May 5, 2026 • 31 mins
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition reminds you that May is “Mammo May,” a month dedicated to ensuring women can access free or low‑cost mammograms.” www.pabreastcancer.org
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia MOUs. This is Insight, a presentation of iHeartMedia,
where we really do care about our local communities and
all our listeners who live here. On this Mother's Day today,
I would like to begin the program by honoring a
woman who, like many of us, is a mother and
a grandmother. She's also the woman who, after receiving a
truly frightening health diagnosis back in nineteen ninety three, went
(00:22):
on to establish an organization that has been described as
a bonfire of survival, visibility, and advocacy for women and
their families all over Pennsylvania. The woman I choose to
honor is Pat half and Murphy. She's the founder and
president of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Joining us today
are Jennifer Pensinger, Executive Director and Natalie Copp Communications Director
(00:46):
of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Having so long a
side of Pat for many years, these two remarkable leaders
continue to shape the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition into a
powerful voice for survivals survivors. Excuse me and their families, ladies.
First of all, Happy Mother's Day. Your chance to run
(01:07):
away from them before you know no, that's the best
job in the world being a mom.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I can't. I mean, you know, I come blind sometimes
you think I'd like to send you back, but you can't.
You gotta live with the light.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
I want to talk about Pat, but I want to
ask you, as I said, you girls have been working
with for quite a long time. I don't think people
truly realize who this woman is.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And she just never gave up.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
She found out she has stage three breast cancer, right,
and at that time she realized there wasn't support for
women in any way.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So cake it. Girls.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Then what happened, Well, I was saying, I mean Pat
has always been on the forefront of women's issues and
then you know, something as personal as breast cancer hits
her and she just sees that there's just nothing there
and has the unique role as you know, a senior
member of Governor Casey's staff, that she can make impactful
(02:12):
change and hasn't stopped since.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well, I know, I was reading about, Uh, these are
the kind of women where they she I remember when
she Michelle Richards coming in here a lot, and it
was like, grit your teeth, get this done. We will
do whatever it takes to get this done. We don't
care how many hours who we have to talk to.
We're getting it done.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
And she did, she sure did, and I think you
know her. Her whole goal is to give women who
are diagnosed with breast cancer a voice, and I think
she's still doing that, removing the stigma associated with having
breast cancer, because there was a stigma when we were
founded in nineteen ninety three.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Look at that. I can't believe that. Why would there be?
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
We have people not even telling some of their family
members that they were diagnosed with breast cancer. And then,
you know, look how far we've come where it is
something that really connects people, brings them together, effort.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
We know what to It not only impacts the woman
who's going through it, the whole family on it.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Absolutely, it's it's absolutely a family issue. I mean, you,
the mom and the woman is typically that support system.
And then when something's happened in that key area, you know,
we're the whole family rallies around. But then the whole
family has to, you know, handle all of the dominoes
that come along with that breast cancer diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
I remember my mother didn't pass from that, but I
remember my dad was one of the you know, he
was the boss and anything. But but when my mother
passed away, everything fell apart, including my dad. You know,
we don't give women enough credit for not only in
the workplace what they do, but they do while they're
(03:52):
taking care of children and parents and husbands and everything else.
And Pat has children too, and she's been she'd lost
her husband one of children too. I don't know how
you get through that, but she somehow did this because
she didn't want women to go through what she went through.
You have some major initiatives that she set up. Talk
(04:14):
to me about girls at any anytime, please just jump in.
First of all, education and advocacy. What does the Breast
Cancer Coalition do.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
One of our first programs that she really started was
a conference because she wanted something to bring women together.
So one of the very first things that she did
was start to have a conference and invite women from
all across Pennsylvania to come and network with other survivors
and get education on that and that sort of thing.
So that was one of our that's one of our
(04:44):
big first programs. And then in addition to our sixty
seven women sixty seven counties facing breast Cancer in Pennsylvania.
Photo exhibit which has been traveling the state since nineteen
ninety seven, is that right nineteen ninety seven, still going,
which features one woman from every county who has been
touched with breast cancer and their story and a photo,
w a quote, and then we go all across the state.
(05:06):
We've been to every county but two, I think at
this point all so sixty five of the counties.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Right when pact first starter, what was the biggest reason, Well,
you said there's there's a stigma attached to it, but
it wasn't covered by insurance?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Was it?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
A lot of different things were not covered.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, and that's the major thing I would like to
talk to her impact as far is what she has
been responsible for doing.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
I mean, yes, we could we could fill an hour,
I think with all of the accomplishments of pat and
the legislation that she has championed. Just a few things,
you know, mammograms beginning at age forty covered, reconstructive surgery
covered because, believe it or not, at one point was
considered cosmetic. Breast density notification letting women know what their
(05:56):
level of breast density is because, as we know, if
you have dense breasts. Dense breast tissue looks white, so
does cancer on a mammogram, and so you may need
additional screening and imaging if you have very dense breasts.
So that's something that's an educational effort right there. A
lot of a lot of women didn't know they had
a dense breast tissue last time.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
What that meant.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
A few years ago when she was in here, she
talked about and I said, Pat, I have dense breasts.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
She said, so did I. Yeah, And we don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
We think you know that if it's there, they'll find
it and it hides sometimes, right like, just like you said,
So that's a big deal, it is.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And then it kind of rolled right into that was
kind of phase one. And then you know, we had
a legislation that would cover screening, supplemental screenings that if
you needed those to monitor what's going on, and then
diagnostic imaging, which is Act fifty two of twenty twenty five.
Both of those last two pieces of legislation, you know,
(06:53):
in partnership with Senator Kim Ward Senator Frank Ferry, just
some of the things that are being in iplemented now
is the no cost diagnostic imaging they're working on being implemented.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You had any menion.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Excuse me, I'm sorry you had mentioned about the conference.
You're having it again this October. I think it's the sixteenth,
right at the hilt, and it's always at.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
The help thirty. It is, yes, Tuesday, the thirteenth, thirteenth. Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
One of the things that you talk about there, but
that pat has been response before is raising so much
money for research. Yes, and those are aren't they? The
grants are given out that thing.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So we give out the grants actually in uh January
through March, we go to each institution and this year
we gave out five one hundred thousand dollars grants. We've
given out over six point six million dollars since we started.
