Silicon breast models will be displayed at our booth to help women learn what different sizes and types of tumors feel like.

Come visit the Maurer Foundation booth at Long Island’s largest business-to-business event, the Hauppauge Industrial Association-Long Island (HIA-LI) Annual Trade Show and Conference, which will run for its 25th year on Thursday, May 23rd. The conference will be held at the Suffolk Community College Sports & Exhibition Complex, located on the Brentwood Campus (off of Long Island Expressway exit 53), between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pre-register to avoid a $10 walk-in fee.

Maurer Foundation educators will be on-site to answer breast health questions, distribute information and offer breast self-examination demonstrations through the use of silicone breast models. Attendees can also sign up for the Alarm Clock examination reminder service, take home discreet self-examination instruction cards, learn about donation possibilities and more. The Foundation’s participation in this event supports our mission to promote breast health awareness, particularly on Long Island, and help save lives.

HIA-LI, dedicated to helping Long Island businesses prosper through networking, partnerships, information sharing and business advocacy, is hosting this event in collaboration with Suffolk County Community College. Sponsors from a variety of sectors will be participating in this opportunity to share information about their services, products and missions while establishing new relationships.

Want us to attend your health fair or conference? Contact us to discuss your upcoming event!

What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

In a nutshell, triple negative breast cancer is characterized by what it lacks: certain receptors on or within the cancerous cells that respond to estrogen, progesterone, or HER-2 (a kind of protein produced by a gene also called HER-2).

Most types of breast cancers do possess protein receptors that will respond to one or more of these three different proteins. You may have heard a breast cancer described as “ER-positive;” that simply means it has receptors in or on its cells that respond to estrogen. Similarly, PR-positive breast cancer cells are sensitive to progesterone, and HER-2 positive breast cancers respond to HER-2 proteins. A breast cancer that does not possess any of these receptors in or on its cells, and is therefore is not “positive” to any of these three proteins, is known as triple negative.

Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer is considered aggressive and is more difficult to treat than other cancer types.

When a cancer’s growth rate can be effected by estrogen or progesterone or HER-2 proteins, hormone-based therapies might be able to be used to slow or stop its growth.Triple negative breast cancer, since it is not sensitive to estrogen, progesterone, or HER-2, is not responsive to hormone-based therapies that can be used to combat other types of breast cancer. However, triple negative breast cancer can be treated with chemotherapy if necessary.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Statistics

Triple negative breast cancer is uncommon, with only 10-15% of breast cancers falling into this category. It is more common among younger women, African-American and Hispanic women and women with the BRCA1 gene.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Prognosis & Survival Rates

Triple negative breast cancer tends to have a worse prognosis than other forms of breast cancer. According to one 2012 study, women with triple negative breast cancer are almost three times as likely to die from their cancer than women with the most common forms of breast cancer. The same study reports women with triple negative breast cancer are 8.3 times more likely to die in the first two years of diagnosis than women diagnosed with other types of breast cancer. Cancer recurrence is also more frequent and happens earlier in those diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer can sound intimidating, and like all breast cancers, it’s scary. However, also like all breast cancers, the best defense against triple negative breast cancer is early detection! The sooner detection occurs and treatment begins, the better the prognosis will be. Monthly breast self-exams and yearly clinical breast exams or mammograms are essential in catching triple negative breast cancer at its earliest possible stage.

If you haven’t yet, sign up for our free Alarm Clock today, and never miss a chance to practice your best early detection habits against all kinds of breast cancer!

The news is troubling, but as usual, there’s much more to the story than recent headlines would have you believe. First of all, the new study does not suggest that breast augmentation causes breast cancer, nor does it show that implants make cancer worse. Instead, the findings have raised concerns among researchers that breast implants can make it more difficult to detect lumps and irregularities during mammograms.

