Susan G. Komen - 2014 Race for the Cure

WE CAN WIN THE BATTLE.

ALL WE NEED IS YOU!

KOMEN PUGET SOUND

RACE FOR THE CURE

ONE DAY 5K Run/Walk 1 MILE & Kids’ Race SURVIVOR CELEBRATION

LOCAL PRESENTING SPONSOR

SUNDAY ~ JUNE 1, 2014 SEATTLE CENTER REGISTER AT:

MEDIA SPONSOR

KOMENPUGETSOUND.ORG

KOMEN PUGET SOUND • 112 FIFTH AVENUE NORTH • SEATTLE, WA 98109 •

#KOMENPUGETSOUND

/KOMENPUGETSOUND

2 • Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter • May 23, 2014 Obstetricians & Gynecologists Bellevue • Issaquah

Overlake Obstetricians & Gynecologists overlakeobgyn.com

Bellevue • 425-454-3366

1800 116th Ave. NE, Suite 201

Issaquah • 425-391-8655

751 NE Blakely Drive, Suite 2030

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS Overlake Hospital Swedish/Issaquah Hospital

OUR PRACTICE is a group of Board Certified physicians, Certified Nurse Midwives and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners. We are excited about the opportunity to provide comprehensive care to women of all ages.

Thank You for Caring If you are reading this special breast cancer section of the IssaquahSammamish Reporter, you clearly care about the impact of breast cancer on our community.

Thank you. More women in Washington State are diagnosed with breast cancer than any other form of cancer. Indeed, our state has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in our country.

Who knows why the incidence of breast cancer is so high in our state? One theory is it might be a relative lack of vitamin D. This is why I am excited about the Komen funded study on obesity and vitamin D that was just completed by Dr. Anne McTiernan, MD, PHD Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. This research is discussed in another article in today’s paper. It is one of eight local breast cancer research studies together totaling $3.7 million dollars in Komen global medical research funding spent right here in Puget Sound. Personally, I would like to see more study into the unique factors affecting breast health in our Northwest region.

Beyond the statistics, we care about breast cancer because so many of us know someone whose life has been touched by this disease. It might be a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a sister, a wife, a close friend or you. For me, the matriarch of my family, my Aunt Judy, is a breast cancer survivor. And, now that I am a part of a Komen Puget Sound family, I have become close to the many Komen staff, donors and volunteers who have either survived breast cancer or are currently battling this disease.

I am inspired by their stories every day, and they reinforce within me a personal sense of urgency regarding our mission. If a woman has to decide whether to pay for her family’s meals or her breast cancer treatments, she needs our support today. With 100 women in our state diagnosed with breast cancer every week, we need find a cure for breast cancer now. When lives are at stake, there is no time to lose.

If you also feel this sense of urgency, I invite you to visit komenpugetsound.org and register for the Race for the Cure on June 1.

Join me and others who share your desire to make a difference. We can win the battle against breast cancer. All we need is you.

Thank you,

David Richart Executive Director, Komen Puget Sound

Our Physicians provide care for women of all ages during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum care as well as gynecological care, at all stages of their lives from adolescence, through and past menopause.

OUR PHYSICIANS

James D. Haines, M.D. Ann M. Kolwitz, M.D. Michael M. Lawler, M.D. Kristin J. Graham, M.D. Jonathan I. Paley, M.D. Katherine Van Kessel, M.D. Desiree L. Otto, M.D. Judith A. Lacy, M.D. Christine L. Werner, M.D. Our Certified Nurse Midwives provide a full scope of midwifery care, prenatal care, labor support, hospital deliveries and gynecological care including annual exams, family planning and evaluation of gynecological problems.

OUR MIDWIVES

Peggy Moore Kibbel, CN.M., A.R.N.P. Laura Carmichael, CN.M., A.R.N.P. Lori Loghin, C.N.M., A.R.N.P.

A.R.N.P

Our Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners provide annual exams, family planning evaluation of gynecological problems and infertility evaluations.

OUR A.R.N.P’S

Lisa Abel, A.R.N.P Cheryl Axford, A.R.N.P Jennifer S. Nielsen, A.R.N.P.

KOMEN PUGET SOUND

RACE FOR THE CURE • 3

JOIN THE RACE. Everybody’s Welcome!

Enjoy a day filled with fun for yourself and the whole family, and you will make a real difference in our fight against breast cancer.

Register Online Now Through May 30 and Save!

Start a team!

There’s strength in numbers and more fun!