I mean, that's it's the only way we are going
to get to that cure and get better treatments. I mean,
there's so many breast cancer types at this point that
(07:50):
we know of and without adequate treatments for them, we
you know, we really we need that to help women survive.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Who's it open to It's in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Only, right, Yes, so's it's Pennsylvania researchers who are really
working to get their innovative ideas off the ground here,
so where you support basic bench research before they get
those multimillion dollar grants. It kind of bridges the gap
between an idea and those larger grants and then hopefully
eventually a clinical trial or targeted treatments that could develop
(08:24):
from these ideas.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
What has come out of this anything that you can talk.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Of, Oh yes, I mean I can cite a study
that's going on right now at Penn that's studying dormant
cancer cells. So for example, after you've been diagnosed for
breast cancer. From diagnosed with breast cancer, there are some
cells that live in there. They're kind of like sleeper cells,
and they're studying what makes those cells activate and recur.
(08:48):
That's just one of the studies. We've funded, some AI
studies imaging in Pittsburg that are moving into next phases.
Those are just some of the recent things. I'm sure
I'm missing some.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, and the AI studies are really fascinating to see.
You know, it's not having AI take over, but can
AI assist a radiologist in spotting something that maybe the
average eyes don't see on a dense breast, but that
it just highlights things for the radiologists to look at
that they might have missed. And it's fascinating the way
(09:21):
that the technology is improving and the treatments are improving.
Just in thirty years. I mean, we now know breast
cancer is not one disease, it's multiple types. That you know,
between triple negative breast cancer and all the different HR
two positive breast cancers that you know, those different types
require different treatments, and that there's no we're really moving
(09:44):
into an age of personalized medicine. It's no longer one
size fits all.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
And hopefully fewer side effects with these treatments as they
get more targeted.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Not just usually you grows just like pat you live this. Yes,
there's so much more. I'm not finished talk about what
I ask about. But what's it been like being part
of an organization like this? It's changed so many lines?
My goodness.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Well, I think every day is different but also inspirational.
You know, we have our headquarters in Lebanon, and women
walk through the door every week and we get them
a care package and we help them with everything from
finding a wig that they need to educating them about
(10:30):
what maybe, like I mentioned, those side effects that they
may be going to experience, how they can find financial assistance,
and we have a director of Patient Advocacy who's been
working for a long time who helps those things. But
I think it's amazing to see the resilience of women,
in the strength of women we have to be who
(10:53):
and the community that they form within themselves. We have
grassroots partners who inspire us because they want to support
what we're doing, and then bringing it back to those researchers.
I think some of the most inspirational moments we have
are going to into the research lab and seeing how
they have dedicated their entire lives to trying to find
cures for this disease.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
And what brought you to cares over the times that
you've been.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Oh gosh, I would say, talking to the different women
and survivors and hearing their stories, and then just again
the women and the families that we get to meet
along the way that become friends and you know, extensions
of our family, and just seeing so many people coming
together to unite for something that's so important, I mean,
(11:41):
and that's kind of even with the legislation end of
it too, where we've had so much success in really
making impactful and meaningful change because the legislators are able
to see that it's not a partisan issue, it is
something that affects thank their families. It's something that we
all get behind together. And even Senator Ward has been
(12:03):
so gracious in saying, you know, it's not a red issue,
it's not a blue issue, it's a pink issue, and
we're all going to get behind it. So that to
me has been really kind of It's like, this is yes, please,
and there's so much division right now, but there's something
that everybody can get behind and get together and that
it's really been meaningful over the years. And a lot
of it though, is talking to the survivors and hearing
(12:25):
their stories.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And in figures, one impact has the Breast Pascer Coalition
had on women in Pennsylvania, Like how many women now, okay,
let's talk about the fact that some women can't afford it.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We'll guess what.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Now they can get a free one. How many women
have taken advantage of that?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Oh, that is a huge number. And that's thousands every year.
That yeah, that get activity. And that's actually one of
the easiest questions we have. If you don't have insurance
and neda mammogram that we can solve pretty much instantly.
We can get we can get well.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
In some cases, you can provide them with whatever they
need to have their treatment, right.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's true.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yeah, So Pennsylvania Department of Health has the Breaston Cervical
Cancer Early Detection Program, so that's where they would go
to get ATMA mcgramman. And if they find something and
they need follow up testing, that's covered as well. Well.
Then we also have in Pennsylvania the Breast and Cervical
Cancer Prevention and Treatment programs, so if they were to
be diagnosed, you know, you can get treatment at no
(13:24):
cost here in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Pennsylvania Rocks was all this in place. It wasn't a
p was not. No, No, it was not.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
And I know that there's a way my number might
be skewed, but I think there's at least eight major
pieces of legislation that we've had through that we've had
through at this point, which I mean for those people
who don't know, it's not easy to move legislation.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It's the point I was trying to make. It's not easy.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
It takes a lot of support, and we are lucky
enough to have that grassroots support and people rallying and
and saying that this is an issue to me that
you know needs support, So we are. I just the
fact that we were Pat mainly, let's say, Pat has
been so effective at moving that legislation forward is just phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I that you get teared up sometimes just thinking about
what she's done, even her thing was finding a cure.
So our daughters don't have kids, Well, you're old enough
to be my daughters, and you're generally look a you've
picked up the torch and you're going forward with it.
And there's been a lot of changes since she first started.
But I'm sure you guys have a lot more what's
the ornament you're looking forward?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Do you have a lot more hope than we did
when this was started years ago? To because of.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Pat, absolutely, and because more people are talking about it,
and because we all have been touched by it, every
single one of us know, one in eight women nationally
and thirty eight women every day in Pennsylvania so are
diagnosed with breast cancer.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
What do you say to women who who are still
stuck in that, Well, I'd rather not know. That's tough,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Well, I would say, I mean if breast cancer is
caught at the earliest stage it has at stage like
DCS stage one, it's a ninety nine percent survival. Right
at the earlier stages, you know your ninety percent survival.
So letting it go isn't It doesn't help anything because
obviously a stage four that's basically I mean, that's a
(15:28):
very tougher battle.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Can you imagine how it was for pat being stage
three and going through all that treatment and then doing
all this Oh my my gosh.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, she always says that she feels that she has
been spared for a reason or that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I agree with that. You had talked about support for families.