Impaired visualization of mammograms can lead to false negatives, or instances of a woman being given a clean bill of health when she actually has a potentially cancerous tumor. Obviously, this is problematic. When the tumor is eventually discovered and diagnosed, the cancer has reached a more advanced stage. As we know, the best predictor of beating breast cancer is being diagnosed as early as possible, which is why The Maurer Foundation is dedicated to promoting early detection. This study suggests that implants can lead to delayed detection, which in turn would lead to lower breast cancer survival rates.

Of course, as with almost all breast cancer studies, more research is needed before we know anything for a certainty. The researchers conducted a meta-study to reach these findings, which means that they simply reviewed previous breast cancer studies that may not have been as concerned with the effect of implants. They caution that these studies were not intended to compare women with implants to women without them, and other important risk factors like obesity may not have been accounted for. There could be another explanation altogether for the higher mortality rates of the women in the prior studies.

However, while the explanation behind the results is uncertain, the numbers themselves are definitely cause for concern. The researchers found that women with implants had a 26% higher risk of being diagnosed at a later stage than those without, coupled with a 38% higher risk of death from breast cancer than those women without implants.

Given the threat to early detection, we are inclined to take the study seriously, and believe women should consider this potential risk when deciding whether to undergo breast augmentation. If you already have breast implants, make sure that your doctor is aware of them, and discuss the available options for alternative mammography and breast imaging techniques to make sure your screening is as accurate as possible. Be extra vigilant about completing your monthly breast self-exams, and consider scheduling extra clinical breast exams so a doctor is checking on your breast health multiple times per year, especially if you’re over 40.

Regardless of your implant status, early detection is the key to defeating breast cancer. If you have trouble remembering to perform or schedule these exams, sign up for our free Alarm Clock today for convenient email reminders! Don’t take a chance when it comes to your health.

The researchers used aspirin, a common anti-inflammatory drug, in lab experiments with mice and cancer cells in test tubes. They found that aspirin, when administered in a low dose for a long period of time, slowed the growth of cancer cells, shrank tumors, and stopped tumor cells from spreading to other sites. The effect even occurred in an aggressive type of breast cancer known as triple-negative breast cancer, which doesn’t respond to many kinds of effective treatments.

The findings are very preliminary, but offer hope that aspirin’s benefits are still being uncovered and may play a role in future cancer treatments. We already know aspirin can do more than alleviate a headache, from reducing the risk of prostate cancer to improving survival rates after diagnoses of colon cancer.

The new research suggests that, in the case of breast cancer at least, aspirin is effective because it seems to target stem cells. Stem cells, although more commonly discussed in terms of embryos, are also found in adults. Adult stem cells are, in the words of the National Institute of Health, capable of “dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive”. They have huge potential for growth and transformation, and are thought to be at the heart of why cancerous cells can spread so rapidly.

Aspirin may not just be useful in treatments, but the nature of the study raises the possibility that taking an aspirin daily may help prevent breast cancer in the first place. Obviously, this is very exciting news, but the research is still in its earliest stages, and you should certainly talk with your doctor before you start taking any medicine—even just plain old aspirin.

In the meantime, there are plenty of surefire ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer, from loading up on vegetables to finally quitting smoking. You certainly don’t need your doctor’s permission to make these healthy choices, starting today!

Maurer Foundation staff and volunteers after a fun day at the 2013 Flamingo Bowl.

National Volunteer Week is happening now! This annual observation acknowledges individuals, groups and non-profit organizations such as the Maurer Foundation who give their time and services in order to make a positive difference. People are encouraged to use this week as an opportunity to go out and do something meaningful through volunteer work, and we have plenty of ways in which you can participate!

Established in 1974 by Points of Light, National Volunteer Week recognizes the momentous value that volunteer service has in all of our lives. President Barack Obama passed a proclamation officially designating April 21-27 as National Volunteer Week for 2013, calling on Americans to take part in outreach efforts as ways to support one another.

Volunteers do more than contribute to select causes—they connect communities on a much larger scale, personifying the notion of people helping people and giving back. The Maurer Foundation thanks all of our volunteers whose work has assisted us in carrying out our breast health education programs, which have life-saving impacts on Long Island women.

