The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition was formed by a group of survivors concerned with the enormous social, medical and economic consequences of breast cancer.

Statistics... 98,000 men and women are living in New Jersey. In 2005 there were 7,740
new cases of breast cancer diagnosed. New Jersey ranks 4th in the nation for occurrences and 2nd for deaths with 1480 in 2005.

The South Jersey Breast Cancer Plan of Action:

1. Provide information and education to individuals.

2. Increase public awareness through advocacy efforts lobbying for legislation.

3. Improve access to high quality breast cancer screening diagnosis, treatment and care for women in clinical trials who have this disease, through legislation and change in regulation.

4. Increase the involvement and influence of those living with breast cancer in the areas of legislation, regulatory process and all aspects of clinical designs.

Meetings

Meetings are held the 4th Monday of each at West Jersey Hospital in the John Young room at 7:00 PM., 106 Carnie Blvd., Voorhees, NJ.

Instrumental in getting the following bills passed in Congress...

Medicare Demonstration Program - Passed 2004 Oral anti cancer drugs will be covered in the program and Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer research program allocated $150 million for breast cancer research.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act - Passed June, 2001 Allows low income, uninsured and underinsured women Medicare coverage for treatment they need, once diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.

Medicare Clinical Trial coverage Act - Passed 2000 Establishes a guarantee that patients who are Medicare beneficiaries are covered for routine care costs when they enroll in clinical trials.

Lobbying efforts endorsed by SJBCC

Guaranteed access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of their ability to pay. We will continue to support Environmental Issues, Genetic Discrimination Issues and continued Breast Cancer Research. We will continue to fight for existing programs that our working in our state, such as the CEED (Cancer Education and Early Detection Program)

Breast Cancer and the Environment - It is generally believed that the environment plays a role in the development of breast cancer, but the extent of that role is not understood. Congress needs to enact legislation, which would provide grants for multi-disciplinary research centers to study the potential links between the environment and breast cancer.

Genetic Nondiscrimination Act - This would inhibit health insurers and employers from discriminating or denying coverage based on genetic information. We only endorse a bill that would include enforceable measures.

Fair Access to Clinical Trials - this would require clinical trails for serious and life threatening illnesses not only to be registered but to disseminate the outcome of the trial (good, bad or null)

The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition is lobbying aggressively for legislation. Our mission is clear: to raise awareness of Breast Cancer through advocacy, action and change in political policy. Join us by completing our membership application - $20.00 annual membership.

Upcoming Events

Loretta's League - Sunday, October 22, 2006

On Sunday, October 22,2006 we will be walking in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Pennsauken, NJ at Cooper River Park. Did you know that every three minutes, another women in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer? It kills approximately 40,000 people each year, including our own Carolyn J. Ochs, our membership chairperson and one of the founding members of the South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition. There is no cure or prevention. For these reasons we are committing ourselves to doing something about it. Join us at Cooper River on October 22 and be a part of Loretta's League. If you are unable to join us, you can  still make a donation by contacting our chairperson for this event, Melissa Gardner at 856-768-9028.The money raised goes to the American Cancer Society, a 501c3 public charity whose mission to provide access to care and work to finding a cure for breast cancer. There is no fee to participate but we are setting a goal of $3000.00 .We will be walking  in honor and memory of all those affected with breast cancer. Remember another woman was diagnosed in the short time it took you to read this message.

Carolyn J Ochs Scholarship Fund

Anyone interested in attending breast cancer seminars, trainings, and lectures can apply for assistance. You must be a SJBCC member in good standing ,a resident of NJ and must be attending a breast cancer specific event. The fund is open to breast cancer patients and family members. You can call the office at 856-768-9028 to obtain an application to the fund.