A Race team is a great way to build morale, support a friend, remember a loved one and maximize your impact in the fight against breast cancer. Teams can be any type or size: • Corporate Teams • Friends and Family • School Groups • Healthcare Teams • Community Organization • And more!

There is no additional cost to form or join a Race team. Team members do not have to participate in the same event. Become a team captain. Learn how easy it is at komenpugetsound.org.

Donate.

Support a Race participant.

Even if you can’t walk or run, you can lend your support. Make a general donation or give to a participant or team. Simply go online to komenpugetsound.org to make a donation.

Why it’s important: Reasons to race.

Every week, over 100 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Washington state.

Komen Puget Sound is the only organization that supports critical breast cancer services for local women and funds medical research to better diagnose, treat and ultimately cure this disease.

The Race for the Cure is Komen Puget Sound’s single largest opportunity to raise funds needed to fight breast cancer.

Seventy-five percent of net donations stays local to provide critical services like free mammograms and breast cancer treatment support for low income women.

The remaining 25 percent goes directly to Susan G. Komen global medical research to better diagnose, treat and ultimately cure breast cancer. Currently, Komen’s global medical research program is investing over $3.7 million locally into Puget Sound research projects.

You also will have access to email templates to help you solicit donations. We will provide you with lots of fundraising tips and you can even “Fundraise on Facebook.”

Make your fundraising efforts go even further. Ask your donors if their companies have an employee matching gifts program.

It doubles the amount you raise. Check our website for details and matching gift guidelines.

Raising $150 could fund a lifesaving mammogram through our community grants program.

Race Day Schedule 7 am: 7 am to noon:

8 am:

Registration and timing chip booth open Top 100 Fundraisers Tent, Survivor Celebration Tent, Food, Water, Coffee, Sponsor Booths, Main Stage Entertainment Kid’s Race

8:15 am:

Women’s Only 5K RunKids for the Cure

8:30 am:

Co-ed 5K Run

8:45 am:

One Mile Walk

8:45 am:

Co-ed 5K Walk

10-10:45 am: 10:45 am: 11 am:

Team Photos at Pink Ribbon Survivor Parade Fundraising Awards and Closing Ceremonies

Komen Puget Sound Community Events 21st Annual Survivor Celebration

September 14, 2014 Aboard a Holland America Line Ship at Pier 91, Seattle Puget Sound breast cancer survivors celebrate their journey with an exceptional experience onboard a luxurious Holland America Line ship. Guests are treated to an exquisite dining experience.

Registration begins in August at www.komenpugetsound.org

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure September 19-21, 2014 Greater Seattle Area The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight to end breast cancer. Register at www.the3day.org

Lunch for the Cure® October 9, 2014 Hotel Murano Bicentennial Pavilion, Tacoma The Lunch for the Cure has become one of Pierce County’s most important fundraising events with over 600 local community leaders joining together in the promise to end breast. Learn more at www.komenpugetsound.org

Fundraise for the cure.

Power of a Promise® Luncheon

The Washington state Department of Health (DOH) estimates $3.3 million is needed this year to provide low-income, uninsured women with lifesaving mammograms. Your support will help fill that gap.

Once you sign up for the Race, you’ll get customizable fundraising webpage to collect donations online.

Be a part of Seattle’s premier luncheon supporting the fight against breast cancer, and help ensure all women have the opportunity to receive lifesaving breast cancer education, early detection and treatment. Learn more at www.komenpugetsound.org

Getting started is easy!

October 23, 2014 The Westin Hotel, Seattle

4 • Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter • May 23, 2014

I am the

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KOMEN PUGET SOUND

RACE FOR THE CURE • 5

Research Volunteers Wanted . . .

Do you currently use Clarisonic products?

Would you like to use Clarisonic products?

We are looking for volunteers between the ages of 18 & 70 to participate in Clinical Studies evaluating Clarisonic products.

If you are interested please contact us: Phone: 425-952-3730 Web: https://consumertesting. lorealusa.com/clarisonic/ Survey4.asp

If you qualify, you will be compensated for your participation in completed studies

6 • Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter • May 23, 2014

Sammamish resident celebrates cancer free 10-year anniversary

By Kelly Montgomery Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter

Judy Buerke of Sammamish was in her mid-20s when doctors told her she had very fibrous tissue, and would have to get mammograms every year.

“It was never a problem,” Buerke said. “But in the back of my mind it was always, ‘One of these days, I’m going to get that phone call.’”

Buerke, now 62, said that she had had a few scans and sonograms over the years due to suspicious mammogram results, so the idea of cancer was always something that crossed her mind, but it wasn’t until her annual check-up in the spring of 2004 that cancer was detected.

