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For the first time we have Bosom Buddies clothing donation boxes at several Walgreens Stores. Our Community Donations Manager, Susanne Stacy, has been meeting with Walgreens management and other property owners and has increased the number of donation boxes around the Valley.

Our volunteers, Pat Mc Garvey and Becky Chase, have been busy manning Bosom Buddies booths at 4 different Walgreens locations during mini health fairs. They presented information on Bosom Buddies activities and breast cancer.

Another great event is the Del Webb Breast Health Fair in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 30th from 9 am -12 pm. We are thrilled to participate again.. The fair features a variety of knowledgeable speakers and vendors with educational information and products (some free) related to breast health. The fair will be held in the Del Webb Hospital Auditorium at 14502 W. Meeker Blvd. Sun City, AZ  Call 623-214-4418

HOW WILL THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW HELP ME MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS ABOUT MY HEALTH CARE?

I would like to participate in a clinical trial but my insurance won’t cover my care if I do. Will this change under the new law?

Yes. Under the new law, beginning in 2014 all group and individual plans will be required to cover the routine patient costs for clinical trial participants and may not discriminate against an individual based on participation in a clinical trial.

For more information about the new benefits visit:  http://www.healthcare.gov/index.html

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. Breast cancer survivors can get help now in finding insurance options.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/07/20100701a.html

If you know a breast cancer survivor who could use a positive experience, consider registering for the 4^th BUNCO For Breast Cancer Survivor Event to be held August 8, 2010 from 1:00-5:00 at the Mesa Hilton Hotel in Mesa, AZ.  There will be give-a-ways, raffles, auction, drawings and lots and lots of fun with all proceeds going to Casting for Recovery – AZ (CFR). The fundraising event is for everyone…we have a lot of men who also participate in the event.

Casting for Recovery is a national non-profit organization with over 30 states holding no-cost 2 ½-day weekend educational/support/wellness retreats for women who have had breast cancer.  Last May, CFR AZ held their 7^th retreat.  The icing on the cake is that you also learn how to fly fish.  Fly-fishing is an excellent exercise for the damaged muscles and tissues from breast cancer treatments.  14 women came together as strangers and left completely renewed, with 13 new friends.

Please go to www.castingforrecovery.org if you need any additional information or contact Donna Fischer at dfischersurvivor@gmail.com , or 480-580-0766 (cell).

Please plan to attend the 2010 Annual Bosom Buddies Volunteer Luncheon.

The new date is Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Avanti’s Restaurant in Phoenix from 11:30 AM -2 :00 PM. We’ll be inviting this year’s Bosom Buddies volunteers to be our guests. Family and friends can also register for the event to thank these dedicated women. We’ll post further details  soon.

Bosom Buddies sent 7 enthusiastic members to the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s annual advocacy conference in Washington, DC. They learned about the latest advances in breast cancer and met with congressional representatives about healthcare public policy issues. Kathy Zeitz & Karen Lewkowitz also attended an NBCC reception at the Vice-President’s home.

Bosom Buddies Crew

Karen Lewkowitz & Kathy Zeitz with Jill Biden at Vice-President's Home

We had a good number of our West Valley support group members participate in this year’s Relay for Life

West Valley Breast Cancer Survivors

Dee Courtwright-Smoot traveled from Prescott to join us

The May 2nd Bosom Buddies-Hospice of the Valley Fashion Show and Tea was a great success. The 300 attendees from both organizations filled the  beautiful Phoenix Art Museum venue. Everyone had an opportunity to learn more about the efforts of both of our wonderful organizations whose volunteers help those facing illness all across the Valley. The clothing that was modeled all came form HOV’s two White Dove Thrift Shops and made it a very glamorous afternoon.

Bosom Buddies members Karen Lewkowitz and Denise Donofrio and friends

We offer mastectomy bras and breast forms to those who have no insurance or are underinsured. We have a large selection of donated bras, both new and gently used.

We also have a limited number of donated breast forms. We strongly recommend that women first seek the services of a certified mastectomy fitter to determine their correct size prior to contacting us. For information regarding this service or to obtain these supplies, please contact our office at 602-265-2776 or e-mail info@bosombuddies-az.org

Becky Chase donates prostheses, bras & wigs to Maricopa County

Bosom Buddies has a long standing of history of service to those diagnosed with breast cancer.  With the increasing downturn in the economy, many more Maricopa County residents are without insurance or are underinsured.  The services of the Maricopa Integrated Health System have become increasingly in demand by those without insurance. Members of the breast cancer community and vendors have over time donated wigs, headscarves, mastectomy bras, and mastectomy breast forms to Bosom Buddies to distribute to those in need. In keeping with our mission, Bosom Buddies recently made a substantial donation of these items to the Oncology Unit of the Comprehensive Health Care Center, located on the Maricopa Medical Center Campus.

Included in our donation were 23 wigs, 18 wig stands 6 bottles of wig wash, 45 headscarves, and 69 mastectomy bras. Our thanks to Becky Chase, Board Member and Martha Kingman, Oncology Clinic Manager for co-coordinating this effort.