The Anti-Cancer Shopping Cart
May 5, 2011
Fuel your body’s natural defenses
According to the American Cancer Society, roughly one-third of cancer deaths in the U.S. are related to diet, and another third are due to cigarette smoking. While there is no cure for cancer, physical activity and dietary habits are the most significant controllable determinant of cancer risk. Cancer begins when DNA molecules in our cells are altered. The cells begin growing and multiplying rapidly, forming tumors and disrupting the normal function of a particular organ or organs.
The relationship between diet and the development of cancer is two-fold. First there is the ingestion of foods that contain substances that can initiate cancer (carcinogens). An example of a carcinogen in food is sodium nitrite, a preservative found in processed foods like hotdogs and lunchmeat. Foods that contain nitrites should be avoided. Check labels and look for brands that offer nitrate-free hotdogs, bacon and lunchmeat.
The second relationship between diet and cancer is the intake of cancer-fighting foods. Studies have shown that there are many foods, spices and herbs that can inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. These foods have compounds that influence our immune systems and others that have a direct effect on cancer cells. Adding cancer-fighting foods to your diet is a small step that you can take to improve your overall health and take advantage of your body’s natural ability to protect itself. “Superfoods” either reduce inflammation in the body or protect against free radicals. These foods work with your body every day to attack cancer-causing toxins and maintain healthy cell renewal. Best of all, many of these foods help control weight, give you energy and improve your overall health.
Your Superfood Shopping Cart should contain all of these powerful anti-cancer foods, which should be incorporated into daily diet:
Green Tea
Green tea is the ultimate anti-cancer drink. Green tea is rich in compounds that can reduce the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors. It’s also a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier (activating enzymes in the liver that eliminate toxins from the body), and it encourages cancer cell death. In the laboratory, it has even been shown to increase the effect of radiation on cancer cells. Once only found in Asian grocery stores and tea shops, green tea can be found in any supermarket. Look for Japanese green tea, which is more potent than the Chinese green tea. Both regular and decaf green teas have the same cancer-fighting properties. Two to three cups a day will give you the maximum benefit. Green tea powder can also be added to smoothies or yogurt, giving you an extra dose of antioxidants.
Super Spices
One of the best spices you can add to your anti-cancer shopping cart is ginger. Fresh ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory that combats certain cancer cells and can help slow tumor growth. Ginger can be added to many different meals and recipes. Slice it into a stir-fry or chop it and add it to a fresh fruit salad. Ginger can also be added to your favorite cake or muffin recipe. For individuals fighting cancer, ginger can also help alleviate the nausea brought on by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
The most powerful natural anti-inflammatory spice available today is turmeric. Turmeric is commonly used in Indian and Caribbean cuisine, and is what gives curry dishes their bright orange-yellow color. In the body, turmeric encourages the suicide of cancer cells, slows tumor growth and even increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Turmeric is a very mild spice, so adding a teaspoon of ground turmeric to vegetables, soups and salad dressings is an easy way to incorporate this super spice into your diet.
Veggie Power
When it comes to vegetables, the more colorful the better. Bright leafy green vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, bok choy, broccoli and Chinese cabbage all contain very potent anticancer molecules (sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol). These molecules help the body to eliminate the buildup of toxins and can prevent precancerous cells from developing into malignant tumors. Make the most out of the healing power of vegetables by steaming briefly or quickly stir-frying them. Never boil or overcook vegetables. Sulfurous vegetables such as garlic, onions and leeks are perfect accompaniments to the vegetables listed above and also contain potent anti-cancer compounds.
Fish
Several studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory long-chain omega-3s found in fatty fish such as wild salmon, sardines and mackerel can help slow cancer cell growth in a large number of tumors including lung, breast, colon and prostate. The risk of developing several types of cancers is significantly lower in people who eat fish at least twice a week. If you don’t like fish or don’t have access to fresh fish in your area, be sure to take a high-quality purified fish-oil supplement daily.
Cancer fighting fruits
Citrus fruits and berries are the most powerful cancer-fighting fruits. Oranges, lemons and grapefruits all contain flavonoids, anti-inflammatory compounds that stimulate the detoxification of carcinogens in the liver. Eat whole fruits or sprinkle citrus zest into salad dressing or cereal. Citrus fruits can also be added to salsas or used to marinate chicken or fish dishes.