“Fortunately for me it was a very slow growing cancer and my lymph nodes were not involved,” Buerke said.

Buerke said her treatment consisted of a lumpectomy, followed by seven weeks of radiation, five years of an Arimidex regimen, and many, many follow-up visits to her doctors.

“It was such a learning process because I had no idea how much went into even the pre-surgery treatment,” Buerke said. “That was almost more overwhelming to me then the surgery.”

At the time of her diagnosis, Buerke

The Boob Blog

By Linda Ball

Last September I published my first book. I called it “The Boob Blog” because it started out as a blog.

I started the blog to keep family and friends up to speed on my progress and what was happening to me as I dealt with breast cancer. I realized what was happening was so unreal I had to expand on it — thus the book.

When you’re given a diagnosis of cancer, it’s frightening. Emotions and thoughts swell up that are hard to explain.

Why me?

I’m always been very healthy. I work out.

I eat pretty healthy, except when I crave sweets. I used to be a body builder (30 some years ago). How could this happen?

was teaching kindergarten in north Texas. Her daughter was approaching graduation at TCU and her son was a freshman at UC Berkeley. One of the hardest parts for Buerke was figuring out how to tell her children she’d been diagnosed.

“It’s just a mom thing. Its like, how do I tell them? I knew I would be fine, I just felt that. But how do I tell them and reassure them I’m going to be okay?”

Buerke said. “It was an emotional time for all, but I had a great deal of faith in my doctors and tremendous support from family and friends.”

Buerke said the major difficulty came when seeing other people at the cancer treatment center that weren’t as fortunate as her. It makes you think about what you’ve been through and what you will face ahead of you, she said, and taught her to appreciate the little things in life and look at the big picture.

“It turned out to be a good thing for me,” she said. “Because it really makes you stop and think and approach things differently…do your best day to day.”

At her five-year marker, Buerke and

her husband moved to Seattle. While it was hard leaving her medical team, Buerke said she is thankful for her doctors here.

“Even when I go now, there’s that haunting worry that it will be back,” she said.

But with her support system, along with events put on by the Susan G. Komen organization, Buerke has continued to stay positive throughout her entire experience. She is currently volunteering at Margaret Mead Elementary School to give back and keep her brain going, she said. And she

continues to go in for checkups, making sure she is cancer-free.

“You have to be your own best advocate,” she said.

And since her diagnosis, Buerke has been participating in Susan G. Komen events throughout the country.

“It’s reaffirming. Everybody is just so positive,” she said. “It’s very satisfying knowing you’re helping someone else, but it’s also a reminder that we’re all in this together.”

It’s because cancer has its own agenda.

And in the case of breast cancer, if you’re female, you are a target.

Think of seven women you love dearly.

One of them will get a diagnosis of breast cancer.

I moved to Seattle over the Labor Day weekend of 2009 to start a new life, not really knowing anyone in this area. My diagnosis came one year and four months later. I was pretty much on my own, except when one of my friends from Alaska, my home state, or Idaho, where I moved here from, would come to help. I now realize how strong I was because I had to deal with this pretty much on my own, which I’ve come to learn, is not the norm.

But I didn’t know any different.

I dedicated “The Boob Blog” to survivors, current and future patients and anyone who has had their life touched by any kind of cancer.

In the book I talk about how I’ve always had a pretty wicked sense of humor, and that is what kept me going. In chapter three, “Fact Finding,” I said “tomorrow is my brain scan. It will be interesting to see if there’s anything in there.” Well, there wasn’t (meaning, no tumors)!

I talk about chemo. It’s hell. There’s really no other way to describe it. I did chemo first, which is called neoadjuvant therapy.

You can’t think straight. You are tired all the time. And I thought, okay, at least I’ll lose some weight with cancer. NO! You gain weight because they give you steroids to counteract the side effects of the chemo, so you want to eat more, and you gain

weight. Great, I thought. Fat and bald.

Then, for a little extra fun, when I had one of my first MRIs, a tech called to say there was a “spot” on my appendix. My oncologist told me not to worry about it. On the evening of May 25, 2011, I knew something was terribly wrong. You guessed it. Appendicitis. So, it had to come out.

That set me back a little from the chemo schedule. I am very much a planner and in control of my life, so for me all of this was really hard because I was not the one in control. The disease was.

Once I was back on track, I went into phase II of the chemo, which was the hard stuff. It was a combination of two drugs, adriamycin and cytoxan; adriamycin is also referred to as the red devil, and it didn’t take long to figure out why. That’s when my hair really started to go, and tired took on a whole new meaning.

