Michelle Bergh

When I was eight years old, I was in a community play. There, I became friends with a little girl named Grace.  She was also eight, and her mother was in the play as well.

Grace's mother had advanced breast cancer at the time but didn't share that information with anyone.  She was diagnosed when she was pregnant with her last child, and she made the decision to postpone treatment and continue with the pregnancy so her child could live, rather than risk the baby's life or health.  A few months after the play, Grace's mother passed away from breast cancer.  

I attended the funeral and saw how devastated Grace and her three younger siblings were.  It deeply saddened me to know that these four little children would grow up without their mother.  That was the point when I decided I wanted to do what I could so that other children like Grace wouldn't have to lose their mothers to this terrible disease.

I began volunteering for Susan G. Komen MN shortly after that.  I've raised money, distributed breast cancer awareness information and information about Komen, and heavily promoted the cause.  I've organized Race for the Cure teams and volunteered in many other ways, as you'll see in my later pages.  

Breast cancer is not some rare, isolated disease that no one ever hears about.  The fact is, there is probably someone in your life who has been affected.  If there isn't, there will be.  

Breast cancer will affect 1 in 8 of our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our girlfriends - of US!  And that's why it's an extremely important cause for everyone. 

Early diagnosis is key to survival.  The most common warning signs are a change in the look or feel of the breast or nipple and nipple discharge.  Mammography screening can find most breast cancers in an early stage.

Why Susan G. Komen?

The combination of science, education and direct help to people facing breast cancer has lead to a 39% decline in mortality from 1989-2015.

Two of the most important things that Susan G. Komen  does:

*Provide free mammograms for qualified women.  Early detection is a KEY to survival, and mammograms can detect breast cancer before any warning signs appear.

*Komen is invested in over 500 research studies to find a cure!  Komen has funded more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit (more than $956 million to date, second only to the U.S. government).

Susan G. Komen  also helps fund organizations that help pay for living expenses, treatments and even meals for qualified women going through treatment and their care giver.  They focus on supporting those with the fewest resources: uninsured, under-insured and low-income women and men unable to access care.  In fact, they've funded more than $2.1 billion in medical care, education and other support to millions of people worldwide.

Additionally, Susan G. Komen provides information on warning signs, risk factors and how to reduce the risk factors you can control.  

Susan G. Komen has given so many people the help they need when they need it most.  

Below is a link for more information about Komen Minnesota,  information about breast cancer, and how you can donate or get involved:

http://www.komenminnesota.org/  

Keep reading for a few quick facts about breast cancer and reducing your risks, but please go on the Komen website for more details!

Breast Cancer Facts:

*Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

*Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in women (and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Hispanic women)

*Breast cancer will affect 1 in 8 women in their lifetime.

*Breast cancer can affect men, too.

*Though less common, young women can get breast cancer, too.

*Every 60 seconds, it claims another person's life.

*The earlier the breast cancer is found, the better the chances for survival.

*Mammograms offer the earliest method of detection.

Breast Cancer Symptoms:

*Lump or thickening inside the breast or arm pit

*Swelling, warmth or discoloration  of the breast

*Change in breast size or shape

*Irritation or dimpling of breast skin

*Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple or breast

*Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast

*Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)

*Pain in any area of the breast that doesn't go away

Six Ways to Reduce Your Risk:

*Keep a healthy weight

*Exercise regularly

*Don't smoke

*Don't drink alcohol, or limit alcoholic drinks to no more than one per day

*Breast feed any children you may have

*Limit hormone replacement therapy