of downtown Los Angeles. Early detection and cancer treatment services are administered to dozens of people every day.

Steve Engle, MHA-Director Cancer Services of White Memorial Medical Center, explained the program. "Sometimes we screen women and find cancers. Sometimes we screen women and find nothing. Celebrating 'nothing' can be a major event."

"Last month we had a 32 year-old pregnant patient who was concerned about the 'lump' in her breast. She came to our clinic terrified. We did the examination, educated her regarding breast self-examination, and performed an ultrasound with a radiologist. Results of all the exams were negative. When our nurse practitioner called her to tell her the results, she was excited to be able to 'celebrate nothing.'"

With the last funding NBCF provided, White Memorial was able to perform over 435 breast exams with mammograms for uninsured women. Of those exams, they found 13 women with breast cancer who are now undergoing treatment. "These women would not have been able to seek treatment without your help," said Steve Engle. "Our other women are now celebrating 'nothing.'"

First-Time Program Gives Help to the Impoverished

Hospital San Pablo del Este in Fajardo, Puerto Rico used funds provided by the National Breast Cancer Foundation to offer free mammograms to regional medically-indigent patients. Last year, Janelle Hail, president of NBCF, traveled to Puerto Rico to see how NBCF funds could best serve the area. "My heart was touched by the great need of the people in Fajardo for medical assistance. Fajardo is known as the Gateway to Poverty," said Janelle.

In December 2002, Janelle met with Humberto Monserrate, the Administrator of Hospital San Pablo del Este, and his entire Cabinet, as well as the Director of Medicaid for the island of Puerto Rico, in order to deliver a check from NBCF. The hospital exhibited overwhelming gratitude for NBCF's gift and designed a program to provide free mammograms for its indigent patients. "Women who could never afford medical care are receiving the benefits of life-saving mammograms," said Janelle.

From NBCF's first gift, 250 mammograms will be provided for women in need. Among the many areas the hospital serves is Vieques, a former military bombing range that produces the highest incidents of breast cancer in Puerto Rico.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Reaches Out

The National Breast Cancer Foundation is helping to fund an initiative with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to serve women who might not otherwise be able to afford mammograms. M. D. Anderson was named as the nation's top cancer hospital in the 2003 U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" survey.

In the shadows of the Houston skyline, a beacon of light shines into underprivileged neighborhoods. Serviced by the M. D. Anderson Mobile Mammography Van, neighbors are offered the same high-quality mammograms and service as those available at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Good Neighbor Healthcare Center is one of the community locations to receive healthcare assistance.

"At Good Neighbor, we take it upon ourselves to welcome everyone in need, whether child, mother, or elderly adult. This gladdens my heart most of all, leaves a smile on my face that just won't go away," says Janet Donath, Executive Director of Good Neighbor.

Mission Fights Poverty with Hope

The city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County are going broke, teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. The land of opportunity is quickly dissolving into an area of disenchantment. More than $1 billion of debt hangs over politicians and administrators. The first areas they choose to cut are healthcare and help for the homeless.

Major hospital facilities are being targeted for closure while a population lives one car accident from a much needed trauma facility, one heart attack from intensive care, and one mammogram from discovering breast cancer. Desperately needed healthcare and treatment for homeless, uninsured, and underserved women is disappearing.

The Los Angeles Mission—known as "Hope Central"—is located in downtown Los Angeles, California, in the heart of Skid Row. Those who submit themselves to the care of the Mission find help and hope inside its gates.

The impact of "Hope Central" in the community is great; the Mission provides everything from a hot meal to long-term rehabilitation programs. The services are given to anyone who needs them, free of charge.

Los Angeles Mission Community Clinic, the health facility of the Los Angeles Mission, offers free healthcare for desperately needy people. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has partnered with The Breast Cancer Site to provide funding for mammograms, education, and breast healthcare to the clients of the Los Angeles Mission.

Women Helping Women

Recently, Janelle Hail, president and founder of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, presented a check to the Mississippi State Department of Health that will provide free mammograms to women under 50 years of age. Previously, there were no programs in the entire state to fund mammograms for needy women under the age of 50. The American Cancer Society emphasizes the essential role and benefit of annual screening mammography starting at age 40.

This important funding was the result of efforts by the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC), the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and supporters of The Breast Cancer Site. In April 2003, Janelle spoke at the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs, where she received a check to go toward this vital program.

For a year, the women of Mississippi have not only done special club projects, but have clicked faithfully at The Breast Cancer Site to help provide free mammograms. Celia Fisher, president of the federation, has made breast cancer her project for her two years of service.

Janelle says, "I had breast cancer at the age of 34. Had I waited for treatment, I would not be alive today. There are women in Mississippi that can't wait either. The hard work of the women in the MFWC has already paid off in lives saved through their valiant efforts."

"The National Breast Cancer Foundation has stepped into an important role in the state of Mississippi to fulfill a desperate need for women under the age of 50 who cannot afford mammograms. Partnering with The Breast Cancer Site and the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs, the impact is phenomenal," says Janelle Hail.

NBCF Funds Free Mobile Mammography Program

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has joined forces with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, New York City's largest mobile provider of free mammograms. Working out of a large mobile home, the AICF travels around the Greater New York City area to provide free mammograms to homeless and uninsured women.

The Free Mobile Mammography Program breaks down the barriers to breast cancer screening that result in many underserved women losing their lives to late diagnoses. It encourages annual mammograms and removes economic and cultural barriers by providing bilingual health education and mobile mammography screening free-of-charge.

Mammography vans or portable machines go right to where underserved, uninsured women live, work, or worship. Using this method, AICF has screened over 28,000 women for breast cancer, while providing 37,500 women with timely breast health education. In 2003, 16.4% have needed follow-up care and 3.3 women per 1,000 screened were diagnosed with cancer.

"We thank our donors who generate the momentum of NBCF so we can sponsor such beneficial programs," says Janelle Hail, founder of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Learn More

• Visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation website for more information about their work: www.nationalbreastcancer.org
• Visit our About Breast Cancer page to learn more about the disease.