What made my journey unique is that I really did my best to try to keep it normal. I continued to do things I enjoyed as much as I could. I went zip-lining and kayaking after I had a uni-lateral mastectomy. And it kept me strong, physically and mentally.

I don’t forget my medical team in the book at all. They were all so wonderful.

My medical oncologist, Dr. Kaplan, my surgeon, Dr. Beatty, my plastic surgeon, Dr. Isik, and the oncology nurses and all the nurses were nothing short of angels.

My final day of chemo was bittersweet, because I had to say goodbye to those wonderful nurses.

Many women don’t bother with

reconstruction. But I felt I was still too young not to do it. I opted for a tram-flap, which was another long journey. The tram-flap is an amazing procedure, but had I known how painful it would be, I might have re-thought it. I was in rough, rough shape for a good month after the surgery.

I had to have constant care for three weeks, so thankfully I had three different girlfriends come in week shifts to care for me.

I am healed now, but I still have occasional twinges of pain, from nerves reconnecting I suppose.

By December 2012 I moved into my very own little condo in West Seattle. I bought at the bottom of the market and I love my place. I have a view of Puget Sound, which was my priority. I love being able to sit on my deck in the summer and see the Sound and the Olympic Mountains and to walk along the shore.

I participated in my first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure last June, and I will be doing it again this year. I’m also the PR chair for this year’s American Cancer Society, West Seattle, Relay for Life. The fight can’t end until cancer is eradicated forever.

“The Boob Blog” is available on Amazon.com or for Kindle. It’s also available at the Issaquah Library, and at Swedish Medical Centers in Issaquah, Seattle First Hill and Edmonds in the cancer education centers.

Sometimes reading someone else’s journey can help you make key decisions.

Kelly Montgomery: 425-391-0363; kmontgomery@issaquahreporter.com

KOMEN PUGET SOUND

RACE FOR THE CURE • 7

Extending Hope to Cancer Patients and their Families

W

hen Anna heard the news she was pregnant, she and her husband were overjoyed. Up to this point they had devoted their lives to providing a safe, nurturing home for foster children. While they had a large family of six foster children, they welcomed the news of another child in their lives. But then, shortly afterwards, Anna also received the news that she had breast cancer.

After the baby was born, Anna underwent surgery to have the cancer removed, and then she began chemotherapy. Overwhelmed by the unexpected medical expenses, she turned to her mother who put her in touch with one of Cancer Lifeline’s financial navigators.

The navigator worked helped with the application for aid from the Komen Puget Sound Patient Assistance Fund. Support from the Komen fund helped to keep the heat on in Anna’s home as well as provide meal support for her and her family. Once Anna’s financial situation was stabilized, she was able to address her medical needs and is now doing well.

Both financially and emotionally, Cancer Lifeline helped Anna move from hopelessness to the survivor she is today.

Forty years ago, Cancer Lifeline began service as a 24-hour phone line designed to offer information and provide emotional support to patients and families affected by cancer. Over the years of carefully listening to the needs of cancer patients and survivors,

the organization added other programs to provide all people touched by cancer with high-quality emotional, financial, and health and wellness services.

For the past nine years, Cancer Lifeline has administered the Komen Puget Sound Patient Assistance Fund (KPAF) to provide low-income breast cancer patients like Anna with financial and emotional support to help stabilize their lives and allow them to remain in treatment.

The organization is Komen Puget Sound’s second largest grantee, after the Washington State Department of Health. With the ongoing economic downturn, KPAF and Cancer Lifeline’s patient financial assistance program has been particularly vital for vulnerable breast cancer patients. It is one of the few programs in the Puget Sound area that helps patients at risk of losing housing, utilities or other basic essentials due to the expense of cancer treatments, loss of employment and/or insurance needs due to illness.

“Cancer Lifeline has truly been a lifeline for patients who have nowhere else to go,” says Elisa Del Rosario, Komen Puget Sound Director of Grants, Education and Advocacy. “They meet a critical need for women and families in our community, with staff and volunteers who exhibit the utmost caring for patient’s well being.”

In addition to addressing the health and financial needs of cancer patients, Cancer Lifeline also

provides important mental well-being programs, including classes in artistic expression. These Creative Expression workshops are open to all people living with cancer – patients, survivors, family members, friends and co-workers. Lead by trained facilitators, classes may include card making, painting, collage, fiber arts or writing. By tapping into their creative skills, participants learn to cope while navigating through their cancer experience.