Looking to get involved? Now is the perfect time! As we gear up for our 18th annual Golf Classic event on May 9th we have an even greater need for volunteers. Contact us to discuss ways in which you can be part of this charity outing.

Whether you are interested in helping with office work, contributing to our blog, or lending a hand with our fundraising activities, we have a variety of possibilities. Check out some of our volunteer opportunities and join us in our life-saving mission.

Photo courtesy of the Meadow Brook Club.

Calling all golfers, sponsors and supporters: The RSVP deadline to participate in the 18th Annual Maurer Foundation Golf Classic fundraiser is approaching! In order to tee up at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho on May 9th, golfers and sponsors are requested to register by Thursday, April 25th.

The foundation’s annual Golf Classic, making its first-ever spring season debut, includes a friendly day of golf, contests, awards, raffles, silent auctions, brunch, a cocktail reception and more. Tickets are $600 for individual players. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also available, serving as an excellent way to promote your business or brand.

This charity outing supports The Maurer’s Foundation’s breast health education programs, which provide women with valuable life-saving information instrumental in breast cancer prevention and early detection. Don’t forget that the Golf Classic also brings meaningful and unique Mother’s Day gift opportunities! Show mom how much you care—give back to all women by making a long lasting contribution as a player or sponsor, or by entering an auction or raffle.

Register online or contact us for more information or to discuss other opportunities to donate.

As a non-profit organization focused on breast cancer risk reduction, early detection and prevention, our mission is based upon helping and supporting women. By sponsoring or playing in the Golf Classic, which raises funds for our education programs, you will be supporting our life-saving commitment to breast health. While typical Mother’s Day flowers, chocolates and gift cards are always appreciated, a contribution to the Golf Classic charity event is a simple and thoughtful way in which you can give so much more.

Join us, either as a player or sponsor, in honor of someone special and we will send that person an acknowledgement. Register to attend the May 9th event, which includes a lovely day of golf as well as brunch, a cocktail reception, raffles and more. Bid on silent auction items that will make excellent gifts – among them are restaurant and spa gift certificates, jewelry, wine, Mets tickets, a VIP package to the Intrepid, golf foursomes, cosmetic baskets and a set of clubs!

This Mother’s Day, show the women in your life how much they matter to you by giving in a way that continues far longer than one day and goes well beyond fancy wrapping paper and bows. Through the Maurer Foundation, give the gift that keeps on giving; make a difference on a broad level by supporting programs that provide women with life-saving resources and information.

Smoking and breast cancer, on the other hand, is a less common pairing. That may change, however: an increasing volume of research is pointing to smoking as one of the several risk factors for breast cancer. It’s not just our lungs we need to worry about, and recent studies are showing that the younger a smoker picks up her bad habit, the higher her risk becomes.

The connection between lung cancer and smoking is obvious to most, but what exactly is the link between smoking and breast cancer? Tobacco—whether smoked, chewed, or exposed secondhand—is a carcinogen, a toxic category of substance that can cause or aggravate the growth of tumors. The carcinogenic cells found in tobacco are inhaled through our lungs, yes, but are then absorbed into our bloodstream. Once in the blood, they flow into other parts of the body, including the breast, where research suggests their presence increases the likelihood of cancer growth in an already tumor-prone area.

Although breast cancer statistics generally show a lower risk for women under 40, when smoking is concerned, youth is not an advantage. The risk of developing breast cancer is much higher when a woman starts smoking at a young age. Researchers believe when a woman starts smoking very early in life, her breast tissue is still developing, and thus more sensitive to the influence of these carcinogens.

Age isn’t the only factor at play. A certain part of the breast tissue called the epithelium will undergo even further development during a full-term pregnancy. The wonderful result of this development is a lower risk for breast cancer later in life. Unfortunately, this also means that if a woman starts smoking before her first full-term pregnancy (that is, before her breasts can complete their cancer-resistant development) the data shows that she is at a higher risk for breast cancer than if she had waited until after her child was born to pick up the habit.