There's a lot of things, like you're diagnosed with breast cancer,
life goes on, you gotta worry about if you have
a job, insurance, all those things.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
But as you said, you have an advocate that helps people.
We do.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, so Dolores our director of patient advocate to see
she's been doing this for decades. And we also on
our website PA breast cancer dot org have all sorts
of resources, whether you need to find transportation to treatment,
you need to find a three D mimmography center, near you.
You know you haven't even been diagnosed, but want to
know where you can find the best mammogram. You can
(16:20):
type in your zip code and find that you can
find a support group. We have all sorts of resources
you need legal advice. There are resources on our site
for those types of things and those come up, and.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
There are places on your site to where women share
their stories. That's you know, you're not alone.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Absolutely, and every single story is just a little bit different.
It's about what's going on in that survivor's life or
thriver's life at that time, and so we tried to
share different aspects of what each patient, each individual has
gone through, and you know, you can know that you're
not alone for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We know. One of the things that I wanted to
talk about, and this is really important, is part of
what you're doing, you have care.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
That's part of tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Yeah, so we have free friends like me. We call
them friends like me care packages, and that message is
also to let women know that they're not alone. But
it's typically within the first six months of the diagnosis.
We can receive information from a caregiver. You can be
you can get a care package for yourself or for
(17:24):
a loved one, and you can do all of that
at PA breast cancer dot org. So you can request
a care package comes right to your door within about
two weeks, and it's full of resources, small gifts. We
even have some cosmetics in there, maybe some false eyelashes
things too, and because if you have received chemotherapy, you
know you may lose them. Things to make you feel
(17:46):
a little bit more normal in a time where you
may not be, and and to shine a light there.
But they're also customized, so if a patient is going
through their chemotherapy and they have radiation, they know that
they're going to be received specific treatments, information about that,
so they have young children at home, information about talk
to your children about your diagnosis. And then we also have.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Wow, I don't know that that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, And we also have a care package that's catered
to anyone who's going through stage four. So if they
have a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, meaning it has spread
to other parts of their body, you know their journey
is going to look a little bit a lot different
actually than someone who was going through a stage one diagnosis.
And so it's customized specifically to that diagnosis, and they're
(18:31):
all free of charge.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
One of the things I'm proud of being from Central
Pennsylvania is when I'm out of town or out of
state and I can say, well, here in Central Pennsylvania,
we never stop giving.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's true. People in this area and across Pennsylvania are
so extremely generous.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
You have a lot of opportunities and you can find
them on your own website to be involved as a volunteer,
to have your own fundraising events.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
How do you do that?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
So we have an awesome director of Community Outrages, Brittany
on our team, and so if anyone is interested in
getting involved with us in any way, we welcome volunteers.
We need help, you know, putting the care packages together,
we need help you know, out events and healthfare. So
we welcome anybody who wants to volunteer with us, really,
(19:18):
we really do. And then they can also we've had,
you know, great individuals have kind of taken it the
next step forward and have gone on to do what
we call our grassroots partner events. So they're just events
in the local community. It could be anything from you know,
a basket bingo thing to a to some of the
(19:39):
other events We've even golf tournaments, We've had dressed down
days and events.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
So how about those two ladies that walked.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Yes, Helen, Yeah, Helen walked all the way from Philadelphia
to the Harrisburg Capital to raise awareness in honor of
over seventieth birthday. So we you know, we any you
can anything that you want to do. We are open
for people to do.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Created.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know what, not only has Pat removed the stigma
through all her efforts and has got men and men
now realize how important this is, but with your generation
and the way you feel you are raising sons and gods,
but especially sons that you can pass us on to too.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Absolutely, if you're an inspiration as well, that's very kind.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
That's very kind. That's very true.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
The more you talk about this topic, the more normal
it seems, and the more advocacy and education you can
you can provide really to make it part of the conversation.
And I think that that's something that we're really trying
to do.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I'd like to talk about Mammo may what Mamo may?
I think you guys are goofy, but go ahead.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
So you know, we for years we did Mother's Day
mammograms and encouraged women to get their mammograms and to
take their mom and do that. And you know, post COVID,
we really saw that women were not getting their screenings.
It was really a substantial drop just based on that.
(21:15):
So we started working with Senator Kim Ward and we
decided to do you know, why strengthen just one day,
Let's focus on an entire month.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
That's good.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
So we decided, you know, it's about action. It is
about taking that step and scheduling that screening. We want
women to, you know, if you haven't had your mammogram,
get it on the calendar, if it's been over a year,
you know, get that screening scheduled because that really is
what is going to find breast cancer early and is
(21:46):
really going to help save lives.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Well, you have a lot of that information on your website.
There are typical places you can go. You partner locally
with hospitals and things like that. How do you find
out where I can get a mammogram?
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, so we have a whole mamo May page at
PA breast cancer dot org. It's actually PA breast cancer
dot org slash mammo May if you want to go
on there, and we kind of have we have all
the information we feel you really need. Even if you're
getting your first mammogram, what is a mammogram? You know,
what can I expect? What's the difference between a screening
and diagnostic mammogram, Because there is a difference, and you
(22:23):
can even yeah, yeah, So screen is kind of like
your routine check. You know, you're going in there, you
don't have any symptoms and you're just checking to make
sure everything is normal. And then if if you have
a symptom or if something shows up a little abnormal
on your screening, then you may need a diagnostic mammogram
or additional diagnostic imaging. So we have that information on there,
kind of the difference between the two. We can you
(22:44):
can type in your zip code and find a mammography
center near you in Pennsylvania, and then you can also
find out if you are uninsured or you're underinsured, meaning
like you may have a high deductible insurance plan, you
may be eligible for a free mammogram and free follow
up testing. So all of that information is on there
(23:04):
as well. But we really want to encourage women, really
we want to encourage everyone to remind the women in
your life how important. This is make it part of
the conversation in may get that mamogram. Don't miss your mamogram.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Absolutely, because that's the only way you're gonna make it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
There was a little bit of confusion, there has been
through the years. I wanted to ask you this, and
this always confused me as well too. If you have
breast cancer in your family, yep, there's a higher incidence,
but yet a lot of the women that I know
did not have it in their family. What's the story there?
