Seeds of Hope Celebrating renewal, resilience, and the belief that even in difficult seasons, we can hold onto hope and finding the strength to keep going, one day at a time. This spring, SurvivingBreastCancer.org invites you to take part in Seeds of Hope, our annual campaign rooted in renewal, resilience, and the belief that even in difficult times we can hold onto the strength it takes to live each day as it comes. We are strong. We are fragile. It is not either or, we can be both in the face of cancer. Donate Today & Receive your Seeds of Hope Box Register for the May 6th Virtual Gathering Why This Matters Financial, Emotional, & Wellness Programming Trusted Information & Educational Resources Survivorship Programming & Tools A breast cancer diagnosis brings more than medical challenges. The financial, emotional, and physical impacts of cancer can be overwhelming, often extending far beyond treatment itself. Your participation helps create access to trusted resources, meaningful connection, and spaces where individuals can learn, share, and grow. Through Seeds of Hope, your support helps sustain SurvivingBreastCancer.org’s work — providing education, community, and integrative wellness programming that meets people where they are and supports them throughout survivorship. DONATION TIERS Donate $65 Donate $100 What's Inside the Box? Make A Donation: $65 Seeds of Hope When you make a donation of $65, you’ll receive a beautifully curated Seeds of Hope box with three packets of seeds representing hope, strength, and renewal. Your gift helps support SBC’s education, community, and integrative wellness programming, creating space for connection, healing, and growth. Make A Donation: $100 Plant it Forward When you donate $100 or more, you’ll receive your Seeds of Hope box along with a special gift from SBC. Your donation helps expand access to SBC’s programs and access to support and wraparound services. A Look Inside Inside your Seeds of Hope box, you’ll find a curated collection of flower seeds including wildflowers, sunflowers, and a seasonal bloom. Each flower is chosen to represent hope, strength, and renewal. Alongside your seeds, you’ll receive a planting guide and a message from SBC, a small, and meaningful way to honor our breast cancer community. Make a Donation Today Seeds of Hope: A Virtual Gathering in Support of SBC Date: Wednesday May 6, 2026 Time: 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. ET Join us for a special evening of connection, inspiration, and community. This spring, we invite you to come together for an evening of shared stories, inspiration, and meaningful connection. Together, we’ll explore beginner-friendly gardening while also highlighting the impact SurvivingBreastCancer.org is making in the lives of those living with and beyond breast cancer. Reserve your spot for $25 and join us on May 6. Your participation helps support SBC’s 350+ annual programs, weekly educational content, and integrative wellness experiences — expanding access to the resources, community, and support that individuals need throughout survivorship. What to expect: • A special guest (gardener/nature expert) sharing the meaning of planting and growth • Personal stories and reflections from the breast cancer community • A gentle, guided grounding and healing moment • Connection with others Reserve Your Sport Presented by:

Clinical trials for breast cancer research allow patients to receive innovative treatment methods while opening up healing possibilities for future patients. Transforming Your Breast Cancer Care Clinical Trials are an excellent option. Watch Now on Breast Cancer Conversations, the podcast Meet the People Behind the Amelia Study! Clinical Trials 101 Breast cancer clinical trials offer hope to many women and men diagnosed with the disease. They provide access to cutting-edge treatments that are not yet available to the general public. Explore 1. Our Specialties You get a tailored curated list of clinical trials from experts who are doing cutting edge research and have partnered with SBC to bring these trials to you! 2. Featured Projects Relationships are key for any cancer care. We have taken the time to meet with the scientists, the researchers and the principle investigators engaging in the research and trials we bring to you, our SBC community members! 3. Resources We are not just highlighting trials, we are providing you with an in-depth look at the trial through interviews with the researchers, expert blogs and fireside chats with the scientists, and access to reliable opportunities. 4. The Latest Clinical trials provide you with access to the lastest resources and access to some of the best people in the world who are dedicating their lives to ending cancer. You don't just get the standard of care, you get above and beyond the standard! ARETHA-1 Study for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer A Phase II Study of Evexomostat plus Eribulin for People with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Phase 2 Randomized Control Trial of Evexomostat (SDX-7320) in Combination with Eribulin for Patients with Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Metabolic Dysfunction: The ARETHA Study This study is being conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Learn More Amelia 1 for HR+ (estrogen or progesterone), Her2-, metastatic breast cancer with a PIK3CA gene mutation and previously treated with a CDK 4/6 inhibitor (e.g., Ibrance®) in1st line setting The Amelia 1 clinical study is testing a new, experimental cancer treatment called Evexomostat to see if it prolongs patient treatment when combined with Piqray® and Faslodex® and if it helps control blood glucose spikes. Learn More PROTECT-BC (PROton Therapy to Eliminate Cardiac Toxicity for Breast Cancer) A study to assess the safety and effectiveness of a condensed course of radiation delivered daily over approximately 1-2 weeks instead of 5-6 weeks. Learn More Get In Touch Our Clinical Trial Partners Food for Thought Study of Food and Brain Health in women being treated for Triple Negative breast cancer A research team at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, is recruiting participants for a remote study of diet and cognition among breast cancer patients. You might be eligible for this study if you:  Are female  Were recently diagnosed with stage II-III triple-negative breast cancer  Have just started, or soon will start systemic therapy (e.g. chemotherapy, targeted or endocrine therapies)  Are 40-65 years old Enrolled participants will be randomized to receive a personalized 12-week nutrition intervention for cognitive health with a registered dietitian-nutritionist or a 12-week general healthy lifestyle program, and will complete all study visits remotely. Participants will be contacted 6 months after the intervention for data collection. If you are interested in this study and would like to find out if you are eligible to participate, please complete a brief screening survey and someone from the research team will contact you directly. Complete the Screening Survey Sexual Health And REhabilitation Online (SHAREonline): A Research Study for Young Female Cancer Survivors Facing Changes in Sexual Health & Sexual Function Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are conducting a research study: “Sexual Health and Rehabilitation Online” (SHAREonline), for women age 19-49 who are experiencing changes in sexual functioning after cancer treatment. For more information visit sharesurvivorship.com or email share@dfci.harvard.edu . Learn More Get In Touch Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cancer Survivors with Insomnia Up to 30–50% of cancer survivors experience chronic, often untreated insomnia. This study is evaluating a virtual cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) program designed specifically for cancer survivors. Delivered online by a trained clinician, the Survivorship Sleep Program aims to address cancer-related barriers to sleep using an evidence-based approach. By expanding access to CBT-I across survivorship stages, this research seeks to better understand how targeted, virtual care can improve sleep and overall quality of life after cancer. Learn more SURGE Study: Virtual Exercise Program for Cancer Survivors The Survivors Uniting for Remote Guided Exercise (SURGE) Study is exploring how online exercise programs can support individuals living with and beyond cancer. This fully virtual study compares live, group-based exercise classes with recorded exercise sessions to understand how they impact physical activity levels, physical fitness, quality of life, and loneliness. All study activities are completed 100% online, including virtual exercise sessions, brief surveys, fitness assessments, and the use of a physical activity monitor during the study. Learn more Who We Work With Are you designing a clinical trial and looking for a patient advocacy organization to partner with? Let’s connect! When patient advocates are given a seat at the table, everyone benefits. Get In Touch

