For
Immediate Release:
September 25,
2007
For
More Information:
Liz Goliwas
Bodet, 504.897.1391
Duree
Ross, 954-723-9350
UNDERSTANDING
Genetic INFORMATION CAN Save Your Life,
SPECIAL
INTEREST CALENDAR EDUCATES ABOUT OPTIONS AFTER MASTECTOMY
EnCourage
Support Group to Feature Two Guest Speakers at October meeting
The
American Cancer Society estimates the chances of a woman developing breast
cancer in her lifetime is one in eight. Women with a family
history of breast or ovarian cancer, or other risk factors may have as high as
an 85% risk for developing breast cancer in their lifetime. In
2007, more than 178,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in
the United States. These cases will be
added to the 2 million women in the country with a history of breast cancer.
Approximately 10% of these cases will be caused by a hereditary predisposition
to breast cancer.
WHAT:
In recognition of National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, will focus its
October EnCourage Support Group meeting on life-saving information about
hereditary breast cancer and genetic testing: and quality-of-life-saving
information about women’s options for reconstruction. The guest speaker for this meeting, Alan Stolier, MD,
comments that “With the ability to now assess a woman’s risk of developing
hereditary breast and ovarian cancer there is no doubt that genetic testing
saves lives.”
Following
a question and answer session with Dr. Stolier, Sue Friedman, DVM, Executive
Director of FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer
Empowered), the only national nonprofit organization devoted to helping women
facing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer will unveil FORCE’s new 14-month
calendar entitled “Life is a Carnival” calendar@facingourrisk.org.
The 2008 calendar is a bold approach to mastectomy and breast
reconstruction education featuring photos of women, including Friedman, who had
breast reconstruction after mastectomy and those who didn’t. More than just a
calendar, “Life is a Carnival” is an intimate collection of real women
courageously sharing their bodies and their experiences to help others
understand their choices. The Center for
Restorative Breast Surgery is proud to be a major sponsor of the FORCE calendar
and other FORCE programming.
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 5:00pm – 7:00pm
WHERE: The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery - 1717 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
WHO:
EnCourage Support Group Members
Center for Restorative Breast Surgery Patients
Center for Restorative Breast Surgery – Chris Trahan, MD
Center for Restorative Breast Surgery Staff
Surgical Oncologist - Alan Stolier, MD
Sue Friedman, DVM, Executive Director of FORCE
(Sue
Friedman will be available for interview all day Wednesday, September 10)
One Model from the FORCE Calendar “Life is a Carnival”
--more --
Page
2 - Center for Restorative Breast Surgery
Sue
Friedman, DVM, Executive Director of FORCE — the only national non-profit organization devoted to
families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. FORCE provides
support, resources, and life-saving information for families whose lives are
touched by breast and ovarian cancer and to the health-care providers who serve
these families. As the only
national nonprofit organization devoted to this community, FORCE provides
programs and information to families and health care providers not available
through any other means.
The FORCE community includes survivors of
these cancers and women at high risk due to a genetic mutation or family
history. FORCE promotes information, education and awareness through its events,
programs and website at www.facingourrisk.org.
HOW:
To find our more information about EnCourage
Support Groups please call Katie at 504-899-2800.
Or for more information on Gene Testing or to schedule an
appointment for a Genetic Testing consultation contact the Center for
Restorative Breast Surgery at (504) 899-2800.
Calendars will be available for purchase at
the event for $15 each or $30 including a copy of The
Breast Reconstruction Guidebook, a FORCE-recommended comprehensive resource
on breast reconstruction techniques, issues and recovery. For more information
or to order, visit the FORCE website (www.facingourrisk.org),
contact
calendar@facingourrisk.org
or call 866-288-7475.
EnCourage
Support Group Meetings take place at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery,
1717
St. Charles Avenue.
Held every second Wednesday of the month.
Free and Open to the Public.
*Reservations
required, as space is limited.
Call
504.899.2800, 888.899.2288 or email Encourage@breastcenter.com
SERVICE
INFORMATION: Founded by Frank J. DellaCroce, M.D., FACS and Scott
K. Sullivan, M.D., FACS, the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery was
established to serve as a dedicated resource for women seeking the most advanced
methods of breast reconstruction utilizing the body’s own tissue. Drs.
DellaCroce and Sullivan specialize exclusively in state-of-the-art techniques (DIEP,
SIEA and GAP flap procedures) that allow for breast reconstruction without
sacrifice of important functional muscles. For more information about Center
for Restorative Breast Surgery please visit www.breastcenter.com
or call 1-888-899-2288. The Center
is located at 1717 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.