Clarify that for me? Please, sipid women ask me that.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Yeah, so obviously if there if you have a genetic
connection to breast cancer, or if you have a family history,
you are at a higher risk of breast cancer, But
that does not make it that you're not going to
get breast cancer if you don't have.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Those risk factors.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
We just encourage women, if you have the additional risk factors,
you really need to talk to your doctor about being screened.
Even earlier, we've heard doctors talk to women you know
and encourage them to start their screenings as early as
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Is that right? You need for people who are producer,
for people.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Who are have high risk for breast cancers. So yeah,
I would forget. How many is it that have no
known risk factors for breast cancer. It's something like seventy
percent of breast cancers have no right. No.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
People think that it's much more hereditary disease than it
actually is.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Oh boy, oh boy. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
So we really encourage women. You know, it's a conversation
to have with your doctor and to start mammograms at
age forty, but if you are at higher risk, you
really should be starting earlier.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
You know what it seems like with everything nowadays, like
young people are having strokes and heart attacks, poor diet.
We're always, like we were talking earlier about children, run run, run,
run running. You got to get them something, and it's
not necessarily healthy.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But stress, stress, stress, stress stress.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
That Oh yeah, sure, all of these things you know
can be risk factors.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, it's environmental.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
There's so much that we don't know about, you know,
diseases and breast cancer specifically about what is causing it.
So really the only thing we have, I mean, we
could people talk about prevention, and I don't know if
you can really talk about besides living a healthy lifestyle.
It's not something you really can't. So the only way
(25:30):
we have at this point is to get the mammograms
and get screened so that if something is detected, it
is detected.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
It's like cigarettes.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
You smoke cigarettes, chances are you probably gonna get L
one cancer. You can't say that with breastkin you cannot.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
You can't. No, unfortunately, And you.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Would think a lot of times they say about women
who nurse babies, they have this build up immunity difference.
You can't say that either.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
No.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
So challenging.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Yeah, it's really tough.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
What would you guys like if you would there was
one message you wanted to get out to women. And
I don't just say women, because I'll tell you what.
I have a kid since high school has been calling
me and saying, Mom, did you get your breast exam?
Speaker 2 (26:07):
You get your exam? Right? You know it's important. What
would you like people to know?
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Number One about the breast cancer Coalition and also about
the best chance that you have if you get breast
cancer to make sure that you don't pass from it.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Well, I think this month especially, we want to do
two things. One is we want to remind women to
get that mammigram on the calendar and keep it on
the calendar. We know our lives are busy. Many times
women do not take the time to do things for themselves.
They're putting everyone else first. This is a time for
(26:44):
you to put yourself first, put your health first, and
prioritize it. So that's one and I think along with that,
the second message is that if it is detected early,
like Jen said, over ninety percent, the five year survival
rate is over. So you know, if you are if
you don't have any increased risk factors, and you're under
(27:05):
the age of forty, make sure those self exams are
on your calendar before you are.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
A good buddy can remember the Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
So those are just some of the things. But we
can't we can't stress enough the importance of getting an
annual screening.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I think that's the best thing that we have to
As you just said, Natalie, it's we got to figure
a way to start caring about ourselves. Yes, it's like
when you're in an airplane and the plane's going down
and you have a little one with you, they say,
get that over your face. How can you take care
of the kid if you can't take well. There have
been a lot of families who filled a big hole
(27:40):
in their lives. It never healed after they lost the
mother or the wife or whatever. Because mothers, even though
you think that they don't appreciate it when you're gone.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Oh my god, Oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
And you know your body, So if you know that
something is not right, don't don't put that off and say, oh,
it'll be just fine. I'll get yourself drecked.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That's right, that's the best advice. How about it?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
So did you have your breast cancer? Are your mammograms yet? I?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Yes, mine's every July.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Actually, okay, I just.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Had my first one.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Kept my first one?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Is that right?
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Yes, over the summer, so I'll be getting my second one.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I think it does hurt.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
No, I was in and out of there in less
than ten minutes. I even took a video to tell people.
It was less than ten minutes of my life.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I'm so proud of you. Guys. Tell me. We know
how Pat left care Mark.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
How would you feel How would you like to leave
your mark with breast cancer colas?
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Why? Well, I think everyone that we touched that they
know that we are an organization that truly cares. Oh
my god, truly cares about them. And then I mean
we are there's only nine of us who work and
cover the dogs in the Entigher state. Every single staff
(28:55):
member truly cares. And so I think that leaving that
mark by having an organization that is so supportive of
women and their families and is there. You know, our
staff is just works tirelessly to help women. So to
know that that is there and that exists, it's just
(29:16):
amazing and obviously it is because of path.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, let me ask you this. Let mean by asking
you this, what would you like to say to Pat?
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Thank you, Pat?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yeah, thank you for all that you've taught us, because
you know we've turned advocacy into action because of your example.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
That's right, that's right, I thank you girls. I could
talk to these girls every single day. There's so inspirational.
And their website is pabreast cancer dot org. As the
girls we're saying, you can find anything anything you want
on are related to breast cancer, whether it has to
do with education or advocacy or uh when the conference
(29:57):
is going to be, the different things they have going
on as far as fundraisers, and I could go on
and on and on stories from other women in their families.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Again, girls, what is that website?
Speaker 4 (30:10):
OHPA breast cancer dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Thanks Honny.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Okay again, my guests have been Jen Penserger, Executive director,
Natalie cop Communications director for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
Thank you so so very much, girls, and to my
listeners on this Mother's Day, I leave you with this.
Thirty eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer every single
day here in Pennsylvania. Nearly one in four women ages
(30:35):
fifty to seventy four have not had a mammogram in
the past two years. Get on your mother, any of
the women in your life you love. Early detection can
reduce mortality by sixty percent of ten years forty seven
to twenty years compared to unscreened women. So this is
what you're gonna do. You're gonna call your mom. We're
gonna say, Mom, I really really love you. Have you
(30:57):
scheduled your mammogram? Let's go do it?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Good girls? All right? Absolutely, Remember you.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Can watch Inside on one of our ten night or
on our tennight Hearts stations this weekend, or whenever you
want on your favorite podcast staff.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
I'm Sylvia Moss. This has been insight Thanks so much
for listening to see you next week.