Explore other great resources for those facing a cancer diagnosis. These organizations provide various services for the cancer community. BREAST CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES Cancer Support In General Cancer Support in Specific Financial Assistance Insurance Assistance Healthcare Assistance Prescription Drug Assistance Transportation Assistant Lodging Assistant Child Care and Elder Care Assistance Low-cost and Free Mammograms ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides free, customized one-to-one emotional support for anyone impacted by breast cancer. Founded in 1999 by Melodie Wilson Oldenburg, ABCD matches individuals with trained volunteer Mentors who have a similar lived experience, offering compassionate support based on diagnosis, treatment, age, and lifestyle. With a fully virtual platform, ABCD supports people around the world and ensures that no one faces breast cancer alone. Voice: 1-800-977-4121 Byrd Cancer Foundation The Byrd Cancer foundation is an education and advocacy organization effectively assisting individuals battling cancer by connecting them to vital support and resources. Their mission is to ensure that all relevant information reaches those in need, guiding them towards the resources necessary to fight their battle against cancer. Email: info@byrdcancerfoundation.org Cancer + Careers Nonprofit that empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace, by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events. Its free services include a comprehensive website and library of publications in English and Spanish; legal and insurance information; career coaching; resume review, and much more. Email: CancerAndCareers@cew.org Cancer Care Provides free counseling for cancer patients and their families, financial assistance, information and referrals, community and professional education, teleconference programs, and ongoing telephone and in-person support groups. Voice: 1-800-813-4673 Cancer Hope Network Provides one-on-one support to cancer patients and their families undergoing cancer treatment from trained volunteers who have survived cancer themselves. Voice: 1-877-467-3638 Cancer Support Community Provides support, education, and hope through a global network to people affected by cancer. E-mail: Help@CancerSupportCommunity.org Caring Bridge Offers personal, protected websites that can be used during a health journey to share updates with family and friends. Foundation 96 Provide a safe and supportive care community consisting of multidisciplinary service providers, for people and their care-givers who are transitioning from active cancer treatment to everyday life. Look Good… Feel Better Helps cancer patients improve their appearance during treatment, including free workshops across the country. Voice: 1-800-227-2345 MD Anderson Cancer Center’s My Cancer Connection Matches cancer patients with others who have had the exact same diagnosis for support. Voice: 1-800-345-6324 R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation BLOCH Cancer Hotline Connects persons with cancer to home volunteers with same type of cancer. Provides free books about cancer. Voice: 1-800-433-0464 Cancer Support & Community Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Asian Women for Health Asian Women for Health is a peer-led, community-based network dedicated to advancing Asian women’s health and wellness through education, advocacy, and support as well as through their 8-week Achieving Whole Health online wellness program. The goal is for Asian women to be well informed, have access to care that is of great quality and culturally appropriate so they are inspired to live happy, healthy lives. FORCE - Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered FORCE helps people with hereditary cancer risk find vital information regarding genetic mutations, testing, and support to improve the lives of those with a predisposition for cancer development. His Breast Cancer HIS Breast Cancer Awareness nonprofit organization was founded in honor of all men who are at risk of, diagnosed and surviving with the Disease of Breast Cancer and to those who have died because of it. Our mission is to increase awareness and hence the early detection for all men and to help those who are at high risk due to genetics and other risk factors to gain access to regular screenings. Email: HisBreastCancer@gmail.com Indian Health Service If you are a member of a federally recognized tribe, you may be eligible for health services within the Indian Health Service. Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance's (LBCA’) mission is to make all who are touched by ILC aware of its unique characteristics and the critical need for more ILC research; to be the go-to source for information on ILC studies, clinical trials and educational tools, and much more. Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance Our mission is to advocate for all men diagnosed with breast cancer to ensure they receive equal access to support and treatment; to serve as a source of support and resources for the men, their caregivers, and their families; to ensure that men are appropriately represented in research and clinical trials, and to recruit volunteer “ambassadors” to increase awareness of breast cancer in men on a global scale. Men Against Breast Cancer Offers educational materials, online videos, workshops, and one-on-one networking with other men whose loved one has breast cancer. Conducts National Male Caregivers Conference and regional training workshops. Voice: 1-866-547-6222 My Density Matters My density matters raises awareness for the cancer imaging obstacles facing dense breasts and empowers women to test their breast density for more reliable breast cancer screening results. National Native American Cancer Survivors’ Support Network An educational community-based research study created to help improve the quality of cancer care and the quality of life for all American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations cancer patients and their loved ones. Voice: 1-800-537-8295 Navigating Cancer Care Decisions for Older Adults The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance's (LBCA’) mission is to make all who are touched by ILC aware of its unique characteristics and the critical need for more ILC research; to be the go-to source for information on ILC studies, clinical trials and educational tools, and much more. Project Life A membership based virtual wellness house for those living with Metastatic Breast Cancer and their loved ones. Sharsheret (Hebrew for “chain”) Supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer. TigerLily Foundation Tigerlily Foundation’s mission is to educate, advocate for, empower, and support young women, before, during and after breast cancer. We envision a future where a breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t inspire fear, but ignites hope for a future. Through our programs, we seek to educate and empower women of all backgrounds, including those at heightened risk, those facing health disparities, and those with less access to care. Twisted Pink Twisted Pink is a non-profit organization headquartered in Louisville, KY with a mission to provide hope and connection to people living with metastatic breast cancer by funding bold breakthroughs in research and awareness of the disease. We offer support, research and hope to people of all stages of breast cancer through our monthly Lunch & Learn programs, our Box of Hope program and our annual advocacy scholarships. Young Survival Coalition Provides information and support for young women with breast cancer. Identity & Population-Specific Support Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Air Charity Network - Long-distance transportation Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers. 877-621-7177 Corporate Angel Network Uses empty seats on corporate planes to help cancer patients reach treatment centers (Travel for caregivers is not covered). 866-328-1313 Hope Lodge - American Cancer Society Offers lodging for families during cancer treatment. 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345) Joe's House Find an online directory of free and discounted lodging for cancer patients and their families. Lifeline Pilots Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers. 800-822-7972 Mercy Medical Airlift Offers air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers. 800-296-1217 National Patient Travel Center Offers free or discounted air travel to treatment centers for cancer patients and their caregivers. 800-296-1217 Road to Recovery - American Cancer Society Offers local transportation to and from cancer treatments. 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345) Travel & Lodging Assistance Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) AVONCares Child Care Program - CancerCare Offers financial assistance for child care during treatment. 800-813-HOPE (800-813-4673) BrightSpot The Bright Spot Network provides young cancer survivors who are parents of small children with a safe space for individual and familial healing, recovery, and reconnection. Kesem 5 million children are coping with a parent's cancer diagnosis. That’s 5 million children at risk of experiencing increased anxiety, emotional isolation, loss of social interest, and/or feelings of hopelessness. And that’s why, at Kesem, we are committed to creating a world where every child who has a parent with a cancer diagnosis or has lost a parent to cancer is never alone. We support these children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with free, fun-filled creative programs and a lasting community. Pickles Group Pickles help support children affected by their parents or guardians cancer. Pickles Group creates thriving communities of kids supporting kids through and beyond their parent’s cancer journeys. Pickles kids strengthen resilience, have fun with friends who get them, and heal along the way. Take Them a Meal Provides meal planning service for caregivers, friends, and family. Family, Child & Elder Support Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Affordable Care Act (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) Find information on choosing a health insurance plan and the Affordable Care Act. A.M. Best Company Find insurance company ratings. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Find detailed information on Medicare and other health insurance programs for people over 50. 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277) American Cancer Society – Understanding Financial and Legal Matters Find information on financial topics. 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345) HealthWell Foundation The HealthWell Foundation is a national non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to insured Americans who struggle to meet their out-of-pocket costs for medical treatments. National Association of Insurance Commissioners Find your state's insurance commissioner. National Cancer Legal Services Network Find a directory of organizations that offer free legal help for people diagnosed with cancer and their families. National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Find the booklets “Understanding Your Health Insurance” and "Your Employment Rights." 877-NCCS-YES (877-622-7937) National Underinsured Resource Directory - Patient Advocate Foundation Find local, state and national resources for people who have insurance but struggle to pay out-of-pocket costs of care. 800-532-5274 Patient Advocate Foundation Offers financial assistance information and legal and advocacy help if an insurance claim is denied. 800-532-5274 The Catherine H. Tuck Foundation Offers financial assistance for personal expenses including rent, utilities and food, and transportation to and from cancer treatments. Triage Cancer Offers legal and practical materials in English and Spanish to help understand and compare your insurance options, what to do when you lose your insurance and work, and appeal denials of coverage. Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Co-payment Assistance Foundation - CancerCare Offers health insurance co-payment assistance for chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs. 866-55-COPAY (866-552-6729) Patient Advocate Foundation – Co-Pay Relief Program Offers financial assistance for prescription drug co-payments. Myriad Financial Assistance Program Offers financial assistance for genetic testing. Partnership for Prescription Assistance Offers low-cost and free prescription drug programs for people with limited income. 888-4PPA-NOW (888-477-2669) Quest Diagnostic's Patient Assistance Program Offers financial assistance for genetic testing. 888-4PPA-NOW (888-477-2669) Rx Hope Find an online directory of prescription drug assistance programs. Strings for a Cure Offers financial assistance for prescription drugs co-payments. The Pink Fund Offers financial assistance for health insurance premiums. Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Casting for Recovery Casting for Recovery offers free outdoor retreats for people in breast cancer treatment or recovery. Epic Experience Epic Experience provides free week long adventure camps for adult cancer survivors and thrivers. Epic Experience accepts all applicants 18+ no matter where they are in their cancer journey - whether it be in treatment or out of treatment for many years. Faces of Courage The “Women’s Cancer Retreat” is uniquely designed for women who are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, and/or survivors. First Descents Outdoor adventure programs for young adults impacted by cancer. Image Reborn Foundation No cost renewal retreats to those diagnosed with breast cancer and to support them in living rich and fulfilling lives. Little Pink Houses of Hope Little Pink Houses of Hope empowers breast cancer patients and families to live each day to the fullest, with direction, purpose, and hope for the cancer journey. We accomplish this through free, week-long vacation retreats. Living Beauty Cancer Foundation Wellness Retreats: single day or 4-day journeys that transport our participants out of the everyday challenges of coping with cancer into a peaceful retreat environment. Mary's Place by the Sea Mary’s Place by the Sea offers two unique wellness retreat options free of charge to women with cancer. MBC Travelers MBC Travelers empowers MBC patients through bucket list travel. Project Koru Camp Koru is a free outdoor, adventure, wellness, and community program that helps young adult cancer survivors (ages 19-39) find healing and renewal beyond cancer. Send It Foundation Send It provides outdoor adventures for young adult (ages 21-40) cancer patients and survivors, removing them from their cancer experience and creating the space to play, connect, and have fun in the outdoors. Shay's Warriors The I Am Hope Survivors Reset Retreat is a four day, three night experience for cancer survivors hosted in the beautiful Coachella Valley. The Breasties Camp Breastie: A four-day summit where hundreds of people impacted by breast and gynecologic cancer come together for community, patient advocacy, and education. Retreats & Experiences Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Affordable Care Act Since September 2010, the Affordable Care Act has required all new health insurance plans to cover yearly mammograms with no co-payment (co-insurance) for women ages 40 and older. In many parts of the U.S., low-cost or free mammograms are also offered through national programs and community organizations. FDA Each October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many imaging centers offer mammograms at reduced rates. To find a certified mammography center in your area, visit the FDA website. Komen Affiliates Fund Komen Affiliates fund breast cancer education and screening projects in their communities for those who need it most. Find an Affiliate in your area to learn what resources are available. Komen also offers transportation services to and from cancer treatments, financial assistance for child care and elder care during treatment, and financial assistance for some medications, medical equipment, and lymphedema supplies. To help find low-cost options in your area, call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program Provides access to breast cancer screening to low-income, uninsured and underinsured women. Planned Parenthood Offers clinical breast exams and referrals for mammography (and any follow-up testing, such as breast ultrasound). Screening & Prevention (Mammograms) Top of Page Cancer Support & Community Identity & Population-Specific Support Travel & Lodging Assistance Family, Child & Elder Support Financial, Legal & Insurance Help Prescription & Treatment Cost Assistance Retreats & Experiences Screening & Prevention (Mammograms)

Breast Cancer Conversations You’re Going To Be On The Podcast! What’s Next? Preparing for Your Podcast Recording We are delighted to have you participate in our webinar, livestream broadcast, and/or on our podcast, Breast Cancer Conversations . This is a place where we talk about all things breast cancer. We highlight the personal experiences of those diagnosed with breast cancer, and we share educational content and resources from experts in the field. Physicians provide in-depth insights into the science and critical advances taking place in the industry. Now, let’s help you get prepared for the big day! What equipment do I need? Audio is everything. You have an amazing story to tell, and we want to hear it loud and clear! Speaking through your computer won’t have great sound quality, so please make sure you have good headphones or a microphone set up prior to our interview. Apple EarPods or any other brand of headset or microphone will do. We want to avoid feedback coming from computer speakers. You will not need any special software on your computer. We will email you a link to our browser-based recording platform, and all you have to do is click the link to join the studio! Please help us prevent interruptions and distractions by muting your electronic devices during the recording. Where should I record? We recommend finding a quiet room that has carpeting. Sound tends to bounce off of tile floors and large open concept rooms. It’s best to find a smaller room with rugs, carpeting, and sofas that can help absorb any audio feedback. We also recommend a room that minimizes distractions and/or interruptions, i.e., no people walking behind you or someone now deciding it’s the perfect time to empty the dishwasher. How do I join the recording studio? A link to our recording platform will be emailed to you in advance. Our team will also send you a calendar invitation for the agreed upon date and time with the link in the location field. Click the link, and you’re in! We will record both audio and video. Please allow one hour of uninterrupted time for our recording (unless otherwise noted). Media Release and Permissions By participating in the webinar, livestream broadcast and/or the Breast Cancer Conversations podcast with SurvivingBreastCancer.org, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions outlined in the Media Release and Content Permissions Policy. Please read these terms before submitting your podcast intake form . Get ready to add value to so many lives! Tell Us About Yourself First name Email address Upload your bio Upload your bio Instagram handle I agree to the terms & conditions I want to subscribe to the newsletter. Thanks for submitting! Submit Last name Phone number Upload your headshot Upload your headshot TikTok handle Podcast Intake Form By submitting the below form, you hereby give full consent to SurvivingBreastCancer.org to use all recorded video and audio content and submitted documents and photographs for, but not limited to, our social media, advertising, newsletters, website, printed materials, and public relations, and without limitation, reservation, or compensation. SurvivingBreastCancer.org reserves the right to edit content. Please share your social media handles if you would like us to tag you when the podcast is shared on our social media.

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Everyone's breast cancer experience is different. People respond differently to treatment and even make different decisions based on their own personal preferences. We also understand that breast cancer extends well beyond the person who is diagnosed. It touches all aspects of life including family members, friends, and loved ones. Sharing your experience not only helps others looking for connection, but it is also therapeutic for YOU! Unpacking everything you have been through, expressing your concerns, questions, fears, successes, and celebrations can help you make sense of the cancer experience. Moreover, it shows those in our SurvivingBreastCancer.org community that they are not alone and that we are stronger together! Looking for examples? Explore our breast cancer survivor and breast cancer thriver stories here . We also are building out resources for moms, daughters, spouses, and more, so be sure to check back often. Need help with topics and ideas? We have guidance and recommendations for getting started located below the Submission Form. Before submitting content, please read the Media Release & Content Permissions Policy . By submitting content, you are agreeing to the terms outlined in the policy. What personal information I should include in my story? You are free to share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with. Think back to when you were diagnosed- what information were you looking for? What do you wish you would have known? A few things to consider sharing (but not required) include: Age of diagnosis What was your diagnosis (type, stage)? Did you have chemotherapy, and if so, which drugs were you on? Did you have surgery? If so, what type, how did you make that choice, and/or were lymph nodes involved? Did you have radiation? If so, how many weeks? Were you on any experimental trials? How did they go? Are you taking any hormonal therapies, and if so, which drugs? You are always welcome to also include your email, if you would like survivors to email and connect with you directly. If you do not want your name included with your story, you can always let us know if you prefer to be anonymous. What topics should I cover in my story? You are welcome to share on a variety of topics. Express your own experience. Share topics that you think would be helpful for others to understand. Utilize your story as a means of catharsis. A few examples (but not limited to) include: What was life like before your diagnosis; what changed the most? What you expected chemotherapy/surgery/radiation to be like vs. what it was actually like for you The top 10 things you wish you knew before starting treatment/surgery What was it like to lose your hair/other physical changes from treatment? What was the most helpful thing someone did for you? Did your eating habits/nutrition change during treatment? Do you experience fatigue/chemo brain? Tell us about managing work, home, and life balance while in treatment A day in the life of a survivor… What if I don’t like to write or journal? Are there other ways to share my story? Absolutely! This is a creative and open space for survivors and caregivers to share their experiences through a variety of expressive mediums. Feel free to share your story through journaling/ writing, poetry, music, art, movement, and more. You name it! You can always send us images to include with your story, or as a visual representation of your story. If you want support with editing any content, then just let us know. We are happy to help! What if I want to include pictures, or update my story at a later date? Not a problem! Just get in touch with us, and we can add photos and make updates at any time. Caregiver Stories Breast Cancer Stories Submit Content Stories. Poetry. Blogs Share your story, blog, article... First Name Email Paste your Submission Below or Link to a Google Doc: Attach image Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Social Media Handles (if applicable) I want to subscribe to the newsletter. I agree to the Media Release & Content Permissions Policy. View the policy. Submit Thanks for submitting! Last Name Upload File Upload your submission file Upload supported file (Max 15MB) You can also email your submission to us at info@survivingbreastcancer.org with the subject line "Blog submission." Read a story Read a story Read a story Read a story What information should I include in my caregiver story? Comfort Level is Key: You decide how much personal information to include. Reflect on what information you craved as a caregiver during your loved one's diagnosis and treatment and/or living with a terminal diagnosis. Sharing Options: You can share as much or as little as you would like about your own personal experience as a caregiver. What topics should I cover in my story? Have you ever been a “caregiver” before? Did your loved one’s diagnosis propel you into the role of “caregiver”? How has that impacted your identity? How has the caregiving role impacted your relationship with your loved one diagnosed with cancer? As a caregiver, watching your love one go through treatment is difficult. What do you do to take care of yourself during these challenging times? It is life-changing to hear that a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. What strategies did you incorporate to help you cope with this news? What is it like to witness physical changes when your loved one is going through treatment (surgeries, hair loss, weight gain, etc.) Do you have loved ones supporting you? Who do you lean on? Alternatively, who do you wish you could lean on? Tips for open and honest communication about your loved one’s cancer and prognosis, and your role as a caregiver. Self-care strategies for caregivers to avoid burnout. Managing work, home, and life balance while your loved one is in treatment. Connecting with other caregivers who understand your challenges. Support systems for caregivers. A day in the life of a caregiver. Finding moments of joy and hope throughout the cancer experience. Organizing medications, appointments, and other logistical support for your loved one. What 3 tips (or 5 tips) would you give to a new caregiver whose loved one was just diagnosed with cancer? What if I don’t like to write or journal? Are there other ways to share my story? Not a writer? No problem! Share your story through a variety of other mediums: Poetry Music Art Video (contact us and we can help capture the recording!) Can I Visual Storytelling: You can include images to accompany your story (photos, art, etc.). Contact us for any necessary corrections or changes to your story. Consider sending in a follow-up story to share your updates with the SBC community! Share your story as a caregiver Share your story, blog, article... First Name Last Name Email Submit Thanks for submitting! Social Media Handles (if applicable) Paste your Submission Below or Link to a Google Doc: Attach image Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Upload File Upload your submission file Upload supported file (Max 15MB) I want to subscribe to the newsletter. You can also email your submission to us at info@survivingbreastcancer.org with the subject line "Blog submission."

We provide free breast cancer events, programs, and webinars to support breast cancer patients and survivors. Explore our supportive community events today! Surviving Breast Cancer provides breast cancer events, support, and webinars at no cost to you! Whether you are looking to gain more knowledge on a particular topic or meet up with other breast cancer survivors, we have something for everyone. Supporting you, every step of the way Learn More and RSVP for Upcoming Events & Programs (Click here for Programs in Spanish) Multiple Dates Meditation Tuesday for Self-Care Tue, Apr 07 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Inflammatory Breast Cancer Support Group (IBC) Online Meetup Thu, Apr 09 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates All Stages Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers Thu, Apr 09 Zoom More info RSVP Multiple Dates Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing Mon, Apr 13 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Expressive Writing with Thomas Dooley Mon, Apr 13 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path Tue, Apr 14 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Yoga Stretching for DIEP Flap Tue, Apr 14 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Early Stage Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers Thu, Apr 16 Zoom More info RSVP Multiple Dates Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Support Group with Nancy Gaulin, PsyD Thu, Apr 16 Zoom More info RSVP Multiple Dates Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery Fri, Apr 17 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Restorative Yoga: A Monthly Journey Into Calm, Comfort & Inner Healing Mon, Apr 20 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path Tue, Apr 21 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates The Caregiver Huddle Tue, Apr 21 Zoom More info RSVP Multiple Dates Triage Cancer: Medicare Made Simple: A Guide for First-Time Enrollees Wed, Apr 22 webinar More info RSVP Multiple Dates Stitch & Share: A Mindful Crochet Gathering Wed, Apr 22 Online Event More info RSVP Open Mic Poetry Night Wed, Apr 22 Online More info RSVP Multiple Dates Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer Fri, Apr 24 Online Event More info RSVP Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Facilitator Training for Support Groups Sun, Apr 26 Virtual More info RSVP Load More Breast Cancer Events & Support Curated For You Upcoming Events April 2026 Today Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 29 30 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing 31 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path 1 10:00 AM ACCESS: an 8-week breast cancer cohort program +1 more 2 7:00 PM Early Stage Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers +1 more 3 4 5 11:00 AM Breast Cancer Book Club – A Monthly Escape Into Stories, Connection, and Joy 6 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing +1 more 7 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path +1 more 8 9 7:00 PM Inflammatory Breast Cancer Support Group (IBC) Online Meetup +2 more 10 11 12 13 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing +1 more 14 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path +2 more 15 16 7:00 PM Early Stage Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers +1 more 17 10:00 AM Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery 18 19 20 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing +1 more 21 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path +1 more 22 1:00 PM Triage Cancer: Medicare Made Simple: A Guide for First-Time Enrollees +2 more 23 7:00 PM All Stages Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers +1 more 24 10:00 AM Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery +1 more 25 26 5:00 PM Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Facilitator Training for Support Groups 27 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing +1 more 28 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path +2 more 29 8:00 PM Tai Chi & Qi Gong for Breast Cancer Thrivers 30 7:00 PM All Stages Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers 1 2 3 11:00 AM Breast Cancer Book Club – A Monthly Escape Into Stories, Connection, and Joy +1 more 4 10:00 AM Meditation Reflection The 8 Steps of Buddhism - A Path to Healing +1 more 5 10:00 AM SBC Well-Being Club: Finding Peace on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path +2 more 6 6:00 PM Guided Hypnosis for Breast Cancer Thrivers & Caregivers +1 more 7 7:00 PM Early Stage Breast Cancer Support Group | Thursday Night Thrivers +2 more 8 10:00 AM Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer 9 Download the calendar MONTHLY CALENDAR Breast Cancer Awareness Month Make an Impact TODAY TODAY TODAY TODAY Inspire. Empower. Support. Donate Join Our Breast Cancer Awareness Month Silent Auction! We are thrilled to be launching our silent auction which will run untill Friday, October 25. You can check out amazing travel packages including glamping at the Grand Canyon, tickets to the Kentucky Durby, two nights at a hotel to see Cirque Du Soleil and more! Explore all of the auction items and Bid For Good!

