Friday, June 6, 2008

Arizona Instittute for Breast Health





As I may have mentioned before – Susan G. Komen is the big name, but not the only name in Breast Cancer. As the Team H.O.P.E. ladies go about the business of raising money and awareness we naturally meet many people whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

Miss Jeannie spoke with a woman the other day who was very supportive of us and our efforts and who volunteers her time and energy to AIBH. I had never heard of them so I looked them up. Here is part of their mission:

The Arizona Institute for Breast Health, a local non-profit organization, offers a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer a second opinion, completely free of charge. The volunteer team of physicians and medical professionals are breast health experts whose specialties include breast radiology, breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, reconstructive surgery, and breast pathology. This team evaluates the best medical and surgical options for the preservation of a woman's life, body and emotional well-being, as well as the continued quality of her life. In a caring, expedient and objective manner, the team will provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommendations for treatment.

How cool is that? Imagine getting the diagnosis. You want to waste no time in getting treatment because this is one of those things where time is of the essence. (The essence of life, to be blunt. Breast cancer – for all the awareness sand fundraising and research still kills people every day!) So you want to begin treatment ASAP but you also want to make very sure this is in fact what you have before you start taking the poison. I’m sorry, I mean the medicine. (The women I’ve met who have been through this know it is a bit of both.) Imagine being able to get that second opinion without having to get pre-approval from your HMO (if in fact you are lucky enough to have an HMO) or waiting months for another appointment.

The AIBH has many fund raisers. Some of them involve motorcycle rides and some involve fashion. There is naturally a golf tournament. (I think there is some sort of state law in Arizona that anyone raising money must have a golf tournament. Which reminds me – in a few days we will post information on the Team H.O.P.E. ~Simply the Breast~ golf tournament!)


The one that I wished we had thought of (and had the resources to pull off) was called “The Pink Light District” where one could buy a pink light bulb. Not to take home but to be used to light up a bridge in Scottsdale. I don’t get to Scottsdale real often so I missed it last year but I guess they had the bridge lit pink for the entire month of October!



Naturally here at Team H.O.P.E. we believe that if someone wants to donate money for Breast Cancer they should click on one of the donate buttons just to the right and up a little bit. But if you want more variety in your donating day I think you could definitely do worse than AIBH.

Have a healthy, happy, pink glowing day!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a terrific site.....Thank you so much for your wonderful post about the Arizona Institute for Breast Health!

As the Executive Director of AIBH and a twelve year survivor of breast cancer, I would like you to know how very much having your organizations support means to us and to the women who are fortunate enough to come through our program. I know first hand the fear and overwhelming feelings that happen after being told that you have breast cancer. It is AIBH’s goal to help empower and educate a recently diagnosed patient, so that she will be making the correct treatment choices for her and her own diagnosis of breast cancer.

This October, we will once again be lighting the Southbridge in downtown Scottsdale at our signature event, The Pink Light District. The lights will be lit the entire month of October for anyone that would like to view them :o)

Best wishes to all of you as you take part in the 3 Day Walk. As a former "3 Dayer" from Santa Barbara to Malibu, I will be thinking of you as you embark on a wonderful and memorable journey.

Thank you again for your tremendous support as it is greatly and genuinely appreciated.

All the best,

Christine Lessard
Executive Director
Arizona Institute for Breast Health
www.aibh.org