Hi, I'm Sylvia MOUs. This is Insight, a presentation of iHeartMedia,
where we really do care about our local communities and
all our listeners who live here. On this Mother's Day today,
I would like to begin the program by honoring a
woman who, like many of us, is a mother and
a grandmother. She's also the woman who, after receiving a
truly frightening health diagnosis back in nineteen ninety three, went
(00:22):
on to establish an organization that has been described as
a bonfire of survival, visibility, and advocacy for women and
their families all over Pennsylvania. The woman I choose to
honor is Pat half and Murphy. She's the founder and
president of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Joining us today
are Jennifer Pensinger, Executive Director and Natalie Copp Communications Director
(00:46):
of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Having so long a
side of Pat for many years, these two remarkable leaders
continue to shape the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition into a
powerful voice for survivals survivors. Excuse me and their families, ladies.
First of all, Happy Mother's Day. Your chance to run
(01:07):
away from them before you know no, that's the best
job in the world being a mom.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I can't. I mean, you know, I come blind sometimes
you think I'd like to send you back, but you can't.
You gotta live with the light.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
I want to talk about Pat, but I want to
ask you, as I said, you girls have been working
with for quite a long time. I don't think people
truly realize who this woman is.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
And she just never gave up.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
She found out she has stage three breast cancer, right,
and at that time she realized there wasn't support for
women in any way.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
So cake it. Girls.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Then what happened, Well, I was saying, I mean Pat
has always been on the forefront of women's issues and
then you know, something as personal as breast cancer hits
her and she just sees that there's just nothing there
and has the unique role as you know, a senior
member of Governor Casey's staff, that she can make impactful
(02:12):
change and hasn't stopped since.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well, I know, I was reading about, Uh, these are
the kind of women where they she I remember when
she Michelle Richards coming in here a lot, and it
was like, grit your teeth, get this done. We will
do whatever it takes to get this done. We don't
care how many hours who we have to talk to.
We're getting it done.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
And she did, she sure did, and I think you
know her. Her whole goal is to give women who
are diagnosed with breast cancer a voice, and I think
she's still doing that, removing the stigma associated with having
breast cancer, because there was a stigma when we were
founded in nineteen ninety three.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Look at that. I can't believe that. Why would there be?
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
We have people not even telling some of their family
members that they were diagnosed with breast cancer. And then,
you know, look how far we've come where it is
something that really connects people, brings them together, effort.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
We know what to It not only impacts the woman
who's going through it, the whole family on it.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Absolutely, it's it's absolutely a family issue. I mean, you,
the mom and the woman is typically that support system.
And then when something's happened in that key area, you know,
we're the whole family rallies around. But then the whole
family has to, you know, handle all of the dominoes
that come along with that breast cancer diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
I remember my mother didn't pass from that, but I
remember my dad was one of the you know, he
was the boss and anything. But but when my mother
passed away, everything fell apart, including my dad. You know,
we don't give women enough credit for not only in
the workplace what they do, but they do while they're
(03:52):
taking care of children and parents and husbands and everything else.
And Pat has children too, and she's been she'd lost
her husband one of children too. I don't know how
you get through that, but she somehow did this because
she didn't want women to go through what she went through.
You have some major initiatives that she set up. Talk
(04:14):
to me about girls at any anytime, please just jump in.
First of all, education and advocacy. What does the Breast
Cancer Coalition do.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
One of our first programs that she really started was
a conference because she wanted something to bring women together.
So one of the very first things that she did
was start to have a conference and invite women from
all across Pennsylvania to come and network with other survivors
and get education on that and that sort of thing.
So that was one of our that's one of our
(04:44):
big first programs. And then in addition to our sixty
seven women sixty seven counties facing breast Cancer in Pennsylvania.
Photo exhibit which has been traveling the state since nineteen
ninety seven, is that right nineteen ninety seven, still going,
which features one woman from every county who has been
touched with breast cancer and their story and a photo,
w a quote, and then we go all across the state.
(05:06):
We've been to every county but two, I think at
this point all so sixty five of the counties.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Right when pact first starter, what was the biggest reason, Well,
you said there's there's a stigma attached to it, but
it wasn't covered by insurance?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Was it?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
A lot of different things were not covered.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, and that's the major thing I would like to
talk to her impact as far is what she has
been responsible for doing.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
I mean, yes, we could we could fill an hour,
I think with all of the accomplishments of pat and
the legislation that she has championed. Just a few things,
you know, mammograms beginning at age forty covered, reconstructive surgery
covered because, believe it or not, at one point was
considered cosmetic. Breast density notification letting women know what their
(05:56):
level of breast density is because, as we know, if
you have dense breasts. Dense breast tissue looks white, so
does cancer on a mammogram, and so you may need
additional screening and imaging if you have very dense breasts.
So that's something that's an educational effort right there. A
lot of a lot of women didn't know they had
a dense breast tissue last time.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
What that meant.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
A few years ago when she was in here, she
talked about and I said, Pat, I have dense breasts.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
She said, so did I. Yeah, And we don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
We think you know that if it's there, they'll find
it and it hides sometimes, right like, just like you said,
So that's a big deal, it is.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And then it kind of rolled right into that was
kind of phase one. And then you know, we had
a legislation that would cover screening, supplemental screenings that if
you needed those to monitor what's going on, and then
diagnostic imaging, which is Act fifty two of twenty twenty five.
Both of those last two pieces of legislation, you know,
(06:53):
in partnership with Senator Kim Ward Senator Frank Ferry, just
some of the things that are being in iplemented now
is the no cost diagnostic imaging they're working on being implemented.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
You had any menion.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Excuse me, I'm sorry you had mentioned about the conference.
You're having it again this October. I think it's the sixteenth,
right at the hilt, and it's always at.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
The help thirty. It is, yes, Tuesday, the thirteenth, thirteenth. Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
One of the things that you talk about there, but
that pat has been response before is raising so much
money for research. Yes, and those are aren't they? The
grants are given out that thing.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So we give out the grants actually in uh January
through March, we go to each institution and this year
we gave out five one hundred thousand dollars grants. We've
given out over six point six million dollars since we started.