Looking for a distraction from treatment? Join our Breast Cancer Book Club for great reads and greater support from other breast cancer patients and survivors. Breast Cancer Book Club Where we read books that have nothing to do with cancer! What we are reading this month: Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss The Breast Cancer Book Club™ is a monthly virtual book club for breast cancer patients and survivors. Unlike the traditional support group, where breast cancer is the usual topic of discussion, this book club is designed to take our minds OFF of cancer, while still providing opportunities for support and connection! When do we meet? The Book Club meets the first Sunday of every month at 11 am ET. You are welcome to join each month or pick and choose your month based on your availability and the book we are reading. How do I know what book to read? During our Sunday virtual Book Club, we will announce the next book the group will be reading. Once announced, the information will be published on our website. You can purchase the book and join the discussion the following month. If you want to plan ahead you can access the list of upcoming books. Membership Membership is free! Those who join the Breast Cancer Book Club™ are encouraged to follow our Instagram Account as well as get involved in the weekly discussions through our private online group. How do I sign up ? It's easy! Each month, we will have that month's book club published on our Event's Page . Just RSVP and you will receive the zoom link to attend the meeting. Join Us the First Sunday of Each Month 11:00 a.m. Eastern Multiple Dates Breast Cancer Book Club – A Monthly Escape Into Stories, Connection, and Joy Sun, May 03 Zoom Meetings See All RSVP Looking Ahead At each gathering, we reveal the next book selection for the upcoming month to create a sense of surprise and anticipation. However, we also understand that reserving books from the library on short notice can be challenging. If you’d like to plan ahead, you can view the list of upcoming book selections below. Explore Looking Back Curious about the books we've read before? You can check out our list of past books below! Explore Support Our Book Club! Your donation enables us to provide books to those diagnosed with breast cancer at no cost to the patient. We firmly believe in access to services and resources and breaking down those financial barriers. thank you for your support. DONATE TO THE BOOK CLUB Frequently Asked Questions: Join the Breast Cancer Book Club Community~ Membership FREE Come Join Us The First Sunday of Every Month at 11 AM ET

Explore volunteer opportunities to support breast cancer initiatives. Your time and professional expertise are appreciated in spreading awareness and support. There are so many ways you can help someone diagnosed with breast cancer. Donate Now Start A Fundraiser Your Actions Give Hope Education Request Brochures Request brochures to distribute in your local community, in the schools, at health fairs, or at your doctor's offices. Spread the Word Contact Us Too many people are diagnosed with breast cancer year over year. No one needs to suffer alone. Help spread the word about our community, programs and free services and how you can start an SBC chapter in your area. Attend A Health Fair Let's Chat Volunteer to represent SBC at an upcoming health fair in your area! Become a Peer Advocate Contact Us Join our volunteer team of breast cancer advocates. Advocates provide necessary peer to peer support to SBC members who are newly diagnosed. Volunteer or Intern with SBC If you are a College or Graduate student, you may be eligible to earn credit for your internship with SBC. When applying to a role, please be sure to mention you are interested in earning credit and we'll set up time to speak with you about the process! Your experience becomes someone else's guidebook! Pay it forward. Share your experience. Help to develop local resources in your area for the SBC community! Contact Us Become a local SBC ambassador You Are An Expert Of Your Own Experience

Free resources for your cancer paitents. SurvivingBreastCancer.org provides weekly support groups, art therapy classes, movement classes and so much more. Free Programs in English Download the Brochures From Art Therapy and Expressive Writing, to Yoga & Meditation SBC provides the complementary care your patients deserve. Free Programs offered in English & Spanish Download the Flyer From virtual meet-ups to art therapy and webinars, our programs provide proven emotional support to assist your patients undergoing breast cancer treatment Free Educational Webinars Download the Flyer Offered in both English & Spanish, SBC provides educatoinal content through our livestreaming webinar series. Breast Self-Exam Tips Monthly breast checks are critical to detecting changes. Learn how to perform a breast self-exam with our tips! Download now Classes, Webinars, LiveStreams, and More! Order Materials For Your Office Looking for bulk flyers and brochures to put in patient packets or distribute at upcoming health fairs? We have you covered. You can shop at our store and we kindly ask for a donation to help support the cost of printing and shipping. Order Now What Sets Us Apart Our Story Download Flyers for your Office, Clinics, and Patient Packets Empowering Resources for your patients! Refer a Patient Download Brochures Building Strong Connections Through Online Support Groups All Stages. All Subtypes Download Flyers Join Our Medical Professionals Mailing List First name* Last name* Email* Company name Address Submit Refer Your Patients Let us bring hope and joy to the patients you serve. Looking to have a patient join one of our free online support groups, have them attend a workshop, or request a care package before your patient starts chemo or has surgery? SurvivingBreastCancer.org is here for you! Submit the Patient Referral Form below and we'll take it from there! Learn More Join Join Our Medical Professionals Mailing List Thanks for subscribing!

How to support someone with cancer can be a daunting task. Knowing what to say to someone with cancer, or how to support them can be hard. This is the ultimate caregiving guide that supports the caregiver and enables that person to be the best they can be to support a loved one, spouse, and friend. Support for caregivers: Support for caregivers: Support for caregivers: Support for caregivers: Resources, tips, and community for those caring for a loved one with cancer. Resources, tips, and community for those caring for a loved one with cancer. Resources, tips, and community for those caring for a loved one with cancer. Resources, tips, and community for those caring for a loved one with cancer. Your loved one has just been diagnosed? Supporting Your Loved One Through Cancer prioritizing self-care to maintain your own well-being and be a source of strength for your loved one. A Caregiver's Guide to Breast Cancer Multiple Dates The Caregiver Huddle Tue, Apr 21 Zoom See All RSVP Are you a caregiver? Share your story Hear from the voices that inspire us to keep on going... William's Story Introduction In the middle of a lovely, sunny, late summer walk along the beaches of Boston, my partner, twelve months into treatment for breast cancer, looked up at me and opined: “This has been the worst year of my life”. My response was immediate: “I must wholeheartedly disagree, I feel that this has been the best year of your life”. She looked at me like I had two heads and inquired about my meaning. I elaborated with a thoughtful smile, “You have just beaten breast cancer”. This conversation aptly summed up my role as a breast cancer caregiver. Closing - Managing Expectations In closing I’d like to suggest that a caregiver remain focused on the job at hand and manage expectations. Don’t try to do to much. Recognize what you can do, perform your due diligence so that you can assist in the discussion and decision making. Remain positive and inspirational and as helpful as positive. But remember it’s a long haul and you, and your patient, will need to count on each other throughout the ordeal. Encourage Optimism, Avoid Negativity A final anecdote: during the middle of a particularly depressing spell, I suggested that we go for a bicycle ride to get her out of her environment. As usual we went too far (40 miles total that day) and her depression was kicking in. So about thirty miles into our ride we stopped and took a break. After rehydrating and fueling we were able to get up and return the last 10 miles to our condo in Boston. Months later she asked how I was able to help her overcome her severe and scary depression on that particular ride. She told me her thoughts bordered on taking irrational actions. I told her that I remained focused on the positive and didn’t offer up any psychological rationale about dealing with her extreme sadness and potentially deleterious behavior. She then asked me “how did you know how to respond” and my answer was simply to reaffirm the healthful, positive aspects of our lives, which always returns us to our code during times of trouble - KGH (keep going hard). Characteristics of Caregiving There are many characteristics of life as a caregiver. The support that one provides to a cancer patient/survivor includes many of the following: emotional, physical, intellectual, financial, social, spiritual, nutritional, and motivational aspects to name just a few. But you are never alone. There is help and assistance everywhere. I found the following links to be quite helpful in coming to terms with my role as a caregiver. https://www.cancercare.org/tagged/caregiving http://www.breastcancer.org/community/acknowledging/caregivers From diagnosis and onward the responsibilities associated with caregiving kick in. There are meetings and discussions with your oncological and surgical teams. Options and alternative courses of action are proffered and weighted. Decisions have to be made in short order so it’s best to prepare yourself ahead of time by performing as much due diligence as you can. Do your research on the various options as spelled out by your care team. Once a course of action is agreed upon and plotted, take particular care to stay on top of developments, i.e. scheduled appointments, pain/emotional management, medications, coordinating and communicating information to the extended caregiving family, and helping with chores. At all times, be aware that you are there to assist the patient. This isn’t about you. Involve yourself with the patient’s emotional issues. You do not need to be a medical professional. Common sense and responding through the lens of caregiving should provide you with enough tools to deal with the myriad emotions that arise, such as fear and depression/sadness. There are many support groups that you can reach out to, including hospital care groups, psychiatrists, social/media pages, https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/ #survivingbreastcancer The Social Perspective Together we went out on a limb and informed all of our friends, both in person and through social media of the diagnosis. We also discussed it with our local area restaurant staff and work out circles at the YMCA, to eliminate any fears of considerations/communications from friends and associates regarding her cancer. Remember, the patient will be going through both emotional and physical changes, but still will want to resume enjoyable activities like date nights or walking on the treadmill as much as possible. We found that discussion opened many doors of kindness, friendship, and offers of help. Long Term Breast cancer remediation and treatment is a long-term commitment. Be cognizant of the fact that you too, as a care giver, need help and support, and quality time as well. Don’t try to do it all. Involve others, either extended family, or friends, or even medical support groups. Remain flexible. Due to the constant changing nature of recovery, from chemotherapy, to surgery, radiation, additional chemotherapy (if necessary) and follow up hormonal treatments, you may find yourself faced with multiple patient fronts. Side effects of the treatment are varied and include hair loss, water weight gain, physical breast alteration, depression, exhaustion, lymphedema, foot and mouth issues, to name several. Prepare yourself as best as you can to prevent the above from adversely affecting you in your role. It’s ok for the patient to be tired and sad. It’s also ok for the caregiver. I found comedy and music (movies, TV, radio) to be a great relief as it tends to change the narrative. Finding Strength, Sharing Support This group offers a safe and encouraging environment to find strength, share burdens, and gain valuable insights from others walking a similar path. The Caregivers Huddle: Join now Articles Supporting your loved one through cancer involves empathy, communication, and practical assistance. Read the following blogs to learn more about caregiving. Podcasts Discover podcasts on caregiving for insightful discussions, practical tips, and emotional support.Listen to experts and caregivers share experiences, strategies, and encouragement to navigate the challenges of caregiving with compassion and resilience. Caregiver & Patient Programs Are you caring for a loved one with breast cancer? We understand the challenges you face, and we want to support both of you on this journey. Join our tailored programs designed for breast cancer patients and their caregivers. Multiple Dates Yoga Stretching for DIEP Flap Tue, Apr 14 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery Fri, Apr 17 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Restorative Yoga: A Monthly Journey Into Calm, Comfort & Inner Healing Mon, Apr 20 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Tai Chi & Qi Gong for Breast Cancer Thrivers Wed, Apr 29 Online Event More info RSVP