Brightly colored berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries contain polyphenols like those found in green tea, which inhibit tumor growth. Two polyphenols found in berries, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, promote cancer cell death. A bowl of berries in the morning, with a cup of green tea is a perfect way to start the day. When not in season, choose frozen berries that can be added to cereals or smoothies. Frozen berries are just as potent as fresh!
Save room for dessert!
And now for the best news: dark chocolate is an anti-cancer superfood! Chocolates containing over 70 percent cocoa provide a rich source of antioxidants and polyphenols. One square of dark chocolate actually contains twice as many antioxidants as a glass of red wine, and close to the same amount found in a cup of green tea. This applies to dark chocolate only. The dairy in milk chocolate cancels out the cancer protection of the polyphenol compounds.
Food can’t cure cancer, and the best of conventional medicine, such as surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments must be used to treat the disease. That being said, don’t neglect your own natural cancer-fighting capacity. Eating wholesome anticancer foods on a daily basis gives your body the best chance to fight against cancers caused by free radicals and cell damage in the body.
Happy shopping!
Written by: Kristen Bennett
Introducing the B4Pink Pendant
April 12, 2011
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even more disturbing, approximately 40,000 women will die of breast cancer this year alone.
The mission of the Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) is to reduce the incidence of undetected, untreated breast cancer among the some of the most vulnerable in our community: uninsured, underserved women.
That’s what the B4Pink movement is all about.
We want to reach these women, get them screened and ultimately detect breast cancer when it is most treatable and beatable. We want to help them before they “turn pink.”
To support our goal of knocking on 10,000 doors in 2011 to educate women and ensure that all women benefit from the early detection of breast cancer, regardless of their ability to pay, we need your help.
We need your support. Please help us today by donating $25 to fight breast cancer one household at a time. Your generous donation goes directly to helping uninsured underserved women receive mammograms and educational materials about the importance of breast health and early detection right in their own neighborhood.
Introductory Offer - For a limited time with your minimum $25 donation (plus shipping & handling,) we would like to give you a B4Pink pendant to wear to show your support for early detection. This beautiful pendant has been designed to remind women about the importance of early detection.
We hope you’ll wear the pendant proudly. Thank you for your continued support. Your generosity could save a life.
To donate and receive your pendant, please click the banner to the left!
Written by: Kristen Bennett
Oh What a Night!
April 7, 2011
Andrea and Willie Ivory
Our 4th Annual Open the Door Reception was beyond successful!
On Friday, March 18, the Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) held its 4th Annual Open the Door Reception in the elegant ballroom of Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes, bringing together the community, business leaders, donors and supporters for a wonderful night of music, food and fun.
As guests arrived this year, they enjoyed complimentary Gekkeikan Sake drinks as they bid on the featured live and silent auction items! Upon entering the beautifully decorated ballroom, guests received commemorative event ad programs, which was an exciting first for us this year. The ad programs, an entitlement for sponsors, included a message from Andrea, program details, bios and photos of all the honorees as well as information on the auction items, sponsors and supporters of WBHI.
WBHI volunteers greeted guests as they browsed the silent auction that featured one-of-a kind items, Heat memorabilia, spa packages, elegant jewelry, luxury travel and dining packages. The silent auction raised critical funds for our cause, and was once again a great success! Miami Jazz artist Jon Saxx worked and wowed the crowd, performing hit tunes on his sax.
One-of-a-kind silent auction items
In addition to the silent auction, the live auction also exceeded our expectations. As bidders raised the stakes on our feature packages, our lovely Auctioneer, Mayte Padron Cordones kept the momentum going… and the bids rose. Nothing raises money more than a bidding war, and the room was filled with positive energy as our supporters generously bid in support of WBHI.
The night was capped off with the honoree presentations. The always charming Channel 10 Anchor Calvin Hughes greeted the crowd and reminded all the guests about the importance of our cause and why the continued support of the Open the Door event is critical to our success. Founder Andrea Ivory introduced the honorees for the evening, Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, Joshua Young and the Sunland Mark Connection. Guests listened to the honorees talk about their commitment to WBHI. Each of the honorees we recognized has been instrumental in building WBHI to where it is today.