This only serves to underscore a core belief of the Maurer Foundation: it’s not just women who need to be informed about breast cancer, but girls, and in their most formative years. Our youth breast health programs educate and empower young women to make the healthiest choices possible when they matter the very most.

If you agree, and want to help our mission of breast cancer prevention and education, contact us about hosting a breast health program in a school or organization in your community today!

This year’s Maurer Foundation Golf Classic, scheduled for May 9, does indeed fall a few days prior to Mother’s Day… but the event has an even deeper connection to the nation-wide tribute to moms. It gives back to all women by supporting our breast health education programs, which provide valuable breast cancer information, tools (like our early detection Alarm Clock) and resources pertaining to breast cancer detection and prevention. All proceeds from the Golf Classic fundraiser will go toward the Foundation’s efforts to equip women with this life-saving knowledge.

Educating women about breast cancer risk factors, myths and precautionary measures makes a far-reaching difference in helping our loved ones protect their own health. Our breast examination guidance, covering everything from the facts about mammograms to instructions for conducting a breast self-exam, can be the key to early detection and the greatest chance of recovery. Supporting the Golf Classic is one way to contribute to our programs and, in turn, do something meaningful for mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, friends and other special women.

Everyone who supports this event, whether they are participating on the golf course or simply providing a sponsorship donation, will have the opportunity to name a woman that they wish to register in honor of. Those individuals who receive dedications will each be sent an acknowledgment from the Maurer Foundation.

The event will be held at the beautiful Meadow Brook Club in Jericho and, in addition to a day of golf, will include brunch, contests and awards, raffles, silent auctions and a cocktail reception. Register online now!

This April marks the twenty-sixth annual Alcohol Awareness Month, a longtime effort to raise awareness and understanding about the disease of alcoholism, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism And Drug Dependence. Schools and community organizations across the country are sponsoring alcohol-awareness events and seminars all month, and we here at the Maurer Foundation wholly support this effort to increase awareness of the dangers of alcohol, especially given our shared goal of educating and empowering young people to make healthy choices.

One reason not to drink alcohol? It increases your risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer and alcohol have been linked in multiple studies, and drinking is now considered one of the most reliably demonstrated risk factors for breast cancer. Even alcohol consumption levels as low as a daily glass of wine with dinner can lead to a higher risk of breast cancer. Despite what we might hear in the news about red wine having positive health effects, those benefits do not apply to breast health.

Unfortunately, the research shows that all kinds of alcohol—in any amount—increases our risk for one of the types of breast cancer known as hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. This may be because alcohol increases estrogen levels, or because it damages DNA in our cells. We don’t understand the mechanics just yet, but we do know the risks.

In the spirit of National Alcohol Awareness Month, though, we want to focus on a specific high-risk behavior that is most common among the high school and college-age young women we speak with regularly during our breast health programs. Binge drinking, defined as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion, has been shown in some research to have an especially strong relationship with breast cancer. Beginning drinking at an early age, while the breast tissue is still developing, has also been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

As an organization devoted to educating and inspiring women, we believe that awareness of alcohol and its potential consequences is essential. In our breast health programs, we talk with young women about the risks of drinking alcohol, smoking, and obesity. Alcohol may be one piece of the puzzle, but it is frighteningly prevalent among our target audience.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention showed that binge drinking, which they also define as consuming five or more drinks in a row, is not uncommon among young women. One in five high school girls and one in four college-age women reported binge drinking in the past month. It’s safe to say that breast cancer is likely not on their minds when they consider the health impacts of drinking alcohol, but the choices they make today could impact their health for years to come.

Will you join us in recognizing National Alcohol Awareness Month and spread the word about alcohol and breast cancer to these young women? You could share this blog post on your Facebook page, make a donation, or request a breast health program in your school or community group. Maybe you can simply talk to an important young woman in your life about breast cancer and binge drinking.

How will you raise alcohol awareness this April?