First, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires 500 reservations to start printing this plate! Please help us reach our goal of 500 reservations. Click here to reserve your plate now. Only $25!

Here's how the specialty motorcycle plate program works:

1. A minimum of 500 Maine residents must pre-order the plate.
2. Early registrants will receive a voucher in the mail.
3. The BMV will begin to produce the motorcycle plates.
4. The breast cancer awareness motorcycle plates will then be available for general order at all BMV branches.

Just like the companion specialty plate for automobiles, the proceeds from this effort will be split equally between three organizations: the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition's Support Service Fund, the Maine Cancer Foundation for their Women’s Cancer Fund, and the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program for their Mammogram Fund.

100% of the money raised will stay in Maine!

For more information, click here to visit the Motorcycle Plate FAQ page.

Our Komen Maine Affiliate grant not only provides a large contribution toward grant awards to qualified applicants, but also covers our administrative costs. This allows 100% of all other donations to the Support Service Fund to go directly to applicants.

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is grateful to the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for supporting our work with major grants for twelve consecutive years. To find out more about the Komen Maine Affiliate go to www.komenmaine.org. A list of all 2013 Komen Maine Affiliate grantees can be found on their site at http://www.komenmaine.org/grants/current-grant-recipients.

Stanley Rockson, MD, Director, Stanford University Center for Lymphedema and Venous Diseases, Kathleen Francis, MD, Lymphedema Physicians Services, Livingston, N.J. and others will educate the medical and patient communities about the advances in research, diagnosis, treatment and care of lymphedema.

For more information, please contact the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 207-664-0339.

Washington/Hancock Community Agency (WHCA) can provide transportation services or mileage reimbursement for medical treatment of breast cancer, including diagnostic services, chemotherapy, radiation, support groups and more.  WHCA volunteer drivers can pick individuals up at their home and bring them to treatment or any service that is part of treatment. The program also provides mileage reimbursement for those who transport themselves. There is no income requirement.

The Sunrides to Wellness Program is funded by the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. 

For information call WHCA at 877-374-8396 or 546-7547 or 664-0012.

Penquis/The Lynx and CancerCare of Maine have joined forces to provide transportation services or mileage reimbursement for medical treatment of breast cancer, including diagnostic services, chemotherapy, radiation, support groups, and more. Lynx volunteer drivers can pick up individuals at their homes and bring them to treatment. The program also provides mileage reimbursement at 21 cents per mile for those who transport themselves; also friends or family who transport.

There is no income level requirement. The Ride to Wellness Program is funded by the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. 

For more information call The Lynx at 973-3695 or 1-866-853-5969.       

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition thanks owner June Juliano, manager Tina Preble, and all the Acapello and Mensroom team members for their hard work on the fundraiser!

Photo: Scarborough Acapello Salon team members June Juliano (owner), Jenna Gammon, Lindsay Tracy, Stephanie Dulisse, Amanda Dale, Meg Thurston, Amy Conicelli, and Jennifer Gammon are shown with MBCC certificates of appreciation for the five salon locations. Tina Preble, manager, was not available for the photo.

For the past few years, beginning each October, Brighton Collectibles of Maine Mall in South Portland has been selling “Power of Pink” bracelets and donating $10 for every bracelet sold to the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition Support Service Fund. Brighton Collectibles recently presented a MBCC representative with a check for nearly $600! This donation will go directly to Support Service Fund recipients in need.

The Maine Mall Brighton Collectibles store has been a long-time supporter of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s work. We greatly appreciate their efforts!

There are still “Power of Pink” bracelets available for purchase at the Maine Mall store. For more information call the store at 207-761-8311.

On October 3, Maine Cancer Foundation presented four individuals with awards at the 11^th Annual “Cure Breast Cancer for ME” Luncheon: Carmen Darkis, Lenore Kraus, Stephanie Freedman and Dr. Neal Goodwin. The “Cure Breast Cancer for ME” luncheon was started in 2002 by Meredith Strang Burgess as a way to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to raise money for the Women’s Cancer Fund, a source of grants dedicated to cancer research, education and patient support for Maine women.

This year’s award winners fall into four categories: Community Outreach, Medical Care & Research, Lifetime Inspiration and the Meredith Burgess Spirit of Life Award. Each award seeks to exemplify an individual or organization that has achieved success above-and-beyond the ordinary, in the fight against breast cancer in Maine.

The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is proud to announce that Carmen Darkis of Bangor, a long-time Maine Breast Cancer Coalition volunteer, has been presented with the Lifetime Inspiration Award. Carmen was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and has been living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer since 1993, surviving a remarkable nineteen years with the deadly condition. “I don’t let cancer live my life,” says Carmen. “I live my life because I love being alive.”

Despite two decades of almost continuous treatment, Carmen is an active volunteer with the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, where she serves as recording secretary and engages in political advocacy at the state and national level. She has devoted her efforts to putting a face to late-stage breast cancer, advocating for more research and encouraging other women diagnosed with breast cancer, showing them that life can still be lived to the fullest.

