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According to the American Cancer Society, in 2003,  13,700 women under the age of 40 were diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 1,400 women under the age of 40 died from the disease. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 30 to 55. By age 30, a woman's chance of getting breast cancer in the next 10 years is 1 in 235.

Young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have special needs that are not shared by older women diagnosed with this disease. Realizing that no other organization was fully addressing young women's needs, DBCC started Young Survivors in Action ("YSIA") in May 2000.

This new initiative serves two functions. First, YSIA supports young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and addresses their special needs by providing information and resources on issues such as preserving fertility during treatment, selecting birth control after treatment, getting pregnant after breast cancer and dealing with young children.

Second, YSIA educates young women in their 20s and 30s about the importance of doing their self breast exams on a monthly basis and learning about and acting on their family histories.

Access the YSIA Advocacy Update Archives Here!

Empowering young women

to take charge of

their breast health

Click here for the Lucinda pins and

other merchandise.

Announcing the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition's new
Resource Center
located in our offices in the Community Services Building
111 West 11th Street, Suite 3, Wilmington, DE 19801

Access to Breast Cancer resources, including:

Books
Periodicals
Videotapes
Audiotapes
Internet Access

Our newest additions:

Couples Confronting Cancer, published by the American Cancer Society, 2003

Breast Cancer for Dummies, by Ronit Elk, PhD and Monica Morrow, MD

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History of the Young Survivors in Action

With a grant from The Breast Health Institute, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. (DBCC) established the Young Survivors in Action in early 2001. The grant, totaling almost $25,000, was awarded to DBCC by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Philadelphia RACE FOR THE CUREâ The Breast Health Institute was the organizing sponsor of the event and the Komen Foundation.

A unique concept to the State of Delaware, the Young Survivors in Action program addresses the special concerns of young women, ages 40 and under, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or have a special interest in the disease. Through an informal survey of medical and social service organizations, DBCC found that little or nothing was offered to address the needs of the underserved population of young women with breast cancer. Through monthly activities, newsletters, and a Web site, these women are educated on many topics of concern including insurance coverage and employment, genetic testing, preserving fertility during treatment, selecting birth control after treatment, and planning for pregnancy. Program participants meet others who are experiencing the unique challenges that breast cancer presents to young women and their families via the Young Survivors in Action Web site, www.debreastcancer.org.

As a statewide program open to anyone in the tri-state area, Young Survivors in Action was initiated in New Castle County and has expanded to include additional sites.

Unfortunately, Delaware’s cancer rates are among the highest in the nation. At the inception of the program, approximately 9,700 women nationwide under the age of 40 were diagnosed with breast cancer. Vicky Cooke, Executive Director of DBCC states, "Young women in this age group are the silent minority. They’re overlooked by the breast cancer community as well as the public at large. We will strive to provide them with current information but, more importantly, to change their attitudes about the disease and treatments because their health is in their hands."

Not only is the Young Survivors in Action program a service to survivors and women at risk of breast cancer, it also strives to aid the medical community in improving their knowledge, treatments, and services. It’s through the support network that medical professionals and social service counselors will be provided with valuable insight to the women’s experiences. In addition, a database of further indicators will be compiled by DBCC from a survey of young survivors in Delaware.

Volunteers are needed to operate the Young Survivors in Action program in Delaware by providing support, information and education to others. There are no restrictions on becoming a volunteer and the time commitment is very flexible. Free training is provided for all volunteers, guiding them to a better understanding of the disease. Breast cancer survivors, especially, find that volunteering for DBCC is a rewarding experience.

For additional information about the Young Survivors in Action program or to volunteer, please contact DBCC at (302) 778-1102 or visit www.debreastcancer.org.

DBCC was established in 1991 to raise awareness of breast cancer. DBCC was formed by a small group of community volunteers who were committed to decreasing the mortality rate of breast cancer in Delaware among women and men. The agency has sponsored many educational programs that address the needs and concerns of women of all ages. Breast cancer survivors under the age of forty are targeted through the Young Survivors in Action program. DBCC supports the National Breast Cancer Coalition and their efforts to research the causes of breast cancer and pursue optimal treatments and cures. For additional information about the organization, please call (302) 778-1102.