5 Things You Need to Know Today

Information Session on Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk at Library

A look at what is happening in Winchester on Thursday, March 28.

Here is the Winchester Patch 5 Things column for Thursday, March 28: 1. Library sessions: Here's an overview of the activities planned for Thursday at Winchester Public Library, according to the library website:   2. Local meetings: Here is a look at the meetings slated for Thursday in Winchester, according to the town website: 3. Cloudy skies: It is expected to be mostly cloudy Thursday, with temperatures peaking around 50 before dipping to about 33 at night, according to the National Weather Service's forecast for Winchester. There is a 50 percent chance of precipitation during the day and a 20 percent chance of rain at night, according to the forecast. 4. Winchester Rotary Club meeting: The organization meets at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at …

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Show Us Your Pink Pride in Winchester

Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by uploading photos of your and/or your family and friends supporting the cause.

Showing off your pink pride during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a favorite thing to do with survivors and supporters alike. Thousands of hats, shirts and other pink breast cancer items are sold in October. Millions of tiny pink ribbons are worn to support the cure for breast cancer and hope for many women. Also, countless numbers of people show support of Breast Cancer Awareness by participating in fundraising events. Have you strapped on your pink running shoes for the Komen Race for the Cure? If a walk is more your speed, how about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure? Have you joined a local support group? Joined efforts with other supporters to hold a fundraiser or night out?  We want you to tell us your story in the …

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Breast Cancer: Stuff They Never Tell You

Survivors are part of a sisterhood, whether they choose to be or not. And sharing stories – funny, sad, ironic – is what sisters do best.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Hearing the words, "I'm sorry, but it's cancer," comes as a shock to anyone, and I never thought I would hear them that day. I was in my mid-40s, a marathon runner, healthy eater, non-smoker, no family history. The only real risk factor I had was giving birth to my first child after age 30. I cried (hysterically), I went for a long run the next morning, I got a second opinion, I told only a handful of people, and I went about my busy life trying not to think about it. I made a list of other women I knew who had fought – or were fighting – this awful disease. In a few moments, I came up with more than 15 names of women in my community, most of whom were right around my age. Clearly, I was not …

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Male Breast Cancer Survivor Supports Others by Phone

Seventy-three-year-old Wisconsin man fields phone calls from around the country from men diagnosed with breast cancer.

William Woodfill's habit of not using a washcloth in the shower may have saved his life.  "I felt this lump one day...underneath my left breast," he said. "I knew it shouldn't have been there."  For the next month, he checked the lump, monitoring its progression as it grew from the size of a pea to the size of a lima bean.   "He couldn't stick anything in it, so he said that we had to take it out," he said of the surgeon who attempted to biopsy the growth with a syringe.  It was breast cancer.  "I went back fully expecting not to have cancer," said Woodfill, who noted that about 1,500 men a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. "And that was the big stunner … it flipped the switch from things are normal to things not …

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Breast Cancer in Young Women: Resources and Statistics in Winchester

Breast cancer isn't age specific. Here's how to cope with treatments and augmentations if you are diagnosed earlier in life.

Generally speaking, 133 out of every 100,000 women in Massachusetts are likely to get get breast cancer, according to this breast cancer statistics chart from komen.org. An American woman in her 30s has a one in 232 chance of getting the disease, and a woman 20 years her senior has a one in 42 probability, according to the website. “Although we aren’t certain, the cause of breast cancer in younger women is likely caused by a genetic predisposition,” says Ann H. Partridge, M.D., M.P.H., the medical oncologist director of the Adult Survivorship Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. While breast cancer treatment in young women is often effective, the chance of recovery tends to be worse in women under 40. …

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Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week in Massachusetts

Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

Breast cancer: Guys get it, too. That's the message of The Blue Wave, a group created to spread awareness about breast cancer in men, and the message that will be sent the week of Oct. 21-27 in Massachusetts after Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Last month, Patrick signed the bill that says the week aims "to raise awareness of the occurrence of breast cancer in men and to encourage regular testing for breast cancer amongst all citizens of the Commonwealth." According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure, one of the most well-known breast cancer awareness groups, breast cancer in men is rare but still happens: The overall ratio of female to male breast …

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SHARE: Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors in Winchester

"Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors" shares the wisdom of breast cancer survivors with the newly diagnosed. What's your story?

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the greatest challenges for those who have been newly diagnosed is finding sources of support. Patients are eager for information on everything from enduring surgery and chemotherapy to how to deal with hair loss. While there are many local resources and support groups available in Winchester, women can also find comfort in a sisterhood of survivors who have already been in their shoes. Best selling author and breast cancer survivor Barbara Delinsky has gathered the wisdom of hundreds of breast cancer survivors who are eager to inspire those who are new to the “breast cancer sisterhood.” She shares all of the stories and tidbits she found in her book "Uplift: Secrets from the …

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Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Comes to Boston This Weekend

Organizers expect the 5K walk will draw more than 7,000 people into the city and raise more than $1 million for breast cancer research.

In Massachusetts, 133 women out of every 100,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer.   This means that during your lifetime, there's a chance that you, a family member or friend could be diagnosed. Luckily, thanks to awareness, research and investment into the prevention of breast cancer by organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure, mortality rates are dropping, and more and more people are coming together to support those fighting against breast cancer. More than 7,000 breast cancer survivors and supporters will take to the streets of Boston this weekend for the 2012 Komen Massachusetts Race for the Cure. The 5k-timed race and untimed walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. in Joe Moakley Park, South Boston. Winchester …

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Where to Get a Breast Examination in Winchester

Massachusetts has some of the highest rates of breast cancer in the country, but early detection of breast cancer through routine exams saves thousands of lives every year.

Studies have shown that early detection of breast cancer improves the chances of a cure. That in itself is the most important reason to make an appointment today for a breast exam or mammogram. The Winchester Hospital Breast Care Center in Woburn offers onsite breast exams. The Center also offers screening mammography and diagnostic breast imaging reading rooms where radiologists review breast imaging procedures. The Breast Care Center is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boston also has a number of top-rate women's health facilities for such exams. Among them are Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center's Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center, the …

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Breast Cancer Support Groups Around Winchester

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here's a list of local breast cancer support groups.

One in eight American women and one in 1,000 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. It’s estimated that more than two million people are diagnosed with breast cancer and fight for their lives each year. Breast cancer is difficult to face alone—for both patients and their loved ones. To help in the battle, there are a number of local resources and support groups. The Winchester Hospital Breast Care Center offers a seven-week educational support group for women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The Center also offers an ongoing educational series for breast cancer survivors that discusses lymphedema, sexuality, exercise, disease recurrence and breast reconstruction. “Support groups are really …

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