I mean, that's it's the only way we are going
to get to that cure and get better treatments. I mean,
there's so many breast cancer types at this point that
(07:50):
we know of and without adequate treatments for them, we
you know, we really we need that to help women survive.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Who's it open to It's in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Only, right, Yes, so's it's Pennsylvania researchers who are really
working to get their innovative ideas off the ground here,
so where you support basic bench research before they get
those multimillion dollar grants. It kind of bridges the gap
between an idea and those larger grants and then hopefully
eventually a clinical trial or targeted treatments that could develop
(08:24):
from these ideas.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
What has come out of this anything that you can talk.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Of, Oh yes, I mean I can cite a study
that's going on right now at Penn that's studying dormant
cancer cells. So for example, after you've been diagnosed for
breast cancer. From diagnosed with breast cancer, there are some
cells that live in there. They're kind of like sleeper cells,
and they're studying what makes those cells activate and recur.
(08:48):
That's just one of the studies. We've funded, some AI
studies imaging in Pittsburg that are moving into next phases.
Those are just some of the recent things. I'm sure
I'm missing some.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, and the AI studies are really fascinating to see.
You know, it's not having AI take over, but can
AI assist a radiologist in spotting something that maybe the
average eyes don't see on a dense breast, but that
it just highlights things for the radiologists to look at
that they might have missed. And it's fascinating the way
(09:21):
that the technology is improving and the treatments are improving.
Just in thirty years. I mean, we now know breast
cancer is not one disease, it's multiple types. That you know,
between triple negative breast cancer and all the different HR
two positive breast cancers that you know, those different types
require different treatments, and that there's no we're really moving
(09:44):
into an age of personalized medicine. It's no longer one
size fits all.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
And hopefully fewer side effects with these treatments as they
get more targeted.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Not just usually you grows just like pat you live this. Yes,
there's so much more. I'm not finished talk about what
I ask about. But what's it been like being part
of an organization like this? It's changed so many lines?
My goodness.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Well, I think every day is different but also inspirational.
You know, we have our headquarters in Lebanon, and women
walk through the door every week and we get them
a care package and we help them with everything from
finding a wig that they need to educating them about
(10:30):
what maybe, like I mentioned, those side effects that they
may be going to experience, how they can find financial assistance,
and we have a director of Patient Advocacy who's been
working for a long time who helps those things. But
I think it's amazing to see the resilience of women,
in the strength of women we have to be who
(10:53):
and the community that they form within themselves. We have
grassroots partners who inspire us because they want to support
what we're doing, and then bringing it back to those researchers.
I think some of the most inspirational moments we have
are going to into the research lab and seeing how
they have dedicated their entire lives to trying to find
cures for this disease.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
And what brought you to cares over the times that
you've been.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Oh gosh, I would say, talking to the different women
and survivors and hearing their stories, and then just again
the women and the families that we get to meet
along the way that become friends and you know, extensions
of our family, and just seeing so many people coming
together to unite for something that's so important, I mean,
(11:41):
and that's kind of even with the legislation end of
it too, where we've had so much success in really
making impactful and meaningful change because the legislators are able
to see that it's not a partisan issue, it is
something that affects thank their families. It's something that we
all get behind together. And even Senator Ward has been
(12:03):
so gracious in saying, you know, it's not a red issue,
it's not a blue issue, it's a pink issue, and
we're all going to get behind it. So that to
me has been really kind of It's like, this is yes, please,
and there's so much division right now, but there's something
that everybody can get behind and get together and that
it's really been meaningful over the years. And a lot
of it though, is talking to the survivors and hearing
(12:25):
their stories.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And in figures, one impact has the Breast Pascer Coalition
had on women in Pennsylvania, Like how many women now, okay,
let's talk about the fact that some women can't afford it.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
We'll guess what.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Now they can get a free one. How many women
have taken advantage of that?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Oh, that is a huge number. And that's thousands every year.
That yeah, that get activity. And that's actually one of
the easiest questions we have. If you don't have insurance
and neda mammogram that we can solve pretty much instantly.
We can get we can get well.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
In some cases, you can provide them with whatever they
need to have their treatment, right.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's true.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yeah, So Pennsylvania Department of Health has the Breaston Cervical
Cancer Early Detection Program, so that's where they would go
to get ATMA mcgramman. And if they find something and
they need follow up testing, that's covered as well. Well.
Then we also have in Pennsylvania the Breast and Cervical
Cancer Prevention and Treatment programs, so if they were to
be diagnosed, you know, you can get treatment at no
(13:24):
cost here in Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Pennsylvania Rocks was all this in place. It wasn't a
p was not. No, No, it was not.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
And I know that there's a way my number might
be skewed, but I think there's at least eight major
pieces of legislation that we've had through that we've had
through at this point, which I mean for those people
who don't know, it's not easy to move legislation.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It's the point I was trying to make. It's not easy.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
It takes a lot of support, and we are lucky
enough to have that grassroots support and people rallying and
and saying that this is an issue to me that
you know needs support, So we are. I just the
fact that we were Pat mainly, let's say, Pat has
been so effective at moving that legislation forward is just phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I that you get teared up sometimes just thinking about
what she's done, even her thing was finding a cure.
So our daughters don't have kids, Well, you're old enough
to be my daughters, and you're generally look a you've
picked up the torch and you're going forward with it.
And there's been a lot of changes since she first started.
But I'm sure you guys have a lot more what's
the ornament you're looking forward?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Do you have a lot more hope than we did
when this was started years ago? To because of.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Pat, absolutely, and because more people are talking about it,
and because we all have been touched by it, every
single one of us know, one in eight women nationally
and thirty eight women every day in Pennsylvania so are
diagnosed with breast cancer.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
What do you say to women who who are still
stuck in that, Well, I'd rather not know. That's tough,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Well, I would say, I mean if breast cancer is
caught at the earliest stage it has at stage like
DCS stage one, it's a ninety nine percent survival. Right
at the earlier stages, you know your ninety percent survival.
So letting it go isn't It doesn't help anything because
obviously a stage four that's basically I mean, that's a
(15:28):
very tougher battle.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Can you imagine how it was for pat being stage
three and going through all that treatment and then doing
all this Oh my my gosh.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Yeah, she always says that she feels that she has
been spared for a reason or that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I agree with that. You had talked about support for families.
