Breast Cancer Patients: Talking to Fellow Survivors is Essential to Dealing with the Disease

Edie Falco and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization Join Forces to Put Focus Back on Needs of Survivors and Patients

NEW YORK, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An overwhelming number of breast cancer patients and survivors say that talking to other survivors is key to dealing with the disease.  The findings, the result of a new national poll of breast cancer patients and survivors, inspired Edie Falco, the award-winning actress of the hit series Nurse Jackie and 9-year cancer survivor to join forces with Y-ME, a national breast cancer organization focused on the needs of survivors and patients.

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"I didn't know that it mattered so much to speak with someone who had been through it.  I was like a deer in the headlights," said Ms. Falco. "I kept my diagnosis private but could have used an anonymous friend who'd been there to talk about the stuff you are left to deal with because the doctors don't talk about it. 'Am I going to lose my hair? When will it happen? Were you scared? Does your family know?' I'm helping Y-ME because its mission is near to my heart."

The poll, conducted by Whitman Insight Strategies for Y-ME, found that 84% of breast cancer patients and survivors say talking to another survivor is one of the most important ways of dealing with the disease, and 68% wish that they could have been connected to other survivors. A whopping 95% said it was important to have a 24-hour hotline for fellow survivors yet only 14 % were aware that such an organization exists today.

Full poll results will be available at 5 PM ET at http://www.y-me.org/edie.

The CEO of Y-ME says she hopes these findings will shift the focus of the breast cancer movement to patient-focused support and advocacy.

"We're conditioned to raise money for awareness and research, but clearly there's a need for Y-ME since we focus on patients and survivors every hour of every day," said Cindy Geoghegan, CEO of Y-ME and 16-year survivor. 

About the poll
Results based on an online survey conducted by Whitman Insight Strategies (www.whitmanstrategies.com) April 3-5, 2012, among 400 US breast cancer patients and survivors 18 years of age and older. Margin of error is +/- 4.9% at the 95% confidence interval.

About Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization™
Y-ME's hotline is available 24/7/365, with interpreters in 150 languages. Y-ME's mission is to assure that no one faces breast cancer alone. To learn more or make a donation, dial 800-221-2141 or visit www.y-me.org/edie.

SOURCE Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization