it is first necessary to know what is normal."
Wow… that sentence could cover a lot of issues; behavior, relationships, habits, heck… even pizza crust!
But in this case, it’s referring to breast tissue and how it relates to breast cancer.
My friend Josie emailed me a few weeks ago to share her enthusiasm for all the good works being done in her home town of Indianapolis to help find the cure to breast cancer. She had participated that weekend as both a volunteer and donor for an event she thought I would also love to volunteer for if given the chance; The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank (KTB) at the IU Simon Cancer Center.
The way I understand it, in 2007, the IUSCC was awarded a $1,000,000 grant by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help fund their collection of breast tissue from “healthy” women. By “healthy”, they mean without cancer. This was in response to action taken after a 2004 series of meetings in Indy of prominent scientific, medical, industry and advocacy communities. A cancer researcher attending those meetings surmised that a lack of normal breast tissue was a significant impediment to the success of her breast cancer research. It was quickly assumed by some in attendance that even if there was a mechanism for donation in place, and the (unlikely chance) that the review board would approve such a collection, the real question was, quite frankly, “what woman would donate healthy breast tissue?”
It was the advocates, led by Mrs. Connie Rufenbarger who challenged the naysayers by asserting “their unshakable belief that women would donate, they only needed to be asked”.
And answer they did; in just a few short years, the Susan G. Komen Foundation recognized their invaluable work and has supported it with grant monies ever since. Josie was one of those brave women who donated both time and tissue this past June 13th. KTB, she informed me a few days later, will be having another “Tissue Collection Event” on August 8th.
So little ol’ me and my friend Robin, whose own mother Lois is a breast cancer survivor, will board a plane to Indy on Friday August 7th. The KTB is particularly interested in people like Robin and I who are healthy but considered “high risk”. On Saturday they will give us what is equivalent to 3 needle biopsies and remove about two “pea size” amounts of breast tissue from each of us. Josie and her husband Ned will supply us with wine, fresh ice packs and I’m sure lots of laughs that evening before delivering us to the airport for an 8a.m. flight home.
I told Robin I’m a little nervous.
She told me she’s more than a little nervous.
But then I remember TC and my friend Dini’s brave faces every time they got poked, prodded, scanned and downright manipulated.
And I know…
“As a healthy woman, I can contribute to breast cancer research.”
So I will.
To find out how you can participate, go to: https://komentissuebank.iu.edu/home
Wow… that sentence could cover a lot of issues; behavior, relationships, habits, heck… even pizza crust!
But in this case, it’s referring to breast tissue and how it relates to breast cancer.
My friend Josie emailed me a few weeks ago to share her enthusiasm for all the good works being done in her home town of Indianapolis to help find the cure to breast cancer. She had participated that weekend as both a volunteer and donor for an event she thought I would also love to volunteer for if given the chance; The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank (KTB) at the IU Simon Cancer Center.
The way I understand it, in 2007, the IUSCC was awarded a $1,000,000 grant by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help fund their collection of breast tissue from “healthy” women. By “healthy”, they mean without cancer. This was in response to action taken after a 2004 series of meetings in Indy of prominent scientific, medical, industry and advocacy communities. A cancer researcher attending those meetings surmised that a lack of normal breast tissue was a significant impediment to the success of her breast cancer research. It was quickly assumed by some in attendance that even if there was a mechanism for donation in place, and the (unlikely chance) that the review board would approve such a collection, the real question was, quite frankly, “what woman would donate healthy breast tissue?”
It was the advocates, led by Mrs. Connie Rufenbarger who challenged the naysayers by asserting “their unshakable belief that women would donate, they only needed to be asked”.
And answer they did; in just a few short years, the Susan G. Komen Foundation recognized their invaluable work and has supported it with grant monies ever since. Josie was one of those brave women who donated both time and tissue this past June 13th. KTB, she informed me a few days later, will be having another “Tissue Collection Event” on August 8th.
So little ol’ me and my friend Robin, whose own mother Lois is a breast cancer survivor, will board a plane to Indy on Friday August 7th. The KTB is particularly interested in people like Robin and I who are healthy but considered “high risk”. On Saturday they will give us what is equivalent to 3 needle biopsies and remove about two “pea size” amounts of breast tissue from each of us. Josie and her husband Ned will supply us with wine, fresh ice packs and I’m sure lots of laughs that evening before delivering us to the airport for an 8a.m. flight home.
I told Robin I’m a little nervous.
She told me she’s more than a little nervous.
But then I remember TC and my friend Dini’s brave faces every time they got poked, prodded, scanned and downright manipulated.
And I know…
“As a healthy woman, I can contribute to breast cancer research.”
So I will.
To find out how you can participate, go to: https://komentissuebank.iu.edu/home
Addendum (7/22/09)
Apparently my blog was passed on to the powers that be at KBT and I was thrilled to receive personal emails from both Dr. Jill Henry, the Chief Operating Officer who would like to pass it along to the Indy press! And the following words are from Connie Rufenbarger herself:
This just put the biggest smile on my face! It is so wonderful to see our passion shared by wonderful women. We all so want to change history--to not leave this legacy to our daughters. We thought we would find other women warriors--but you never know until it happens. At some point--all of us will be part of something even bigger--we are showing the Powers that Be that we can and will decide what level of giving of ourselves is appropriate. At the present--the ethicists and review boards are guiding our decisions/choices--our collective choice will help them to stand aside and let us make history in all diseases. Ok--I have to get off of my soap box. We are thrilled that you are all coming. Each event is a celebration. I got to do the fat core from my bum last time--since I have saline breasts it was the only way to get one of the pink t-shirts. What we will do for fashion!!!!
I am always on hyper drive at the events--just more excited than is natural--so--please come up and make me stand still and introduce yourself. We have all become great huggers!
How cool is that!!! cb
1 comment:
Chris, this is very cool. When I had my breast reduction 10 years ago, my mom had a friend with Komen in Dallas who knew about my surgery and arranged for my healthy 'leftover' breast tissue to be donated for this same reason. If you have time while you're in Indy, call us!
Sooz
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