There's a lot of things, like you're diagnosed with breast cancer,
life goes on, you gotta worry about if you have
a job, insurance, all those things.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
But as you said, you have an advocate that helps people.
We do.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yeah, so Dolores our director of patient advocate to see
she's been doing this for decades. And we also on
our website PA breast cancer dot org have all sorts
of resources, whether you need to find transportation to treatment,
you need to find a three D mimmography center, near you.
You know you haven't even been diagnosed, but want to
know where you can find the best mammogram. You can
(16:20):
type in your zip code and find that you can
find a support group. We have all sorts of resources
you need legal advice. There are resources on our site
for those types of things and those come up, and.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
There are places on your site to where women share
their stories. That's you know, you're not alone.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Absolutely, and every single story is just a little bit different.
It's about what's going on in that survivor's life or
thriver's life at that time, and so we tried to
share different aspects of what each patient, each individual has
gone through, and you know, you can know that you're
not alone for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
We know. One of the things that I wanted to
talk about, and this is really important, is part of
what you're doing, you have care.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
That's part of tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
Yeah, so we have free friends like me. We call
them friends like me care packages, and that message is
also to let women know that they're not alone. But
it's typically within the first six months of the diagnosis.
We can receive information from a caregiver. You can be
you can get a care package for yourself or for
(17:24):
a loved one, and you can do all of that
at PA breast cancer dot org. So you can request
a care package comes right to your door within about
two weeks, and it's full of resources, small gifts. We
even have some cosmetics in there, maybe some false eyelashes
things too, and because if you have received chemotherapy, you
know you may lose them. Things to make you feel
(17:46):
a little bit more normal in a time where you
may not be, and and to shine a light there.
But they're also customized, so if a patient is going
through their chemotherapy and they have radiation, they know that
they're going to be received specific treatments, information about that,
so they have young children at home, information about talk
to your children about your diagnosis. And then we also have.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Wow, I don't know that that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, And we also have a care package that's catered
to anyone who's going through stage four. So if they
have a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, meaning it has spread
to other parts of their body, you know their journey
is going to look a little bit a lot different
actually than someone who was going through a stage one diagnosis.
And so it's customized specifically to that diagnosis, and they're
(18:31):
all free of charge.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
One of the things I'm proud of being from Central
Pennsylvania is when I'm out of town or out of
state and I can say, well, here in Central Pennsylvania,
we never stop giving.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's true. People in this area and across Pennsylvania are
so extremely generous.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
You have a lot of opportunities and you can find
them on your own website to be involved as a volunteer,
to have your own fundraising events.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
How do you do that?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
So we have an awesome director of Community Outrages, Brittany
on our team, and so if anyone is interested in
getting involved with us in any way, we welcome volunteers.
We need help, you know, putting the care packages together,
we need help you know, out events and healthfare. So
we welcome anybody who wants to volunteer with us, really,
(19:18):
we really do. And then they can also we've had,
you know, great individuals have kind of taken it the
next step forward and have gone on to do what
we call our grassroots partner events. So they're just events
in the local community. It could be anything from you know,
a basket bingo thing to a to some of the
(19:39):
other events We've even golf tournaments, We've had dressed down
days and events.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
So how about those two ladies that walked.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Yes, Helen, Yeah, Helen walked all the way from Philadelphia
to the Harrisburg Capital to raise awareness in honor of
over seventieth birthday. So we you know, we any you
can anything that you want to do. We are open
for people to do.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Created.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know what, not only has Pat removed the stigma
through all her efforts and has got men and men
now realize how important this is, but with your generation
and the way you feel you are raising sons and gods,
but especially sons that you can pass us on to too.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Absolutely, if you're an inspiration as well, that's very kind.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
That's very kind. That's very true.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
The more you talk about this topic, the more normal
it seems, and the more advocacy and education you can
you can provide really to make it part of the conversation.
And I think that that's something that we're really trying
to do.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I'd like to talk about Mammo may what Mamo may?
I think you guys are goofy, but go ahead.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
So you know, we for years we did Mother's Day
mammograms and encouraged women to get their mammograms and to
take their mom and do that. And you know, post COVID,
we really saw that women were not getting their screenings.
It was really a substantial drop just based on that.
(21:15):
So we started working with Senator Kim Ward and we
decided to do you know, why strengthen just one day,
Let's focus on an entire month.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
That's good.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
So we decided, you know, it's about action. It is
about taking that step and scheduling that screening. We want
women to, you know, if you haven't had your mammogram,
get it on the calendar, if it's been over a year,
you know, get that screening scheduled because that really is
what is going to find breast cancer early and is
(21:46):
really going to help save lives.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Well, you have a lot of that information on your website.
There are typical places you can go. You partner locally
with hospitals and things like that. How do you find
out where I can get a mammogram?
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, so we have a whole mamo May page at
PA breast cancer dot org. It's actually PA breast cancer
dot org slash mammo May if you want to go
on there, and we kind of have we have all
the information we feel you really need. Even if you're
getting your first mammogram, what is a mammogram? You know,
what can I expect? What's the difference between a screening
and diagnostic mammogram, Because there is a difference, and you
(22:23):
can even yeah, yeah, So screen is kind of like
your routine check. You know, you're going in there, you
don't have any symptoms and you're just checking to make
sure everything is normal. And then if if you have
a symptom or if something shows up a little abnormal
on your screening, then you may need a diagnostic mammogram
or additional diagnostic imaging. So we have that information on there,
kind of the difference between the two. We can you
(22:44):
can type in your zip code and find a mammography
center near you in Pennsylvania, and then you can also
find out if you are uninsured or you're underinsured, meaning
like you may have a high deductible insurance plan, you
may be eligible for a free mammogram and free follow
up testing. So all of that information is on there
(23:04):
as well. But we really want to encourage women, really
we want to encourage everyone to remind the women in
your life how important. This is make it part of
the conversation in may get that mamogram. Don't miss your mamogram.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Absolutely, because that's the only way you're gonna make it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
There was a little bit of confusion, there has been
through the years. I wanted to ask you this, and
this always confused me as well too. If you have
breast cancer in your family, yep, there's a higher incidence,
but yet a lot of the women that I know
did not have it in their family. What's the story there?