The Community Outreach Award was presented to Lenore Kraus, LCSW, OSW-C, a licensed clinical social worker and a certified oncology social worker who has pioneered local efforts to adopt comprehensive psychological care for breast cancer patients.

The Meredith Burgess Spirit of Life Award was presented to Stephanie Freedman, RN, of Scarborough. Freedman is a breast cancer survivor, as well as a survivorship navigator for the Cancer Institute at Maine Medical center.

The keynote speaker and winner of the 2012 Medical Care & Research Award will be Dr. Neal Goodwin, Director, Research and Development In Vivo Pharmacology Services from the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Dr. Goodwin is at the forefront of a new effort to collect and house a tissue bank of cancer tumors, including samples provided by Maine women, through the Jackson Laboratory.

Since its inception, the “Cure Breast Cancer for ME” Luncheon has raised over $450,000 to support Maine women by providing grants for patient support programs, or by earmarking funds for research programs. The selection and distribution of the grants are overseen by an independent selection committee organized by Maine Cancer Foundation. In 2011 Maine Cancer Foundation distributed more than $1 million to local organizations.

To find out more about Maine Cancer Foundation visit www.mainecancer.org.

Photo: (left to right) Lenore Kraus, Carmen Darkis, Dr. Neal Goodwin, and Stephanie Freedman. 

According to NBCC, “These are not just words; we have a strategic plan to get there. While the vast majority of resources are focused on finding the next treatment, NBCC is doing something very different. We are bringing together unprecedented collaborations among scientists, visionaries, and advocates to catalyze, plan and implement work in two major areas: how to prevent metastasis to save lives and how to prevent the development of breast cancer.”

Sign the Petition to the President! Urge President Obama to commit to a leadership role in Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®.

To find out more about Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® and the National Breast Cancer Coalition go to www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/about-nbcc/.

Available at Bull Moose Music locations statewide, or for online purchase.

For more information and updates, visit The PINK Album website at www.mainepinkalbum.com  and The PINK Album Facebook page often!

Bangor--Research investigators at Eastern Maine Medical Center and the University of Maine have received a grant from the National Cancer Institute and Office of Research on Women’s Health to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT) for rural breast cancer survivors with memory problems caused by chemotherapy. Because rural cancer survivors often have to travel long distances for follow-up care after cancer treatment, this research will study the effectiveness of using videoconference technology to reduce travel.

Cognitive-behavioral therapies, or CBTs, are usually short-term, non-drug behavioral programs aimed at improving symptoms and overall health function. Memory problems following chemotherapy, sometimes called “chemo-fog” can occur in about 25-40% of cancer survivors and can be long term. To date, there are no well established treatments. However, one program, called “Memory and Attention Adaptation Training” or “MAAT” has been developed and previous research suggests MAAT helps cancer survivors better manage treatment-related memory problems. The question is will MAAT be effective if the behavioral treatment is done through a video monitor with sound versus being face to face with a clinician.

The title of the project is “Videoconference CBT for Rural Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Complaints” and the principal investigator is Dr. Robert J. Ferguson, a clinical health psychologist with Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Lafayette Family Cancer Center. He is also the author of MAAT. The co-principal investigator is Dr. Sandra Sigmon, Professor of Psychology at the University of Maine.

The researchers are seeking adult breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-related memory problems and who have completed chemotherapy at least 6 months prior to entering the study. There is no limit as to how long they have had memory complaints after chemotherapy, months or years. Individuals with other neurological problems such as stroke, brain injury or severe psychiatric illness will not be eligible. Interested individuals can call a toll free number at 1-855-973-7322 to see if they would qualify for the study.

The Greater Bangor Women's Ski and Snowboard Club (GBWSSC) annual sign-up party on Wednesday, November 13, at the Bangor Ski Rack was very successful. A lot of new members have joined this year and the evening was a great time.  

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) members Ro LeGasse', Elaine Chambers, and Cathi Cyr attended the event. The GBWSSC is a long-time supporter of the MBCC Support Service Fund. Ro expressed thanks to the Ski Club for their years of support and read some thank you letters written by Support Service Fund recipients - a very moving few minutes.  

The evening was capped off with a drawing for the winners of the two $100 Irving gift cards and the $25 Hannaford gift card that Ski Club members had been selling tickets for during the past 6 weeks; also a silent auction for some exciting donated items. All proceeds benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition Support Service Fund!  

Club benefits include deep discounts on lift tickets for four Sunday trips to Sugarloaf and luxury coach bus transportation from Bangor. Discounts are also available on rental equipment and lessons. For more information, contact the Club at their Facebook page with the message button.

Shown in photo L to R: Ro LeGasse’ of the MBCC Support Service Fund and Elaine Chambers, GBWSSC liaison for MBCC

Bangor Savings Bank has once again demonstrated their strong commitment to community support. In keeping with their “Community Matters More” philosophy, Bangor Savings “supports hundreds of causes throughout the state and continues to help local organizations energize and enhance the quality of life for Maine citizens. “ (from the Bangor Savings Bank website)