We thank everyone who attended, and hope that our guests enjoyed the evening as much as we did. The funds raised at the event will help us fight breast cancer, one household at a time through door to door outreach.
To view all pictures of the event, visit the event photo gallery on our Facebook fan page.
The Honorees
Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate
Josh Young
Sunland Mark Connection
Written by: Kristen Bennett
For Immediate Release: April Door to Door Outreach Offers Free Mammograms to Uninsured Women
March 31, 2011
The Women’s Breast Health Initiative Florida Affiliate (WBHI) will be taking its mission of promoting early detection and awareness to the streets again for the 2011 April Outreach Campaign Saturday mornings on April 9, April 16, and April 23.
Mar 30, 2011 – The Women’s Breast Health Initiative Florida Affiliate (WBHI) will be taking its mission of promoting early detection and awareness to the streets again for the 2011 April Outreach Campaign Saturday mornings on April 9, April 16, and April 23. The goal of WBHI is to reduce the incidence of undetected, untreated breast cancer by providing women in underserved neighborhoods with the appropriate awareness, education and screening.
WBHI volunteers will knock on the doors of households within the City of Miramar, delivering important breast health awareness packages, talking to residents, and making free mammogram appointments on the spot for women who qualify. On April 30, a mobile mammography van will visit the neighborhood and perform the screenings that were scheduled during the outreach. The organization plans to knock on a total of 10,000 doors this year.
WBHI believes that all women have the right to benefit from the early detection of breast cancer regardless of their ability to pay, and fights breast cancer as a life threatening disease, one household at a time. Since 2006 WBHI has knocked on more than 33,000 doors to save lives in South Florida.
Andrea Ivory, internationally recognized 2009 Top Ten CNN Hero, breast cancer survivor, and founder of WBHI knows that early detection saves lives, because it saved hers. She founded WBHI, the premiere source of free door to door breast health awareness, education and screening to the uninsured and underserved in South Florida. “Breast cancer kills our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, family and friends. ALL women are at risk for breast cancer. Although early detection saves lives, not all women have access and awareness;” states Andrea, “That’s what we’re out there to do.”
The Women’s Imaging Center at Memorial Healthcare System supports the efforts of WBHI by collaborating to provide our participants with free screening right in the neighborhood served.
Who: The Women’s Breast Health Initiative Florida Affiliate
What: Door to door campaign offering free breast health awareness, education and mammograms to the uninsured and underserved.
Where: City of Miramar, Florida 33025
When: April 9, 16, 23 – Starting – 8:30AM • April 30th –Starting at 9AM
Contact: Andrea Ivory, Founder, Women’s Breast Health Initiative, FL Affiliate 866–315–7711
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Posted in Early Detection, Prevention, WBHI Events | 
Tags: b4pink, breast cancer, early detection, mammograms, miami, outreach | 
3 Comments »
Written by: Kristen Bennett
WBHI Founder Andrea Ivory honored at 2011 American Red Cross Spectrum Awards for Women
March 11, 2011
Phillis Oeters presenting the Baptist Health of South Florida Healthcare Award to Andrea Ivory
The American Red Cross recently honored 11 outstanding women with prestigious Sara Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Awards during a luncheon on February 3 at the JW Marriott Marquis in downtown Miami. Our Founder Andrea Ivory was one of the women honored. Andrea was presented the Baptist Health of South Florida Healthcare Award.
“Spectrum” refers to the impact these women have on a broad scope of community life and also reflects the spectrum of cultures represented in our community. The honorees serve as exceptional examples of the humanitarian principles of the American Red Cross.
Ileana Bravo served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the awards, which were chaired by Phillis Oeters. Swanee DiMare was the honorary chairman. Ms. Bravo also narrated a video tribute to each of the Spectrum honorees which was produced by Josie Goytisolo with the help of Multivision Video and Film.
The 2011 Sara Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Award for Women honorees included Tracy Mourning, Yolanda Berkowitz, Alex Villoch, Debra Scholl, Rochelle Baer, Mayda Cisneros, Andrea Ivory, Kimberly Wilson, Bella Goldstein, Mona Adams and Cristina Hernandez. View additional event photos on the Red Cross event page.