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Surviving Breast Cancer offers guidance on sex after breast cancer, helping survivors navigate intimacy, relationships, and emotional healing. Breast Cancer & Intimacy Sex After Breast Cancer In a previous blog and podcast we opined on the difficulties of maintaining relationships with loved ones, family, spouses, partners, etc. following a breast cancer diagnosis. Now we look at the adversarial effects of breast cancer towards sexual intimacy. Many, although not all, women find that breast cancer treatment, I.e. surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, estrogen eliminating hormonal therapy, severely hampers intimate sexual relations. Poor self image, physical exhaustion, painful treatment, and emotional distress all tend to weigh in negatively regarding sex drive. But overall recovery from breast cancer is partially dependent on overcoming the above referenced issues and participating in warm loving sexual acts. Sex can thus play a pivotal role. As we have mentioned in previous posts, single women who have been diagnosed worry how breast cancer will affect their relationship prospects, and also about how and when to tell those prospective lovers about their condition. The most uncomfortable stuff to talk about is probably your sex life and the changes that have taken place with your illness. You may not know what needs fixing or how to fix it, but you know things are different. Many women report having less sex than before their illness, for several reasons: • The breast cancer experience slows down your body. It takes longer to do lots of things, including getting interested in and starting and finishing sexual intercourse. • Sex may be uncomfortable or even painful if you've been thrown into sudden onset menopause. No surprise that you tend to have less sex, for now. Many women may have had little or no sex from the time of diagnosis through treatment. Most people have wild ideas about what goes on in other people's bedrooms. Give yourself a break: The carefully researched book Sex in America (by Michael, Gagnon, Laumann, and Kolata) tells us that Americans have a lot less sex than the movies, television, and the guys in the locker room would have you believe. The averages reported in that book are: • seven times a month between ages 30 and 40 • six times a month between ages 40 and 50 • five times a month between ages 50 and 60 For people over 60, the numbers continue to decline. But although you may assume that no one in their 70s and 80s has a sex life, that's just not so. Don't let the myths about other people's sex lives get in the way of what's happening in yours. And remember that there are exceptions to every pattern. If your sex life is not working the way you want it to, your doctor or nurse may be able to referee these issues with your partner and you. You can cue your doctor in advance, since he or she has most likely already touched on delicate issues with you. Maybe he or she can be the tour guide for the two of you. If your partner is there when you talk with the doctor who's managing your care, you and your partner both get a chance to air and dispel fears, and replace myths and false information with facts. Help from a pro Not all doctors and nurses are comfortable discussing sexual issues and practices. Most doctors don't routinely ask about your sex life. And patients don't usually begin to discuss their love life with a doctor who hasn't mentioned it. Nobody's talking! Someone has to break the pattern. A trained social worker, sex therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can help you open up communication with your partner and get around to talking about intimacy and sex issues. A support group may be more helpful than you might realize. Women in these groups often share advice that extends to the bedroom, including ways to increase sexual pleasure that are explicit and specific for women who've had breast cancer. Meeting needs in other ways Most marriages have problems that don't get fixed. Marriage is a package deal, and in marriages that work, the good things outweigh the bad. But as a survivor, you may find that breast cancer highlights the problems in your marriage. Can you live with those problems? Can you enjoy your marriage even as you contemplate what's missing? Can you capture the missing pieces in other ways? Give serious thought to your needs and how to meet them. Other ways to meet your needs: • Fantasy can enrich your life. Countless women read to fill the vacuum (romance novels are enormously popular). • Join a book club, a church or synagogue, or a group that meets to discuss investments, movies, or local politics. • Do more with individual friends, like walking, shopping ("retail therapy"), or travel. • Make a bigger deal of birthdays and anniversaries. • Expand your involvement in community or spiritual activities. • Get politically active in the breast cancer movement: camaraderie for a cause close to your heart. Having a serious illness almost always takes some kind of toll on your sex life. But breast cancer can bring all thoughts of intimacy and sexuality to a screeching halt. Treatments can bring on temporary -- and sometimes permanent -- premature menopause, making intercourse painful. Chemotherapy and radiation often lead to crushing fatigue. You may want to stay in bed, but you don’t want to use it for anything but sleep. The medications you take, as well as the emotional effects of the disease, can lead to depression. And of course, from the changes wrought by surgery to the hair loss and puffiness of chemotherapy, breast cancer can have a devastating effect on your body image and your ability to feel sexy. The sexual side effects of breast cancer can linger long after treatment stops. A 2007 follow-up report on young breast cancer survivors, conducted by researchers at the University of California-Berkeley, found that some women reported persistent sexual difficulties five years after their treatment had ended. And according to the National Cancer Institute, about one out of every two women who’ve undergone breast cancer treatment experiences long-term sexual dysfunction. That’s the bad news. But the good news is there is sex after breast cancer! > Sex and self-image Breast cancer changes the way you see your body. “Women sometimes feel very disconnected from their bodies when they go through this,” says Jean Carter, PhD. Carter is a licensed psychologist and the sexual health counselor for the sexual health program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “Your body’s been through so much and it’s worked to get well,” she says. ”But there have been sacrifices.” One thing you need to know early on is that your partner still finds you attractive and desirable. That’s rough on the days when you look in the mirror and can’t imagine ever feeling sexy again, much less looking sexy to someone else. It’s important to prepare yourself and your partner for what you’ll see. If you haven’t yet had surgery, ask your breast center if they have photographs of women after the kind of surgery you’ll undergo. Look at them with your partner and talk about what to expect. There's no denying that the sexual side effects of breast cancer can linger long after treatment is over, but there is sex after breast cancer. Lumpectomies, Mastectomies, Breast Reconstructions and Thoughts on Body Image. It was created by women in a cancer survivors’ group at Penn State. “The way your partner looks at your incision for the first time,” says Lillie Shockney, RN, “you’ll remember that forever.” Shockney is administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center and a breast cancer survivor herself. “If he has no clue what to expect and has a puzzled look on his face, the woman may interpret it as ‘He thinks I’m ugly, he thinks this is awful.’ Showing photographs can take the surprise away.” Communication is important. Talk with your partner about what you’re comfortable with, and what you’re not. “Both partners may be waiting for the other one to make the first move,” says Shockney. “She’s waiting for him to tell her he wants sex, and he’s waiting for her to touch him.” Your partner may be afraid of hurting you, or afraid that you’ll think he’s pushing you to have sex when you’re not ready simply by asking about it. If your breasts were major erogenous zones for you before surgery, you may be feeling particularly bereft after a mastectomy or even a lumpectomy . Shockney suggests taking the pressure off by exploring and discovering other areas of your body, rather than trying to “force it” in areas where you still have performance or body image issues. “For some women, the diminished arousal in areas of a newly constructed breast or scar tissue might serve as a painful reminder that their sex life has changed,” Shockney says. Instead, think of areas like shoulders, ears, and knees as new hot spots for intimate touch. If you’re still not comfortable with your new body, that’s what lingerie is for! There’s nothing wrong with getting a little help. A soft, satin nightie can be sexy and arousing. At the same time, it can help to conceal areas you’re still shy about. Or you can get even more creative. “I asked a patient to try using a feather boa to help her feel sexy, and at the same time keep her scars from being so evident. She loves it!” says Shockney. “It’s all about finding what you’re comfortable with.” Coping with changes But even as you get comfortable with the “new you” in the mirror, other parts of your body may be causing you problems in the bedroom. You may go through temporary menopause because of chemotherapy. Or if you have estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, you may be taking hormonal therapy that can leave you in a menopausal state for years. The resulting vaginal dryness and other symptoms may make it painful to even think about having sex. “A lot of women I see are afraid to have sex,” Carter tells WebMD. “They’re really struggling. And it’s a shame, because there are wonderful, simple strategies to improve your sexual experience that, taken together, can work wonders.” Vaginal moisturizers. These aren’t lubricants, which are meant to be used during sex. Instead, they’re like the moisturizers you use on your face and hands, to benefit the tissues themselves. “They’re introduced as a suppository into the vagina adding moisture back into the vaginal space and giving it that natural elasticity,” says Carter. “It’s meant to be absorbed, and it helps the vagina to have more health and moisture for several days.” Lubricants. You definitely still want a lubricant for use during intercourse, says Carter. But lubricants should be combined with regular, ongoing use of vaginal moisturizers for best results. “If you’re feeling a rubbing or burning sensation during intercourse,” Carter says, “you don’t have enough lubrication. If it’s a stretching , painful sensation like the skin is going to split, you don’t have enough moisture.” Exercises. The classic Kegel exercises -- tightening and releasing the sphincter muscle as you do when you urinate -- that so many women use during pregnancy are also great for making intercourse easier. “If intercourse has been painful,” Carter says, “you may tighten up in anticipation of the pain. If you do Kegels right before intimacy , you fatigue the vaginal muscles and it is more open.” Vaginal dilators. A sex therapist, like Dr. Carter, can teach you how to use these dilators, which help gently stretch the vaginal tissue. Over and over again,” Carter says, “I’ve seen women who are completely hormonally deprived be able to have comfortable, enjoyable intimacy by using these strategies. A lot of the time, it’s so easy to fix. It astonishes me how often women come into my office and ask, ‘Why didn’t anyone tell me this? Shockney advises her patients to shake up their previous sexual habits. She tells them they may have been a silent player in bed before. But now she wants them to speak up. She tells them, “Say, ‘This feels good. This doesn’t feel good.’ Don’t rely on grunting for him to figure it out. That’s not the best way to communicate.” She also tells her patients, “If you’ve never watched an x-rated movie, try one -- just one. It may jump-start things, and you’ll be amazed at how active you’ll become. Or try various sex toys. So what if you never did these things before. You never had breast cancer before, either! I’ve had women come to me and say ‘I thought my sex life was great before, and then I thought I was going to lose it. But now it’s better than ever. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE -People who refuse aspects of therapy including radiation. -What to expect when going in for radiation-Planning appointment -What is radiation and why would I need it? -Radiation and skin care -Proton Beam Radiation (the science behind protons; a number of clinical trials exploring proton beam radiation in the breast cancer community to minimize cardiac toxicity). -Risks association with radiation, but we still sign the consent. As a young breast cancer survivor, I ask Dr. Jimenez to explain the 10, 20 and 50 year plan for women who go through treatment. HEALTH RISKS -Cardiac toxicity -Field of cardio oncology partners and have mapped out the ideal -Herceptin and anthracyclines. After 5 years of survivorship, you should have a cardiac stress test. -Getting a baseline with an ultrasound of the heart so if there are changes, doctors can track them. -Our job (in Radiation Oncology) in follow up is to open up and make sure that referrals are made. How is your nutrition? Are you exercising? Did you schedule your next mammogram? QUOTES: "Your providers are your providers for life". "You are never a bother, it is our job and privilege to take care of you! " What's the Difference between Diet and Nutrition? On Breast Cancer Conversations, the Podcast Listen Now Looking for more ways to support your healing journey? View Programs

Apply for a Scholarship Fund a Scholarship SBC Educational Scholarship Program Education Is Empowerment. Community Is Healing. Each year, SurvivingBreastCancer.org awards Educational Scholarships to individuals impacted by breast cancer — providing access to national conferences where learning, connection, and transformation happen. Why This Matters While metastatic breast cancer is lifelong, this program provides short-term relief during high-intensity treatment periods — ensuring responsible stewardship while delivering meaningful, timely support. Increased confidence in treatment decision-making Improved understanding of metastatic and early-stage care Stronger peer-to-peer support networks Decreased isolation among participants Participants returning home feeling informed, connected, and empowered How To Apply Applications open annually and will be published on this website and announced in our weekly newsletter. Scholarships are available to individuals diagnosed with breast cancer and we encourage individuals who have not previously attended these conferences and who are involved in our SBC community to apply. Application Cycle: Applications are now open for the Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) Conference on MBC. What Scholars Receive Conference registration Shared accommodations A Visa gift card to assist with travel, meals, and incidentals Pre-conference connection with other SBC scholars Post-conference integration support through SBC programming Apply Conferences our SBC Scholars have attended include: Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) Conference on MBC The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) Summit The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) If you are living with breast cancer and seeking education and community, we encourage you to apply. Fund a Scholar When you fund an SBC Educational Scholarship, you are not simply covering a registration fee. You are funding: Health literacy Confidence in medical decision-making Peer connection Emotional resilience Leadership development within the survivor community $1,500 sponsors one full scholar experience at a 3-day conference $3,000 sponsors one full scholar experience at the week long SABCS symposium. " The SBC Educational Scholars Program is invaluable. SBC is providing an amazing opportunity to breast cancer survivors and advocates by offering this kind of financial support." ~Megan B. Donate Today

For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2019, it's estimated that about 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be br Know the Stats Get the Facts Understand your risk. Understandng Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Statistics Breast Cancer Symptoms Risk Factors Genetic Testing Breast Density About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. About 2,650 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2021. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833. About 43,600 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2021 from breast cancer. Death rates have been steady in women under 50 since 2007, but have continued to drop in women over 50. The overall death rate from breast cancer decreased by 1% per year from 2013 to 2018. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances and earlier detection through screening. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer. As of January 2021, there are more than 3.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2021, it's estimated that about 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers. Breast cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021, accounting for 12% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in Black women than white women. Overall, Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer. For Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women, the risk of developing and dying from breast cancer is lower. Ashkenazi Jewish women have a higher risk of breast cancer because of a higher rate of BRCA mutations. Breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. began decreasing in the year 2000, after increasing for the previous two decades. They dropped by 7% from 2002 to 2003 alone. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk. In recent years, incidence rates have increased slightly by 0.5% per year. A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it. About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to known gene mutations inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. On average, women with a BRCA1 mutation have up to a 72% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. For women with a BRCA2 mutation, the risk is 69%. Breast cancer that is positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations tends to develop more often in younger women. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. In men, BRCA2 mutations are associated with a lifetime breast cancer risk of about 6.8%; BRCA1 mutations are a less frequent cause of breast cancer in men. About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are sex (being a woman) and age (growing older). References American Cancer Society. How Common Is Breast Cancer? Jan. 2021. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html . American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Breast Cancer in Men. Jan. 2021. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer-in-men/about/key-statistics.html . American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2021/cancer-facts-and-figures-2021.pdf . Reuters. Breast cancer overtakes lung as most common cancer-WHO. Feb. 2021. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-cancer-int/breast-cancer-overtakes-lung-as-most-common-cancer-who-idUSKBN2A219B . National Cancer Institute. BRCA Gene Mutations: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing. Nov. 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet . American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change. Sept. 2019. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/breast-cancer-risk-factors-you-cannot-change.html . Breast Cancer Conversations A WEEKLY PODCAST Where we talk about all things breast cancer. Hear from medical experts, learn about the latest treatments, listen to stories from those diagnosed with breast cancer and be inspired by visionary #cancerpreneurs , advocates, and more! Privacy Policy © 2022, Registered 501(c)(3). EIN 82-2953427 Contact us info@survivingbreastcancer.org 5 Cedar Street, Boston, MA 02119 Never miss a beat. Stay connected with SBC on Social for daily updates, news, and information! Follow Us Programs & Events Movement Mondays Breast Cancer Book Club Thursday Night Thrivers Meetup Healing Through The Arts Expressive Writing Featured Resources for Newly Diagnosed Living with MBC Children & Adolescents Families Caregivers Men's Breast Cancer Physicians

Privacy Policy This document was last updated on February 21, 2020, Privacy Policy: Survivingbreastcancer.org is committed to maintaining privacy protections for its users. This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which www.survivingbreastcancer.org (the “Organization”) collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of the http://www.survivingbreastcancer.org website ("Site"). For purposes of this agreement, “Service” refers to the Organization’s service which can be accessed via our website at www.survivingbreastcancer.org in which users can find educational resources. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Organization. “You” refers to you, as a user of Service. By accepting our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, you consent to our collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. 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The Carfang Group presents eleven issues that will change the financial world.  We call these the “Megatrends”.  This article presents the eleven megatrends and invites your feedback and discussion.  Subsequent articles will explore each of these in detail. Megatrends in Treasury, Money and Banking Megatrends in Treasury, Money and Banking Anthony J. Carfang, The Carfang Group Innovation, technology, regulation and geopolitics are intersecting and are about to change the face of treasury, money and banking as never before. Issues that appear small or incremental today could be seismic in the longer term. As markets, institutions and governments deal with these cross-currents, we could be witnessing the beginning of a transformation on a grand scale in finance. In this series, The Carfang Group presents eleven issues that will change the financial world. We call these the “Megatrends”. This article presents the eleven megatrends and invites your feedback and discussion. Subsequent articles will explore each of these in detail. These are the eleven Megatrends which we believe will reshape our financial world over the next decade. Central Bank roles are scaled back. Asset Managers overtake banks. Deposit Banking diminishes in importance. Deposit Insurance becomes universal. Private Liquidity Funds emerge as a major asset class. Technology disintermediates the intermediaries. Truly immediate payments eclipse “faster payments”. 20th century institutions and structures are realigned. Currency takes on a new role. Alternative currencies gain acceptance. Solutions for the underbanked take shape. About the author: Anthony J. Carfang is Managing Director of The Carfang Group and has a distinguished background in consulting, writing, speaking, thought leadership and advocacy in the area of treasury, payments and liquidity. He encourages you to provide feedback on this article or any other issues to tony_carfang@carfang.com . You can follow Tony at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carfang/ Central Bank roles are scaled back. To receive a pdf version of this white paper, email tony_carfang@carfang.com ." Central Bank roles are scaled back. Without question, many central banks functioned superbly during the financial crisis in the dual roles of lender of last resort and payment guarantor of last resorts. They forcefully took on powers necessary to prevent a worldwide depression. Instead of reverting to their historical role after the crisis abated by 2011, they continued to function in crisis mode and now seem to have taken for themselves an entirely new mandate of economic support. We believe that this will come under close scrutiny over the next decade and the missions of central banks world-wide will be scaled back. Consider the following “last resort” moves that remain in place ten years post-crisis: Central bank balance sheets remain at levels which make them THE dominant players, distorting the financial markets rather than merely facilitating those markets. Securities on their balance sheets now stand at $23 trillion, up from $4 trillion pre-crisis. The Federal Reserve began paying interest on bank excess reserves in a not so subtle effort to inject capital into banks and to fund its swollen balance sheet. Long after the crisis, it still pays market interest, thereby competing for private capital while quashing the intrabank Fed Funds market. Operation Twist was a specific program designed to lower long term rates relative to short term rates. Many of these OT securities remain on the Fed balance sheet, impacting the shape of the yield curve today. Quantitative Easing and Quantitative tightening are direct attempts by central banks to impact growth levels, still ongoing today, and are not a direct part of their mandate. Combined, these activities distort the important market signals that are necessary in robust markets. Central bank roles will come under close examination. The debate will be intense but healthy. Should central banks be limited to their "first principles" of currency stability and lender of last resort? Or should they proactively manage world economies? We expect a tilt back toward the former. Asset Managers overtake banks. Commercial banks have historically been the primary conduit through which depositors and borrowers clear the market. Most individuals and businesses maintain bank accounts to facilitate transactions and savings. Similarly, for individuals and all but the largest businesses, these banks are also the primary source of loans. Asset managers, on the other hand, provide investment management services primarily by deploying their investors’ capital via the secondary markets. That is abruptly changing in ways that are just beginning to emerge. We believe that over the next decade, asset managers will overtake banks as the primary financial institutions in both the retail and wholesale markets. Commercial banks, long the dominant market players, saw their competitive advantage sharply curtailed following the financial crisis. They became subject to SIFI supervision, Basel III’s liquidity requirements, tiered capital requirements and much more. Over the past ten years, total assets of the largest banks have been relatively flat. Asset managers not subject to these requirements, in particular the largest three companies, have grown enormously. The “Big 3” have nearly tripled in assets since the crisis and are now larger than the largest commercial banks. We expect that these supersized asset managers will be able to muscle into all aspects of the commercial banking franchise and radically alter the playing field. It is true that commercial banks enjoy the dual monopolies of deposit aggregation powers and payment settlement finality. However, technology will diminish those advantages (see below) to the point at which they cannot overcome their regulatory, capital and liquidity burdens. Deposit Banking diminishes in importance. The centuries-old deposit banking paradigm will not disappear anytime soon. But we believe it will radically change in the near future, creating significant winners and losers among financial and payments institutions. Deposits have long served two primary functions. They were a buffer to mitigate the uncertain clearing time for payments and they served as a repository for savings on the part of individuals who did not have direct access to the institutional markets. Rates paid on transaction deposits were negligible but that was part of the offset for transaction costs. Rates paid on savings were more competitive but slightly below market, given that banks provided the only way for retail savers to earn any return at all. Even today, banks aggressively compete for deposits across most wholesale and retail segments. Yet we believe this model is about to change as the cross currents of technology and regulation play out. On the transaction front, with faster (instant) payments will come greater certainty, leading to what we refer to as “just-in-time money”. In this new world, the need for a buffer vanishes. Fintech solutions will fund these accounts as necessary and will deploy all excess funds into the money markets. On the savings front, technology is eliminating the friction and transaction costs that stood in the way of savers directly accessing the markets. On-line brokers and internet banks are just the tip of the iceberg. Further, traditional commercial banks are saddled with Basel III related capital, liquidity and stable funding requirements that further erode their competitiveness. Deposits were once the holy grail of banking. That is about the change. Deposit Insurance becomes universal. Government insurance for bank deposits is a common safety net worldwide. By insuring a set level of deposits, governments boost depositors’ faith in the banking system and encourage capital formation. Banks are assessed premiums by the insuring government agency. These premiums are generally passed along to depositors in the form of slightly lower rates or higher transaction costs. At the onset of the financial crisis, the U.S. Congress raised the coverage amount from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor per institution, and that has not been rolled back during the recovery. Temporarily, the limit was removed altogether for non-interest-bearing accounts. Taking deposit insurance well beyond the safety net aspect, financial institutions and tech companies are partnering to expand coverage to all of a customer’s deposits. A depositor can place funds well above the $250,000 limit with a lead participant. A servicer will take that large deposit, break it into $250,000 units and place one unit each with other banks in their network. Some networks include over 1,000 banks, enabling a depositor to place up to $250 million in a single deposit and have the entire amount insured. While this might seem to be at odds with the spirit of deposit insurance, neither the FDIC nor Congress have taken steps to limit the rapid spread of these deposits that now exceed $1 trillion, one-eighth of the total insured deposit base. In fact, in 2018 Congress passed legislation that gave regulatory support to “reciprocal” deposits, a subset of these types of programs. Consider, then, the rapidly approaching scenario in which ALL deposits are insured and the resulting moral hazard. A thin layer of bank shareholder capital is the only source of market discipline. The government is on the hook for all losses. That asymmetry likely leads to outsized risk taking. Ultimately, the government will be forced to step in and de facto nationalize the banks. Bills have been introduced in Congress, most recently in 2018, to allow the US Postal Service to take deposits and make loans. This could be the logical conclusion of unlimited deposit insurance. If the government is bearing all the risks of the banking system, the logical conclusion is that it takes over the banking system. USPS banks could be the first step in that direction. Private Liquidity Funds emerge as a major asset class. Like private equity funds a few decades ago, which provided a way to circumvent public markets for long term capital, Private Liquidity Funds will circumvent the public markets to enable the efficient provision of liquidity to both investors and borrowers. Technology is enabling “just-in-time money” which will redefine “liquidity”. Sweep accounts are now available at low cost to most savers and investors. Funds can be fully invested right up to the day they are needed. Thanks to fintech advances, funds can be drawn down at precisely the time they are needed. At the same time, regulators in the U.S. and around the world have hamstrung money market funds that focus on private sector liquidity. In 2016, US regulators implemented regulations that reduced the viability of prime money market funds. Prime funds invested in commercial paper and other private sector debt instruments. Thus, both the providers and users of liquidity were penalized. The bulk of prime fund assets flowed into government and treasury funds and are no longer available to provide liquidity to businesses. Similar regulations are currently being implemented in Europe. Unfortunately, because of the dramatic scale-back of prime funds, the most efficient conduit between providers and users of liquidity has been significantly curtailed. The upshot will be an entirely new asset class. Some forward-thinking asset managers have already established the first funds of this breed. They are similar to the pre-regulation 2a-7 funds but are limited to institutional investors. However, we expect these to morph into an asset class that will ultimately look very different from the current funds (MMFs, SMAs and Ultra Short Bond Funds) and incorporate the redefined “liquidity” and facilitate just-in-time cash. Forty years ago, no one envisioned the current structure and transformative role of private equity funds. We believe a similar transformation is about to overtake the liquidity market. Technology disintermediates the intermediaries. Historically, banks and other financial intermediaries filled the information gap between suppliers of capital (depositors, investors) and users of capital. They also bridged the gap between risk takers and risk avoiders. Banks knew both sides of the trade and could comfortably stand between providers and users of capital who did not know each other. If a single bank did not know the counter party of a transaction, it could easily locate a correspondent bank that did. These intermediaries lowered the transaction costs and risks (friction) that separated borrowers from lenders. The result was the rapid global expansion of trade and commerce. Fintech is changing all that in five key ways: Technology is fast closing that information gap. It is putting more reliable and more up-to-date information in the hands of all the parties in any given transaction, reducing the need for an intermediary. Social networks such as LinkedIn and others allow buyers and sellers to connect and investigate each other directly. Peer-to-Peer networks and microfinance schemes bypass the financial intermediary entirely. Technology is powering broad based sweep programs that move excess funds out of even the smallest investor or depositor accounts, the intermediaries, and directly into the financial markets. Intelligent technologies, such as robo-advisors, use sophisticated algorithms to bypass the traditional channels. The upshot is that the intermediary role of financial institutions is being displaced. Truly immediate payments eclipse faster payments. Over the past several decades, payments have become faster, cheaper and more reliable. Checks used to take days in the mail and then days to clear once deposited. International funds transfers would pass through several banks, each taking a “lifting” fee as the funds slowly passed from originator to recipient. Fortunately, those days are over. Now, central banks, commercial banks and payment networks are all racing each other to make payments even speedier. This is all very good since timing delays in payments and the attendant information flows create risk and uncertainty as well as wreaking havoc with cash forecasts and liquidity cushions. In the US the Fed launched its Faster Payments task force with this statement: “The task force calls upon all stakeholders to seize this historic opportunity to realize the vision for a payment system in the United States that is faster, ubiquitous, broadly inclusive, safe, highly secure, and efficient by 2020.” Around the globe, the UK announced its Faster Payments Service in 2008. In 2017, the European Central Bank kicked off its TIPS program (TARGET Instant Payment Settlement) with the goal of “instant” payments 24/7 within the euro area. The Monetary Authority of Hong Kong launched the Faster Payments System initiative in 2018. No doubt, payments are becoming much faster, more secure and more universal. The benefits of these initiatives are immense. In faster payments, funds and information, however fast and efficient, must still flow between the originator, the originator’s payment processor and/or bank, a central bank, the recipient’s payment processor and/or bank before becoming settled funds in the recipients account with finality. Even the ECB, in its TIPS communique, defined instant payments as “a matter of seconds”. That is a huge improvement. However, as high-frequency traders and arbitrageurs know, “a matter of seconds” is an eternity in financial markets. We believe that there will be one more step beyond faster payments: truly immediate payments. These payments will settle instantly, anywhere, anytime. At present, it’s difficult to envision. Perhaps blockchain technology is providing us the first glimpse. This has the potential of eliminating the sequential process of moving money and information (however fast) among transactors, their intermediaries and their settlement network. Alternatively, the paradigm for instant payments might come from outside the industry. Consider this analogy with railroads. In the late 19th century, railroads competed with each other to provide faster, safer and cheaper options in moving both passengers and freight between two points. Yet, even in the heat of that competition, no one within the industry considered putting wings on rail cars. Ironically, most payment intermediaries today refer to their networks as “rails”. 20th century institutions and structures are realigned. Post-WWII, late 20th century institutions and structures are unraveling. But, because they are so ingrained in our psyche, these shifts seem incomprehensible. The magnitude and scope of their impact are difficult to assess. But we believe that this is a megatrend impacting Treasury, Money and Banking. Trade organizations and trade agreements are coming apart or are being realigned in material ways. To see just a few underway right now, look no farther than the Pacific trade agreements, NAFTA and the EU with Brexit. Countries are subtly shifting to bi-lateral rather than multi-lateral constructs. Structures are also giving way. SWIFT is caught in a tug of war between its nominal role as a funds transfer communication system and its externally imposed role of sanctions enforcer. LIBOR, the reference rate for several trillion dollars of actual debt and hundreds of trillions of dollars of derivatives is phasing out within the next two years. The financial world needs to be repapered! Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) are coming under scrutiny. Agencies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that provide government guarantees in order to meet a “social good” took shape following the early 20th century’s great depression. They have now grown into behemoths, and some lay the blame of the 2008 financial crisis at the doorstep of the housing GSEs. Although governments decried the size of these agencies and vowed to trim then, they have continued to grow since the crisis. Paradoxically, central banks need GSE to create the instruments that now sit on their swollen balance sheets. We believe that many of these agencies will be downsized over time. The 20th century financial and geopolitical world is changing, and all market participants must adapt. Currency takes on a new role. This megatrend is counter-intuitive, but the data are clear. For decades, we’ve heard that we’re moving toward a cashless society. One with everything on a card or in a chip. Not so. The evidence is that, over the last decade, currency in circulation as a percentage of GDP has nearly doubled worldwide. In the US, currency increased from $800 billion in 2006 to $1.7 trillion in late 2018. That’s hardly a cashless society. (Scandinavia is an exception we need to explore.) Central banks and academia are beginning to study this phenomenon. Some key hypotheses about factors contributing to this are currently being formulated. They include: Convenience – It’s easy to transact in cash. Low holding cost – In an ultra-low interest rate environment, cash is cheap. Privacy – Currency transactions (and barter) are the only types of economic activity that don’t inherently require a corresponding exchange of data. Historically, currency has defined the underground economy. We now see an emerging role for currency in the above-ground economy for market participants desiring and valuing privacy or anonymity. Store of Value – In negative interest rate environments we see in some parts of the world, there is actually an economic benefit to holding currency in order to retain value. More interestingly, in certain low interest rate environments, the low carrying costs, to many, seem like a small price to pay to hedge political or economic uncertainty. India is a fascinating case study in progress. In November 2016, India eliminated large denominated rupee notes that represented 86% of India’s currency. Citizens had the opportunity to exchange the notes for smaller denomination notes. The intent was to root out the underground economy and raise tax revenue. The ramifications were far reaching and still playing out. But Bloomberg offers one interesting conclusion: “Cash remains the most popular form of tender in India. Currency with the public has increased to 18.5 trillion rupees in August 2018 from 17.9 trillion rupees before demonetization.” That is a 3% increase in currency in spite of an 86% drop in large denominated notes! Again, economists at present are trying to understand the factors behind this trend. Obviously, however, this creates a nightmare for regulators and those managing monetary policy. The trend is both real and “Mega”. Alternative currencies gain acceptance. This megatrend challenges the definition of money itself – the gaining acceptance of alternative currencies including crypto currencies. In ancient times, post-barter, precious commodities were the prevailing instrument of exchange and store of value. These commodities had intrinsic value that resulted in their reliability and acceptance. The middle ages saw the emergence of fiat currencies. They had value because a government said they had value. The problem with pre-modern fiat currencies is that they could be easily debased. A ruling body could simply turn on the printing press. Current fiat currencies such as the dollar, euro, pound, etc. are much more stable than their predecessors. That’s because they are issued and backed by the full faith and credit of sovereign governments. They are managed with a “goal” of price stability by central banks. The track record is far from perfect and debasement examples abound, but it is certainly improved. Crypto technologies are now enabling a new genre of fiat currency: crypto currencies like bitcoin and others. They are not the product of precious metals or scarce commodities. They are not issued by governments (yet). They are not “full faith and credit” instruments. They are not managed by central backs. Proponents insist that this litany of “they are nots” is actually a benefit, not a shortcoming. Following the Subjective Theory of Value, crypto currencies have value because buyers and sellers believe they have value. They are fiat currencies without governments or central banks. Adherents argue that frees them from manipulation by governments or central banks and creates a universal value. Air-BnB, Uber and Lyft offer instructive examples. After all, who would invite a total stranger to spend a night in their homes or jump into a stranger’s car. A key thing these companies provide to the gig economy is a decentralized mechanism of trust (in contrast to the trusted “central” bank). In doing so, they have transformed industries. This could be the trajectory of certain crypto currencies. We believe that some alternative currencies will become mainstream. While they might not be both a universal store of value and medium of exchange, some might take hold as settlement vehicles for specific types of payments. Others, because of their distributed processing security, could be liquidity vehicles. Still others, because of their global nature, could eliminate the need for foreign exchange in global trade. We’ll explore the profound implication in later megatrend articles. Solutions for the underbanked take shape. 30% of the world’s population do not have bank accounts. Many more do not have access to a basic set of banking services. They must either transact in cash, barter or use third party payment services, which tend to be very expensive. Check cashing services, payday lending, money orders, money transfer services, etc. provide the underbanked with some ability to make payments, but at a high cost. The economic impact is significant. In addition to the direct cost that the underbanked pay to access the financial system, there is an even greater cost in terms of lost economic activity. The inability to easily transact reduces the level of transactions and depresses commerce and trade. Fortunately, new technologies could provide economically viable solutions for the underbanked in the three most critical financial functions: Payment system access – Currently, people and businesses need a bank account to initiate or receive payments. Solutions developed by payments intermediaries and enabled by blockchain will provide the underbanked with payment services, conceivably bypassing the banking system altogether. Store of value – Blockchain could become the system of record for certain types of financial assets. This promises to allow the underbanked to safely and securely accumulate financial assets without having bank accounts. Assets could even be denominated in traditional central bank currencies or in crypto currencies. Access to capital – Peer to peer lending and micro finance are already providing non-traditional access to capital for the underbanked. Technology will accelerate this trend and make these services available to a larger population. Bringing the underbanked into the mainstream of the world’s economies creates opportunities that are difficult to fully appreciate. Increased economic activity, improved standards of living, expansion of markets are just some of the benefits that await. In Conclusion , this paper has presented eleven megatrends impacting treasury, money and banking on a global scale. Some of these trends are natural extensions of technological innovation, others are regulatory work-arounds or the result of geopolitical forces well beyond the control of any single jurisdiction. The Carfang Group believes that each of these megatrends, individually, are transformational and collectively point to a potential radical change to the financial system. Future articles will consider each of these megatrends in greater depth. We welcome your feedback as we embark of this exploration. About the author: Anthony J. Carfang is Managing Director of The Carfang Group and has a distinguished background in consulting, writing, speaking, thought leadership and advocacy in the area of treasury, payments and liquidity. He encourages you to provide feedback on this article or any other issues to tony_carfang@carfang.com . You can follow Tony at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carfang/ © 2019 The Carfang Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Our breast cancer poetry lab is a space for patients and survivors to express their emotional journeys. Read from others' works and share yours! Breast Cancer Poetry Writing is a great form of therapy and healing. Enjoy the original compositions from our Survivingbreastcancer.org Community! Be Inspired. Submit Your Poem Expressive Writing How can we dial down the noise in our daily lives to listen to the story emerging within ourselves? In this interactive session, we will come together to reflect on the personal narratives that give shape and meaning to our lives and find community in the experiences we share. Multiple Dates Expressive Writing with Thomas Dooley Mon, Apr 13 Online Event More info RSVP Open Mic Poetry Night Wed, Apr 22 Online More info RSVP Multiple Dates Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer Fri, Apr 24 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer Fri, May 08 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Expressive Writing with Thomas Dooley Mon, May 11 Online Event More info RSVP 1 2 3 4 5 Welcome to the Poetry Lab Welcome to the Poetry Lab Welcome to the Poetry Lab Welcome to the Poetry Lab Dream Dream Dream Dream Create Create Create Create Express Express Express Express Multiple Dates Expressive Writing with Thomas Dooley Mon, Apr 13 Online Event More info RSVP Open Mic Poetry Night Wed, Apr 22 Online More info RSVP Multiple Dates Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer Fri, Apr 24 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Reflective Writing for Metastatic Breast Cancer Fri, May 08 Online Event More info RSVP Multiple Dates Expressive Writing with Thomas Dooley Mon, May 11 Online Event More info RSVP

