The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition was formed by a group of survivors concerned with the enormous social, medical and economic consequences of breast cancer.

Statistics... 98,000 men and women are living in New Jersey. In 2007 there will be 6,080
new cases of breast cancer diagnosed. New Jersey ranks 4th in the nation for occurrences and 2nd for deaths with 1480 in 2006.

The South Jersey Breast Cancer Plan of Action:

1. Provide information and education to individuals.

2. Increase public awareness through advocacy efforts lobbying for legislation.

3. Improve access to high quality breast cancer screening diagnosis, treatment and care for women in clinical trials who have this disease, through legislation and change in regulation.

4. Increase the involvement and influence of those living with breast cancer in the areas of legislation, regulatory process and all aspects of clinical designs.

Meetings

There will be no meetings the months of May and December 2008.

Instrumental in getting the following bills passed in Congress...

Appropriations Annual Bill for FY 08 AThe House and Senate Appropriations conferees approved $138 million in funding for the Departmen Of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. This is an increase of $10.5 million over last year 2007 appropriation.

In 2007, President Bush signed the Reauthorization Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening which will provide for the Medicaid program to continue screening for low income or uninsured persons to be screened for those cancers.

Medicare Demonstration Program - Passed 2004 Oral anti cancer drugs will be covered in the program and Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer research program allocated $150 million for breast cancer research.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act - Passed June, 2001 Allows low income, uninsured and underinsured women Medicare coverage for treatment they need, once diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.

Medicare Clinical Trial coverage Act - Passed 2000 Establishes a guarantee that patients who are Medicare beneficiaries are covered for routine care costs when they enroll in clinical trials.

Lobbying efforts endorsed by SJBCC

Guaranteed access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of their ability to pay. We will continue to support Environmental Issues, Genetic Discrimination Issues and continued Breast Cancer Research. We will continue to fight for existing programs that our working in our state, such as the CEED (Cancer Education and Early Detection Program)

Breast Cancer and the Environment - It is generally believed that the environment plays a role in the development of breast cancer, but the extent of that role is not understood. Congress needs to enact legislation, which would provide grants for multi-disciplinary research centers to study the potential links between the environment and breast cancer.

Genetic Nondiscrimination Act - This would inhibit health insurers and employers from discriminating or denying coverage based on genetic information. We only endorse a bill that would include enforceable measures.

Fair Access to Clinical Trials - this would require clinical trails for serious and life threatening illnesses not only to be registered but to disseminate the outcome of the trial (good, bad or null)

The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition is lobbying aggressively for legislation. Our mission is clear: to raise awareness of Breast Cancer through advocacy, action and change in political policy. Join us by completing our membership application - $20.00 annual membership.

Upcoming Events

Dance For A Cure

On Sunday October 5, 2008, 1:30pm — 6:00pm,
the South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition will celebrate their first “Dance For a Cure”. This breast cancer benefit will take place at the New Stardust Ballroom in Bellmawr, NJ. Our event will bring together members of the Tri-state business community to honor women and men who have battled
breast cancer. It will also feature showcases of semi-professional ballroom dancers, a group class for beginners and open dancing for all. Joyce Hanley, owner of the ballroom has graciously offered
the use of the ballroom and music for this special occasion. This year, Independent Press Inc. and Victorian charm Development have offered to participate in this prestigious event. We anticipate hosting
some of the most prominent and influential companies in NJ.
There will be a dinner buffet served catered by Caterina. One of the afternoon festivities will be a Silent Auction. Donations to our Silent Auction can include but are not limited to, gift certificates,
services, books, vacation homes, weekend retreats, sporting goods, craft
items and any other creative contributions. Call 856-768-9028 to purchase tickets, or reserve your table now. Tickets are $35.00 each, a table for 8 — $260 and a table for 10 — $325. The event is BYOB.

Paint Berlin Pink For The Month Of May

SJBCC is hosting a pink bow campaign for the month of May in Memory of Nancy Lewis. Nancy was only 35 years old when she passed away from breast cancer. Her family has been soliciting the businesses and private residences in Berlin to purchase pink bows for $5.00,
to be hung on the front door of each business and home in Berlin. To date over $700.00 has been raised in Nancy's memory. The proceeds from this event will benefit the SJBCC programs and the survivors we
support. For more information about the pink bow campaign or how to purchase a pink bow to support the campaign, please call 856-768-9028.

Annual NBCC Breast Cancer Advocacy Conference

The conference was held on April 29,2008 to April 28,2008 Over 600 advocates from the United States and 13 other countries attended the event. Make the sentence the conferees learned about about the latest information of breast cancer research, quality care and access, and the politics of health care. The conference concluded with vests to New Jersey legislators in the House and Senate. Senator Harry Reid (NV) convened an emergency hearing on 4/29/08 concerning the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, trying to move the issue to a full Senate action.

Carolyn J Ochs Scholarship Fund - Read her story here.

    

AJoin us as we Make Strides Against Breast Cancer on 10/21 at Cooper River at Pennsauken, NJ and on 10/28 in Ocean City, NJ. Strides is a non-competitive 5K walk that raises awareness of breast cancer while earning money for the American Cancer Society. Nothing can compare the camaraderie that we share as we walk in honor of those members on our teams that are survivors and in memory of those we have loved and lost, such as one of our founding members, Carolyn Ochs. Remember HOPE starts with you and me!

 

Client Assistance Fund

 

In April 2005, the SJBCC established a client assistance fund to assist people with financial needs that have incurred in relationship or arising from their breast cancer diagnosis. Since its inception we have awarded over $10,000.00 to person's for day care costs for their children, while receiving treatment, utility bills, gas cards for transportation to treatments. We do not pay for any medication or treatments. For a complete list of criteria,please call or office at 856-768-9028.