American Red Cross Spectrum Awards for Women honorees and sponsors
Written by: Kristen Bennett
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WBHI Takes to the Streets to Promote Early Cancer Detection, Breast Health Awareness
March 4, 2011
Breast Cancer Door to Door Outreach Offers Free Mammograms to Uninsured Women
March 2, 2011 (Miami, Florida) – The Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) will be taking its mission of promoting early detection and awareness to the streets again for the 2011 March Outreach Campaign Saturday mornings on March 5, March 12, and March 19. The goal of WBHI is to reduce the incidence of undetected, untreated breast cancer by providing women in underserved neighborhoods with the appropriate awareness, education and screening.
WBHI volunteers will knock on the doors of more than 1,400 households in the City of Miami Gardens, delivering important breast health awareness packages, talking to residents, and making free mammogram appointments on the spot for women who qualify. On March 26, a mobile mammography van will visit the neighborhood and perform the screenings that were scheduled during the outreach. The organization has already visited over 1,400 homes so far in 2011 and plans to knock on a total of 10,000 doors this year.
WBHI believes that all women have the right to benefit from the early detection of breast cancer regardless of their ability to pay, and fights breast cancer as a life threatening disease, one household at a time. Since 2006 WBHI has knocked on more than 32,000 doors to save lives in South Florida.
Andrea Ivory, internationally recognized 2009 Top Ten CNN Hero, breast cancer survivor, and founder of WBHI knows that early detection saves lives, because it saved hers. She founded WBHI, the premiere source of free door to door breast health awareness, education and screening to the uninsured and underserved in South Florida. “Breast cancer kills our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, family and friends. ALL women are at risk for breast cancer. Although early detection saves lives, not all women have access and awareness;” states Andrea, “That’s what we’re out there to do.”
The Women’s Imaging Center at Memorial Healthcare System supports the efforts of WBHI by collaborating to provide our participants with free screening right in the neighborhood served.
Who: The Women’s Breast Health Initiative
What: Door to door campaign offering free breast health awareness, education and
mammograms to the uninsured and underserved.
Where: City of Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
When: March 5, 12, 19 – Starting – 8:30AM · March 26th –Starting at 9AM
Contact: Andrea Ivory, Founder, Women’s Breast Health Initiative, FL Affiliate 866–315–7711
Written by: Kristen Bennett
WBHI to Host 4th Annual Open The Door Reception to Honor Life-Saving Work
February 17, 2011
The Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) is hosting its fourth annual Open the Door reception set for March 18 at Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL from 6 to 9 pm.
The Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) is hosting its 4th annual Open the Door reception on March 18. The event will take place at Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL and proceeds will help fund WBHI’s outreach to educate women about the importance of breast health and to provide the means to beat the disease. With a mission to fight the life-threatening disease of breast cancer one household at a time, the annual Open the Door reception provides critical resources to meet these goals.
More than 300 community and business leaders, along with donors and supporters, are expected to attend the Open the Door reception. It is an excellent networking opportunity hosted in a sophisticated atmosphere featuring a silent and live auction as well as live entertainment, cocktails and an elegant dinner buffet. Highlights of the live auction for this year include:
- The Miami Heat Experience: Honorary Ball Boy with Pre-Game shoot around, including locker room access with the Heat players. This package includes four lower level seats (restrictions apply).�
- The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Extravaganza: 3 days/2 Nights at the world renowned Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club with a foursome of golf on an exclusive course designed by World Golf hall of Famer, Ray Floyd.
You’ll bid on great one-of-a-kind auction items like these and more while you meet and mingle with the women whose lives have been touched by WBHI, the volunteers who help to educate them and the business leaders who help fund this life-saving work.
All funds raised by the Open the Door event will be used to help WBHI save lives and create a world with less breast cancer and more breast health awareness.
Despite the impressive breadth and growth of its mission, this community-based organization runs on a bare bones budget. “Once a year we ask the community to support our grassroots organization by participating in our annual Open the Door reception. We’ve seen such great turnout for this event in the past and it grows every year,” said Andrea Ivory, Founder of WBHI and 2009 Top 10 CNN Hero. “However, it takes the support of the community coming together to serve the women in need in South Florida and beyond.”