Clarify that for me? Please, sipid women ask me that.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Yeah, so obviously if there if you have a genetic
connection to breast cancer, or if you have a family history,
you are at a higher risk of breast cancer, But
that does not make it that you're not going to
get breast cancer if you don't have.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Those risk factors.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
We just encourage women, if you have the additional risk factors,
you really need to talk to your doctor about being screened.
Even earlier, we've heard doctors talk to women you know
and encourage them to start their screenings as early as
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Is that right? You need for people who are producer,
for people.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Who are have high risk for breast cancers. So yeah,
I would forget. How many is it that have no
known risk factors for breast cancer. It's something like seventy
percent of breast cancers have no right. No.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
People think that it's much more hereditary disease than it
actually is.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Oh boy, oh boy. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
So we really encourage women. You know, it's a conversation
to have with your doctor and to start mammograms at
age forty, but if you are at higher risk, you
really should be starting earlier.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
You know what it seems like with everything nowadays, like
young people are having strokes and heart attacks, poor diet.
We're always, like we were talking earlier about children, run run, run,
run running. You got to get them something, and it's
not necessarily healthy.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But stress, stress, stress, stress stress.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
That Oh yeah, sure, all of these things you know
can be risk factors.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, it's environmental.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
There's so much that we don't know about, you know,
diseases and breast cancer specifically about what is causing it.
So really the only thing we have, I mean, we
could people talk about prevention, and I don't know if
you can really talk about besides living a healthy lifestyle.
It's not something you really can't. So the only way
(25:30):
we have at this point is to get the mammograms
and get screened so that if something is detected, it
is detected.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
It's like cigarettes.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
You smoke cigarettes, chances are you probably gonna get L
one cancer. You can't say that with breastkin you cannot.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
You can't. No, unfortunately, And you.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Would think a lot of times they say about women
who nurse babies, they have this build up immunity difference.
You can't say that either.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
No.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
So challenging.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Yeah, it's really tough.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
What would you guys like if you would there was
one message you wanted to get out to women. And
I don't just say women, because I'll tell you what.
I have a kid since high school has been calling
me and saying, Mom, did you get your breast exam?
Speaker 2 (26:07):
You get your exam? Right? You know it's important. What
would you like people to know?
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Number One about the breast cancer Coalition and also about
the best chance that you have if you get breast
cancer to make sure that you don't pass from it.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Well, I think this month especially, we want to do
two things. One is we want to remind women to
get that mammigram on the calendar and keep it on
the calendar. We know our lives are busy. Many times
women do not take the time to do things for themselves.
They're putting everyone else first. This is a time for
(26:44):
you to put yourself first, put your health first, and
prioritize it. So that's one and I think along with that,
the second message is that if it is detected early,
like Jen said, over ninety percent, the five year survival
rate is over. So you know, if you are if
you don't have any increased risk factors, and you're under
(27:05):
the age of forty, make sure those self exams are
on your calendar before you are.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
A good buddy can remember the Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
So those are just some of the things. But we
can't we can't stress enough the importance of getting an
annual screening.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I think that's the best thing that we have to
As you just said, Natalie, it's we got to figure
a way to start caring about ourselves. Yes, it's like
when you're in an airplane and the plane's going down
and you have a little one with you, they say,
get that over your face. How can you take care
of the kid if you can't take well. There have
been a lot of families who filled a big hole
(27:40):
in their lives. It never healed after they lost the
mother or the wife or whatever. Because mothers, even though
you think that they don't appreciate it when you're gone.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Oh my god, Oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
And you know your body, So if you know that
something is not right, don't don't put that off and say, oh,
it'll be just fine. I'll get yourself drecked.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That's right, that's the best advice. How about it?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
So did you have your breast cancer? Are your mammograms yet? I?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Yes, mine's every July.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Actually, okay, I just.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Had my first one.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Kept my first one?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Is that right?
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Yes, over the summer, so I'll be getting my second one.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I think it does hurt.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
No, I was in and out of there in less
than ten minutes. I even took a video to tell people.
It was less than ten minutes of my life.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I'm so proud of you. Guys. Tell me. We know
how Pat left care Mark.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
How would you feel How would you like to leave
your mark with breast cancer colas?
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Why? Well, I think everyone that we touched that they
know that we are an organization that truly cares. Oh
my god, truly cares about them. And then I mean
we are there's only nine of us who work and
cover the dogs in the Entigher state. Every single staff
(28:55):
member truly cares. And so I think that leaving that
mark by having an organization that is so supportive of
women and their families and is there. You know, our
staff is just works tirelessly to help women. So to
know that that is there and that exists, it's just
(29:16):
amazing and obviously it is because of path.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Well, let me ask you this. Let mean by asking
you this, what would you like to say to Pat?
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Thank you, Pat?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yeah, thank you for all that you've taught us, because
you know we've turned advocacy into action because of your example.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
That's right, that's right, I thank you girls. I could
talk to these girls every single day. There's so inspirational.
And their website is pabreast cancer dot org. As the
girls we're saying, you can find anything anything you want
on are related to breast cancer, whether it has to
do with education or advocacy or uh when the conference
(29:57):
is going to be, the different things they have going
on as far as fundraisers, and I could go on
and on and on stories from other women in their families.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Again, girls, what is that website?
Speaker 4 (30:10):
OHPA breast cancer dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Thanks Honny.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Okay again, my guests have been Jen Penserger, Executive director,
Natalie cop Communications director for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
Thank you so so very much, girls, and to my
listeners on this Mother's Day, I leave you with this.
Thirty eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer every single
day here in Pennsylvania. Nearly one in four women ages
(30:35):
fifty to seventy four have not had a mammogram in
the past two years. Get on your mother, any of
the women in your life you love. Early detection can
reduce mortality by sixty percent of ten years forty seven
to twenty years compared to unscreened women. So this is
what you're gonna do. You're gonna call your mom. We're
gonna say, Mom, I really really love you. Have you
(30:57):
scheduled your mammogram? Let's go do it?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Good girls? All right? Absolutely, Remember you.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Can watch Inside on one of our ten night or
on our tennight Hearts stations this weekend, or whenever you
want on your favorite podcast staff.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
I'm Sylvia Moss. This has been insight Thanks so much
for listening to see you next week.
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