Thinkstock.comFAST FACTSSomeone is diagnosed every 60 seconds with breast cancer and someone dies every 13 minutes.Breast cancer research has helped drive down breast cancer mortality rates by 34 percent since 1990.Current Komen Chattanooga grant recipients• The BeST for Tennessee Women Project - Serves women in Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties with a focus on serving 350 women with clinical breast exams and referrals for mammograms• Access to Breast Health Education and Mammograms - Memorial Healthcare - Serves women and men in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee; provides access to digital mammography on site in rural counties.• Promotoras de Salud Breast Cancer Program - Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership - Serves Latino women in Whitfield and Murray counties by providing services to indigent Latino women.• Smart Breast Health - North Georgia Healthcare Center - Serves women and men in Catoosa, Walker, Whitfield, and Murray counties with the Memorial Mammogram Coach along with Battlefield Imaging.
Thousands of area residents will gather at Finley Stadium today to continue a 15-year tradition wrapped in shades of pink. The 2014 Komen Race for the Cure focuses community attention on the spectacular success of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and support services while celebrating thousands of stories of survival.
Much has been accomplished in our affiliate's 15 years. The inaugural race in 1999, planned by a dedicated group of local running enthusiasts who supported a local breast cancer survivor, Chris Pressley, brought the beginning of Komen to the Tennessee Valley. Even through a relapse of Pressley's breast cancer during the planning, this core group kept the mission alive to bring Komen to the Chattanooga community.
From the first grant of just $45,000 put back into the community to the largest grant amount of more than $348,000, Komen Chattanooga has remained clear on what matters - saving lives of those who need help right here in our 16-county area.
Since 1999, Komen Chattanooga has put more than $2.9 million dollars to work right here, an accomplishment not possible without your generous support.
Komen Chattanooga operated for 10 years before establishing an office here. As part of the Komen family, the Chattanooga affiliate operates as an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The affiliate has a signed agreement with the national office to operate using the trademark ribbon and brand name.
The Chattanooga affiliate is among 116 across the United States (there also are nine international affiliates).
Several years ago, Komen found itself in the midst of a mighty media storm after the national office leadership decided to suspend funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. That decision angered Komen supporters all across the country, prompting many of them to pull their donations. Every affiliate was affected. With great effort and a singular focus on raising money for prevention, screening, research and community advocacy, most, including the Chattanooga office, are regaining lost financial ground.
There are two important points to remember about this controversy. First, Komen Chattanooga has never funded Planned Parenthood and does not have a relationship with that organization here. Komen Chattanooga has not ever funded Planned Parenthood and neither has any Tennessee affiliate of Susan G. Komen. Second, Komen was created to assist women and men who need help to receive life-saving services. If we focus on our mission, then Planned Parenthood is not a factor. We believe where a person lives should not determine whether they live.
Komen generates the money it distributes to various service providers with fundraising, such as the Komen walk today. When we organize our race, we are educating, fundraising, and celebrating all at the same time.
Thanks to the efforts of Susan G. Komen we have more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors. Every surgery and treatment option as well as screening changes made in the past 32 years have been touched by Komen dollars. Your dollars. Komen Chattanooga contributes 25 percent directly to research. And the Komen organization is the largest funding source to research outside of the federal government. We monitor money we put to work to ensure the dollar is doing exactly what it is intended for. The organizations that receive our dollars are top notch and have met many strict requirements.
We still have work to do. There are more than 32 types of cancer, and we know breast cancer can mutate into other forms of cancer. We know breast cancer cells are smart, devious and sneaky. They can hibernate and change to another cell type and then turn themselves "on" to become cancer somewhere else.
Nationally, we are beginning to work on rare forms of breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer and triple negative breast cancer. We are developing specific resources for very specific needs. The Komen affiliate is committed to including everyone battling breast cancer - whatever kind.
For that reason, Komen continues to fight. We are determined to find the cure; we will not stop until we have one. Many breast cancer organizations have sprung up but they are not all the same. Some are purely educational, some are purely research, and some are purely support for survivors. We are all of that and more.
I encourage anyone to reach out to us to find the resources you or a family member or friend will need. We have resources to help family members and children to cope with the disease.
We consider a woman or man a survivor the minute they hear the diagnosis because the person is going to fight for survival and many will win. We support survivors throughout their journey and we will not leave anyone behind.
We urge survivors to educate everyone about the importance of keeping an eye on their breast health - male or female. They are the best voice for our mission. But we need everyone to help - with time, expertise, and as important, your donations so that we can continue to out money back into the community where it is needed most.
The need is real, the need is immediate.
Karen Edmondson is executive director of Komen Chattanooga affiliate.