The Women’s Breast Health Initiative relies on the generous support of its sponsors to accomplish its mission. WBHI recognizes Don Soffer, Colodny, Fass, Talenfield, Karlinsky, Abate, PA, Ivory Construction, UPS, American Traffic Solutions, Seminole Casualty Insurance, United Automobile Insurance Company, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Parello, AvMed, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, Humana, Max South Construction, Hershell Gill Construction Engineering, Landscaping Associates, Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick White, Williamson Automotive and RCC Associates for their support.
Individual tickets to the reception are available for $75 each. For additional information, visit www.flbreasthealth.com or call Stephanie Hoogenbergen at 305-825-4081 for ticket information.
Who: The Women’s Breast Health Initiative
What: Open the Door 4th Annual Reception
Where: Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL �
When: March 18, 6 to 9 pm
Written by: Kristen Bennett
Young Women and Breast Cancer
February 8, 2011
Understanding hereditary and genetic risk factors
Stephanie Green
On January 9, 2011, Stephanie Green, a Miami-based blogger and writer lost her battle against breast cancer at the young age of 35. Stephanie left behind her blog, a book in the works and numerous other articles and stories that touched thousands of her fans. Stephanie fought to the very end, often using her writing as a way to cope with the disease. A long-time contributor to HEEB magazine, Stephanie was Ashkenazi Jewish and BRCA1 positive. Ashkenazi Jewish women have a one in 40 chance of inheriting the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. These genes are important in the development of breast cancer. Women with the mutation have up to an 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime.
Why do young women get breast cancer?
When referring to a breast cancer diagnosis, “young” typically means anyone under 40 years old because breast cancer is relatively uncommon among women in this age group. In the U.S., about 5 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses occur in women under age 40. Of the women who are diagnosed at a younger age many, like Stephanie, have a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. If a woman carries a defective BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, she may have a 30 to 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Having an immediate family member who has or had breast cancer also increases the risk of developing breast cancer in young women. So although young women generally have a much lower risk of developing breast cancer, the risk is high for women who have the gene mutation or have family history.
Advice for all young women
Clinical breast exams are recommended for all women at least every three years, starting at age 20, and every year for women age 40 or over. If you are under 40, and have a family history or other known risk factors, talk with your health care provider to assess your risk, and determine a personalized plan of when to start having mammograms or other imaging tests. Diagnosing breast cancer in young women can be harder because of the density of a young woman’s breast tissue. By the time a lump can be felt in a young woman, it is often large enough and advanced enough to lower her chances of survival. In addition, the cancer may be more aggressive and less responsive to hormone therapies. If you are concerned about a genetic risk, you can ask for a referral to a genetic counselor who can provide genetic testing, screening tests, like MRI, or risk reduction options that might be right for you.
In addition to talking with your doctor about your risk, it is equally important to know how your breasts normally look and feel. See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:
• Lump, hard knot or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
Awareness and early detection are two of the most important tools we have to fight breast cancer. For more information on breast self-awareness, visit www.flbreasthealth.com for an online beast health tutorial.
Written by: Kristen Bennett
The Importance of Friendship
January 28, 2011
How to be there, and be yourself when a friend or loved one is diagnosed
We are each of us angels with only one wing.
And we can only fly embracing each other.
~ Luciano de Crescenzo
Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and one in eight women will be diagnosed in her lifetime. That means virtually every woman will be touched by breast cancer at some point in her life. Whether you, your mother, sister or friend is diagnosed, you are part of the fight against this deadly disease and the support you provide to a friend or loved one can often prove to be crucial to their recovery.
In a 2006 Journal of Clinical Oncology study that followed 2,800 female participants, women who reported a strong support circle and felt they could rely on friends and family were twice as likely to survive their diagnosis as women who felt socially isolated.
“Social-emotional support, often provided by a confidant, may reduce stress and . . . might improve [protection] against cancer recurrence,” the lead author of the study, Candyce H. Kroenke, a researcher at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, wrote. “Investigators have suggested that social-emotional support may be more critical than instrumental [medical] support for breast cancer survival.”
What do you say?
Often when a woman learns that someone she knows is battling breast cancer; she struggles with how to respond. “How should I act?” she thinks, or “What can I possibly say?” The fact is that a breast cancer diagnosis is scary. Family members, spouses/partners, friends and other loved ones often feel the same emotions as the person diagnosed: fear, shock, anger, and sadness.
The best way to react to a friend, relative or coworker who you know has breast cancer is to be yourself! Every woman reacts to her diagnosis differently, so the best thing you can do is be present, be there for her, and always be available to listen, to laugh, to cry and encourage – just as you always would.
How can you help?
Breast cancer doesn’t care who you are or how busy your life is. When it strikes, often families become overwhelmed by all the “things” that still need to be done. Kids still need to be picked up from school. Lawns still need to be mowed, and families still need to eat.
In addition to emotional support, sometimes the best way to support a loved one in their fight against breast cancer is to create an informal network with other friends and relatives to take turns pitching in with things like grocery shopping, babysitting, being there for appointments and other activities that can alleviate the day-to-day stress, allowing her to focus on her fight.
Here are four things to remember (excerpted from rethinkbreastcancer.com):
- Be There – Ask what you can do to help and provide moral support. Offer to help with daily chores and activities or go to medical appointments to help record important information.
- Know Her Type – There are many different types of breast cancer and it is important for a woman to find out her type of breast cancer at diagnosis. Together, ask about the tests that are available to identify her type of breast cancer, as some types, such as ‘HER2-positive’ breast cancer, require individualized treatment.
- Ask Questions – Support her in asking questions so she knows more about her treatment, what to expect, how long it will take, side effects, etc.
- Empower Yourselves – Help her learn as much as she can because information is power. Do research together and make sure you both learn the terminology. Take advantage of the information available from the different breast cancer organizations.
Supporting a loved one in their fight against breast cancer will help her tremendously. Even the smallest gestures can have a big impact. Breast cancer is tough, but women are tougher, and every diagnosis is a reminder of how critical it is to stand together in the battle to eradicate this deadly disease.
Written by: Kristen Bennett
Press Release: WBHI Takes to the Streets to Promote Early Cancer Detection, Breast Health Awareness
January 24, 2011
Breast Cancer Door to Door Outreach Offers Free Mammograms to Uninsured Women
January 24, 2011 (Miami, Florida) – The Women’s Breast Health Initiative (WBHI) will be taking its mission of promoting early detection and awareness to the streets again for the 2011 February Outreach Campaign Saturday mornings on February 5, February 12, and February 19. WBHI volunteers will knock on the doors of over 1,400 households in the City of Miami to save lives. At the end of the door-to-door outreach, WBHI will culminate the program on February 26 with a visit from a mobile mammography van providing free mammograms to pre-qualified women right in their own neighborhood.
This year, WBHI will be targeting the City of Miami’s District 4, in collaboration with Commissioner Francis Suarez. Commissioner Suarez has worked tirelessly to serve the district and believes strongly in our mission to provide women with the appropriate awareness, education and screening, regardless of their financial means.
“We believe that the work Andrea and the WBHI are doing is extremely positive for District 4,” says Commissioner Suarez. “We are happy to support the organization, and know that their work will have a positive impact on the citizens in our neighborhoods.”
Andrea Ivory, internationally recognized 2009 Top Ten CNN Hero, breast cancer survivor, and founder of WBHI knows that early detection saves lives, because it saved hers. She founded WBHI, the premiere source of free door to door breast health awareness, education and screening to the uninsured and underserved in South Florida. “Breast cancer kills our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, family and friends. ALL women are at risk for breast cancer. Although early detection saves lives, not all women have access and awareness;” states Andrea, “That’s what we’re out there to do.”
WBHI believes that all women have the right to benefit from the early detection of breast cancer regardless of their ability to pay, and fights breast cancer as a life threatening disease, one household at a time. Since 2006 WBHI has knocked on more than 30,000 doors to save lives in South Florida.
Jackson Health System supports the efforts of WBHI by collaborating to provide our participants with free screening.
Who: The Women’s Breast Health Initiative
What: Door to door campaign offering free breast health awareness, education and
mammograms to the uninsured and underserved.
Where: City of Miami, Florida 33125
When: February 5, 12, 19 – Starting – 8:30AM
Contact: Andrea Ivory, Founder, Women’s Breast Health Initiative 866–315–7711
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Written by: Kristen Bennett
Written by: Kristen Bennett
