YWCA Brochure Increases Awareness About Rare Form of Breast Cancer
The YWCA of Central Massachusetts today announced the publication of a unique educational brochure on a rare form of breast cancer. This is the first educational piece produced about inflammatory breast cancer, which was published through a collaborative between the YWCA, a patient networking group and a private company.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive and
most lethal form of breast cancer. The disease accounts for about four percent
of all breast cancer cases.
“Women need to have access to this information. While the disease is somewhat rare, if they have inflammatory breast cancer, they need to get treatment right away,” said Amy Martire, Director of Women’s and Girls’ Wellness Programs and the Encore Plus Program at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts.
The patient-networking group, IBC New England, worked in conjunction with the YWCA to produce the brochure. Savings Bank Life Insurance headquartered in Woburn, Mass., provided support for the publication. The material has been edited by a medical oncologist. In addition to providing information about the disease, the brochure highlights local resources including the IBC networking group, which was the first group formed in New England, which holds regular meetings for women with IBC.
IBC may strike at any age, but most women diagnosed are
under the age of 45. The prognosis is a challenging one. Only 34 percent of
women are still living three years after diagnosis. Because of the young age
and high mortality rate, inflammatory breast cancer represents a
disproportionate amount of the total life years lost to breast cancer.
The networking/support group, IBC New England, became
affiliated with the YWCA’s Encore Plus program a year ago. The group meets
regularly at the YWCA in Worcester and includes members from throughout New
England. In addition to general support and information exchange, the group
often hosts speakers and works on educational and public awareness activities.
For more information, please contact Amy Martire at
508-767-2505 x3017.
(From left to right) Amy Martire, Coordinator of Women’s and Girls’ Wellness at the YWCA, Robert Sheridan, President and CEO of Savings Bank Life Insurance, and Sue Asci, IBC survivor and group founder of IBC of New England, have joined forces to educate the public at-large about Inflammatory Breast Cancer through the publication of a ground-breaking educational brochure.