A variety of breast cancer treatment options exist to help patients in their fight, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and hormonal therapy. Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment Options Chemotherapy, Surgery, Radiation & Hormonal Therapy When you meet with your oncology team, it is always important to remember that this is a partnership; a partnership between you and your doctors. It is ok to ask questions, to ask for clarification and to ensure you are 100% comfortable with your treatment options. Depending on the type of breast cancer you have (Triple Negative, Lobular, Inflammatory, etc. ), and the stage of your breast cancer, your treatment options will vary. In some cases people will start with chemotherapy, while others may have surgery first. In some cases, if your cancer has spread to the bones or organs, surgery may not be necessary. The point is, treatments vary, and if you read our breast cancer stories , you'll see the wide range of experiences our members share. What's the Difference between Diet and Nutrition? On Breast Cancer Conversations, the Podcast Listen Now Radiation Therapy Video Library Welcome to our Radiotherapy Video Library, where we provide expert insights, real patient experiences, and practical tips to help you navigate radiation therapy for breast cancer. Whether you're preparing for treatment, currently undergoing radiotherapy, or managing side effects, our videos offer clear, compassionate guidance every step of the way. Radiation Therapy: What Every Breast Cancer Patient Needs To Know | With Dr. Rachel Jimenez TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE -People who refuse aspects of therapy including radiation. -What to expect when going in for radiation-Planning appointment -What is radiation and why would I need it? -Radiation and skin care -Proton Beam Radiation (the science behind protons; a number of clinical trials exploring proton beam radiation in the breast cancer community to minimize cardiac toxicity). -Risks association with radiation, but we still sign the consent. As a young breast cancer survivor, I ask Dr. Jimenez to explain the 10, 20 and 50 year plan for women who go through treatment. HEALTH RISKS -Cardiac toxicity -Field of cardio oncology partners and have mapped out the ideal -Herceptin and anthracyclines. After 5 years of survivorship, you should have a cardiac stress test. -Getting a baseline with an ultrasound of the heart so if there are changes, doctors can track them. -Our job (in Radiation Oncology) in follow up is to open up and make sure that referrals are made. How is your nutrition? Are you exercising? Did you schedule your next mammogram? QUOTES: "Your providers are your providers for life". "You are never a bother, it is our job and privilege to take care of you! " Listen Now Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) with Dr. Rachel Jimenez and Dr. Kim Corbin. Listen Now Tales from the Radiology Tech Amy Ellen Parliman lives life by faith and enjoys spreading kindness. 26 years ago, she went to school to become a radiology technologist. She enjoys performing diagnostic imaging on her patients, she prides herself in safe and quality care. About 12 years ago she became a leader in her field and has moved into a leadership role in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. She worked in mobile imaging for 13 years, she recently changed jobs to reenter the hospital scene. She enjoys sharing her skills in diagnostic imaging with newer technologist. Her thoughts are to create an environment that is warm and inviting for patients during some of the worse times of their lives. She lives by a code to treat all of her patients like she wants her parents treated. Her goal is a smile or maybe a laugh while caring for her patients. Over the years she has been able to learn from her patients and team. On January 29, 2014 Amy became a Cancer patient. She underwent treatment for stage III breast cancer during 2014. She lived with NED until January 29, 2019 then she was told she had MBC. She is currently on her first line treatment. If the opportunity presents, she will share her various experiences of living after diagnosis. Listen Now Stories to Explore Tripple Negative Breast Cancer in your 20's and 30's >

A breast cancer diagnosis is life-changing for patients and their families. The SBC community will support you through every step of your treatment journey. Lifestyle & Wellness Resources Programs Content Library Podcast Download the App Subscribe to the Newsletter Make a Gift More Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Now What? What brings you to this website is most likely a breast cancer diagnosis. Perhaps you found a lump, noticed swelling or experienced pain; maybe you are awaiting test results; or you just heard the words that you've been diagnosed with breast cancer; or perhaps you are experiencing a recurrence. Whatever the reason, I want you to know that you will be supported and that our Surviving Breast Cancer (SBC) community is here for you! We are here to help! A breast cancer diagnosis disrupts our lives and throws us into a whirlwind of doctors appointments, follow ups, tests, scans, and the like. Each and every one of us have unique experiences, and what our SBC platform and community provides is education, support, and resources for you as a complement to your medical care. We are not medical professionals, nor provide medical advice. But what we do offer is content, stories, and community when you need it most! What I mean by that is you are welcome to dive in to absolutely everything we offer today, or, you can take bite size approaches to get the information and support when you feel ready for it. We've listed a few links and resources to help get you started and to hopefully make things a bit less overwhelming. Download. Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Download PDF Questions to Ask Your Radiologist Downlod PDF Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Download PDF Burning Questions Latest News Who Should I Tell? Learning that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer can set you into a whirlind of uncertainty and that is to be expected. There is probably a lot of information you do not yet know. At this time, you may want to start thinking about who you should tell. While this can also be difficult for loved ones, family, and friends to hear, you are actually in the process of cultivating your support team! Remember, you do not need to tell everyone all at once. Perhaps starting with close family, let friends know how they can help support you during this time. It is a personal decision on how private or public you want to be and completely your choice in how much information you choose to share. You may want to have seperate conversations with your children depending on their ages. We also recommend speaking with your medical team about your treatment options and getting a plan in place for when you may need to take time off from work or be out of the office. Should I Get A Second Opinion? You may consider receiving a second opinion from another medical oncologist or breast surgeon. In some cases, people get multiple opinions before making any decisions on their care and medical treatment plan. Women in our Breast Cancer Support Group often share that it is important for them to feel comfortable with your doctors; that there is a rapport and trust. After all, your medical team is going to be your primary caregiver throughout treatment so it is important you feel comfortable with the person, able to ask questions, and feel confident in your plan of action. Your Medical Care Team may consist of one or several of the following: Breast Oncologist Breast Surgeon Breast Plastic Surgeon Radiation Oncologist Social Worker Psychologist What Treatment Options Do I Have? Thanks to continued research taking place in Breast Cancer, people diagnosed today have a variety of treatment options and are able to live long healthy lives. Treatment options will be tailored to your specific diagnosis and dependent on the stage of your breast cancer (1-4) and it's characteristics. For example, is it HER2 positive or negative, is it triple negative meaning it is estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative and HER2 negative. Your oncologist will also take into consideration how advance the cancer is. During this phase you may be getting more tests and scans. During this phase, you may also consider genetic testing. Genetic testing is helpful for a multitude of reasons including helping to make surgery decisions. If you end of testing positive for a genetic pre-disposition to developing breast cancer, your surgeon may recommend a full double mastectomy. Traditional standard of care includes: Surgery (not always required if you are diagnosed with metastatic stage IV breast cancer, that is, your cancer has spread beyond your breast to your bones, lungs, liver, or brain) Radiation (not always required) Chemotherapy (not always required) Hormonal Therapy (not always required) Oftentimes people will also consider integrative therapies as a complement to the standard treatments which also has been shown to reduce some of the side effects of treatment: Acupuncture Yoga Meditation Additionally speak to your oncologist about Clinical Trials and if you would be a candidate. Will I Need Chemotherapy? Not everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will need chemotherapy. There are several factors that go into this determination and should be a conversation you have with your oncologist. For example, your doctor will take into consideration the stage of cancer that you have (i.e., stage 1, 2, 3, 4) and the characteristics of your tumor, (i.e., if it is hormonal positive or negative) etc. In some instances, chemotherapy will be an option for people prior to surgery. This is called neo-adjuvant chemo. Other times, chemotherapy may be prescribed after surgery which is referred to as adjuvant chemotherapy. . Join our community SBC offers a safe space to build community. We provide reliable information and offer what you most need during the diagnosis: understanding. English Español