“Our programs are based on the needs of people living with cancer,” said Joseph Yurgevich, Cancer Lifeline program director. “We offer you choices and encourage you to take control. Most of all, we provide the environment where you have the freedom to express feelings without being judged.”

Investing in Research to Find a Cure for Breast Cancer – Worldwide and Right Here at Home By Dr. Anne McTiernan, MD, PHD.

more inches around Many of you may be aware that vitamin D comes Thirty years ago, Susan G. Komen was founded on their waist. This means from the sun and helps build better bones, but there a promise to end breast cancer forever. Since then, that women should is evidence that it might also help in prevention of the organization has worked towards fulfilling that have their blood levels breast cancer. This is particularly important for us promise by investing more than $790 million into of vitamin D tested by living in the Northwest where, unfortunately, many breast cancer research. That makes Komen the largest their medical provider. non-government funder of breast cancer research in the of us are not getting enough vitamin D due to a If their levels are too relative lack of sunlight, and other factors like body world. low, they should work weight. Overweight individuals are at increased risk Did you know that Komen is currently investing AtDNaturoMedica, women receive highly personalized with their provider of low vitamin levels. That’s possibly because excess over $3.7 million of their global breast cancer research to ensure that any fat absorbs and holdscare onto vitamin it inviting program right here into active medical studies in the health in aD, making warm, and relaxed environment. vitamin D pills they unavailable to the body.

Puget Sound region? take are raising Vitamin DTreatment may be helpful in reducing the risk of One Komen grant recipient is Dr. Mary-Claire King recommendations are tailored to fit each their vitamin D to a breast cancer in a number of ways. It could reduce at the University of Washington. King is working to healthy level. Thneeds. ese production of fat tissue, which wouldwoman’s result in loweringindividual uncover new genes that will better identify women at results were recently breast cancer risk factors related to obesity.

Vitamin D risk for inherited breast cancer. Other Komen grant Anne McTiernan, MD, PHD is a researcher, Public Health Sciences, by itself has also been associated with a reduction in the published in the recipients include some of my colleagues at Fred Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

American Journal of initiation of cancer in laboratory experiments.

Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. For example, one Hormonal imbalances Clinical Nutrition.

We have recently completed a study that enrolled Komen grantee is working to uncover a simple, nonTo our knowledge, 218 women who were overweight with low Vitamin invasive blood test that, when done in combination Menopause, PMS, IBS on the effect of vitamin D and there are no prior studies D levels in a year-long, nutrition and exercise based with a mammogram, will significantly increase weight on breastmedicine cancer prevention. So, this study is weight loss program. Participants Anti-aging/longevity met regularly with a accuracy in detecting breast cancer at an early stage, highly novel. If positive results follow, as we hope, this study nutritionist to learn strategies for healthy eating when it is most curable. research will translate into clinical and public health and weight loss, and worked closely our exercise I am working at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Bone losswith • Insomnia • Fatigue • Mood changes practices that will provide women and physicians specialists on a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise Center on an exciting Komen funded study that looks additional options for reducing risk for breast cancer. program. at vitamin D insufficiency and weight, two interrelated In the meantime, there is one thing we do know.

As a part of this study, half of these women were risk factors for breast cancer. We have such an epidemic When it comes to breast cancer, exercise and weight randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of vitamin of obesity and lack of exercise in our country. This 1220 10th Ave NE, Issaquah 98029 | www.naturomedica.com | 425-557-8900 control are like wearing a seat belt. They reduce your D. We found that women whose vitamin D levels rose is why I believe a study into these areas can have a risk, and might even your life.of our team to what is and considered a healthy level lost significantlyif you signifi on better understanding these risk Callcant toimpact schedule an appointment or go to online fill out your information would like a save member more weight and body fat, and they lost signifi cantly factors for breast cancer. contact you to set up an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’ve moved to the Issaquah Highlands!

1056922

Optimal Health by Design

8 • Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter • May 23, 2014

A STEP IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION

Join QFC and the Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure as we raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Ensuring that all women have access to breast cancer early detection and quality treatment support is the ultimate goal, and QFC is committed to seeing this happen.

Understanding the facts about the disease and knowing the warning signs can help protect you and your loved ones. Here are some useful tips: • Talk to your family and learn about your family health history • Complete monthly breast self-exams • Be alert to any changes in your body • Notify your doctor immediately if you notice any changes or have any concerns • Have yearly check-ups and mammograms, as recommended • Spread the word by talking and sharing with mothers, sisters, family and friends.

Love and knowledge are powerful weapons in this battle.

QFC is proud to be the Local Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure.

We will see you at Seattle Center on June 1st!