Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego Invests $540,000 in San Diego Breast Health Programs

SAN DIEGO, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The alarming budget cuts to state-funded breast cancer screening programs in California combined with  the reality of a tough economy, resulted in increased demand for grants funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego this year. The organization announced today that it granted more than $500,000 to local organizations to fund breast cancer diagnostics and screening in San Diego. This number represents less than half of what the foundation granted in 2009, greatly emphasizing the importance of increased fundraising efforts in 2010. The San Diego Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists committed to ending breast cancer forever, allocated its 2010 grants based on gaps in community needs as identified by its recently conducted Community Profile.

"As we face the repercussions of major budget cuts and fundraising challenges as a result of the economy, it is important for San Diegans to realize that in these tough times the need for health services increases," said Laura Farmer Sherman, breast cancer survivor and executive director of Komen San Diego. "We are challenging the community to step up and support us in our efforts to ensure that everyone has access to the services they need to live long and healthy lives."

Since its inception in 1995, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego, has awarded $8.5 million in grants in an effort to close the gaps in care that make breast cancer deadlier for some women, which contributed to the estimated 4,170 breast cancer deaths last year in California alone.

The 2010 grant applications were reviewed by a panel of independent public health, breast cancer and community experts, and grants were awarded to local organizations based on priority areas identified in an extensive community assessment taken by Komen for the Cure, San Diego.  The assessment, taken every two years, provides direction for the non-profit organization's work – establishing priorities for grant funding, education and as a guide to decision making.

According to Farmer Sherman, "At Susan G. Komen for the Cure we believe everyone deserves the same opportunity to become breast cancer survivors and to have an assurance that their future healthcare needs are properly managed. As a survivor myself, I understand the importance of having access to information and resources that guide women in their journeys to survival. We are going to keep working hard to do everything we can to close the gaps in San Diego County and ensure our community needs are met."

For this reason, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego encourages San Diegans to get involved.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego funded grants to the following organizations in 2010:

La Maestra Family Clinic, Inc. – Expanded Access to Breast Cancer Education and Screening: This program's goal is to increase breast cancer education and diagnostic screening to low-income, underinsured minority and immigrant/refugee women in San Diego County.

Palomar Pomorado Health Development – The Komen-North County Breast Care Project:  This program provides North County Inland patients below the age of 50 with diagnostic services including digital mammograms, ultrasound, and/or stereotactic and ultrasound guided core biopsies.

Council of Community Clinics – Breast Cancer Diagnostic Pool:  Addresses gaps in services by providing funding for necessary diagnostic services for San Diego County women with breast health needs, targeting women under 40 who have no other source of funding.  

Sharp HealthCare Foundation – Diagnostics and Treatment Project:  Provides breast cancer diagnostic services to women under 50 who are recent Mexican immigrants, low-income and are underinsured and uninsured, English language learners who experience socioeconomic, health and educations disparities.

Vista Community Clinic – Breast Health Screening and Support:  Targeting the North County, this program will provide services to all underserved women, emphasizing Latina, African American and Asian/Pacific Islander women.  The program facilitates access to mammograms for women who receive clinical breast exams at the clinic and advocacy for women throughout the process of accessing screening and needed follow-up services.

Scripps Health, Scripps Cancer Center – Scripps Breast Cancer Center Diagnosis Project:  Provides services for women under the age of 40 and any men who have a palpable breast mass or a breast abnormality, and who are low income, underinsured or uninsured, and are at or below 200 percent Federal Poverty Level and are ineligible for any other funding program.  Works with a multi-hospital system to refer qualified patients for imaging services to either Scripps Chula Vista or Scripps La Jolla.

San Diego County Medical Society Foundation – Project Access San Diego-Breast Cancer Initiative:  This program provides emergency financial assistance for costs not covered by insurance plans  such as MRI; ultrasound; radiation therapy; ambulatory services; medications (related to breast cancer that are not available through pharmaceutical assistant programs); co-pays; nutritional supplements and supplies (wigs, breast prosthesis, compression garments.)  100 percent of the money is dispersed to patients.

Grossmont Hospital Foundation – Vital Spirit:  This program provides emergency financial assistance for costs not covered by insurance plans, such as MRI; ultrasound; radiation therapy; ambulatory services; medications (related to breast cancer that are not available through pharmaceutical assistant programs); co-pays; nutritional supplements and supplies (wigs, breast prosthesis, compression garments.)  100 percent of the money is dispersed to patients.

San Ysidro Health Center – Patient Navigation and Survivor Support Program:  A comprehensive support program for low-income, uninsured Latinas and African Americans who are diagnosed with, and recovering from, breast cancer.  The program provides a Patient Navigator to answer questions, provide appropriate internal and external referrals, provide information about clinical trials to diagnosed patients, and to help patients navigate through the confusing medical and social services system.

Breast Cancer Solutions – Temporary Financial Aid Program:  Provides financial assistance to individuals in San Diego County who experience financial distress due to breast cancer treatment.  This may include payment for rent/mortgage, utilities and other life-supporting expenses for breast cancer patients.  

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista – Women for Breast Cancer Prevention Program:  This program will continue to provide and expand culturally sensitive breast health education, including outreach and case management, to underserved Latina, Filipino and African American populations in the South Bay area of San Diego.  The program will recruit and train local women from the community as "Patient Navigators" (Promotoras).

Family Health Centers of San Diego – Amazon Breast Project:  This program fills a gap by developing a Lesbian-Bisexual Breast Health Program that builds on the expertise in outreach and access of its HIV Services Department.  The program will promote culturally competent breast health education, screening, and treatment to Lesbian-Bisexual women with the overarching goal of reducing mortality.

Family Health Centers of San Diego – Patient Navigator Program:  Bicultural Patient Navigator Program, located at Logan Heights Family Health Center.  The purpose is to promote women's screening, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up adherence by increasing their knowledge and access to healthcare, addressing barriers, and increasing coping skills and sense of empowerment, with the overarching goal of reducing mortality.

For a complete copy of the 2009 Profile Report, please visit http://www.komensandiego.org/grants/funding-priorities/. For additional information Susan G. Komen for the Cure, please visit the national Web site at www.komen.org, or the San Diego Affiliate Web site at www.komensandiego.org. 

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego

Since its inception in 1995, $8.5 million has been given to local organizations that provide breast cancer education, screening, diagnostics, treatment and patient support for the uninsured or underinsured in San Diego County.  Seventy-five percent of every dollar raised through Affiliate-sponsored events stays right here in San Diego County fund free diagnostic mammograms, treatment and services for uninsured and underinsured women and their families. The remaining 25 percent funds international breast cancer research.  In fact, next to the U.S. government, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest funder of breast cancer research in the world. For more information, please visit www.komensandiego.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, the organization has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. www.komen.org

Did you know?

• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
• The most significant risk factors are being a female and getting older.
• Breast cancer doesn't discriminate.
• Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years, both professionally and personally.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women ages 40-59.
• Men can get breast cancer, too.  1 percent of breast cancer diagnosis will be in male patients.

SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego