FitSugar

Do You Do a Breast Exam Every Month?

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 08:45:43 PDT

You might have seen the somewhat provocative ad (a woman with her fingers over her nipple) for the Susan Komen Foundation for a Cure. It is a great organization and the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. They also fund research for curing breast cancer. Looking at the ad every day has gotten me wondering if you all do self breast examinations monthly since early detection is key.

30 Celebs Including Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Banks, and Jane Fonda Sign Letter in Support of Planned Parenthood

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:50:36 PST

Thirty famous women added their voices to the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood controversy today, writing a letter of support of Planned Parenthood to Komen. Taking a noncontroversial tone, actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Banks, Scarlett Johansson, and Aisha Tyler, as well as writers including Nora Ephron and Judy Blume, thank Komen for restoring funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings.

The letter reads:

We are writing to thank you for reconsidering your funding criteria and resuming funding for the breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education services provided at Planned Parenthood health centers.

We are delighted that the thousands of women who receive care through Komen's partnership with Planned Parenthood - many of whom are poor and live in underserved communities - will continue to be able to receive this lifesaving care.

Early detection saves lives, and education and screening can help fight breast cancer. We share the same mission as the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood - to protect and advance women's health.

Do you think Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision today will make a difference? Weigh in on our poll.

Will Susan G. Komen's U-Turn Make a Difference?

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:00 PST

This morning, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that it has reversed its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings. Under pressure from its own affiliates, employees, and supporters, the breast cancer foundation released a statement that began, "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives." It continued:

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Acknowledging the damage to its brand, it stated, "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics." The reversal fell short of an apology to Planned Parenthood for creating a policy that blatantly targeted the organization, and there is still evidence that staunchly pro-life individuals are running the show. But do you think responding to the public's outcry will bring people back on board with Komen?

Why Did Susan G. Komen For the Cure Cut Off Funding to Planned Parenthood?

Annie Scudder — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:20:58 PST

For years Susan G. Komen for the Cure has provided Planned Parenthood grants for breast cancer screenings. It recently decided to cut off the women's health provider, causing outrage among many supporters of both groups. Petitions to Komen to change its mind have been circulating on Facebook and across the Internet.

After Komen's decision became public, Planned Parenthood told supporters that "after facing pressure from anti-women's health political organizations, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has announced that it is ending future funding for lifesaving breast cancer screenings and breast health education at Planned Parenthood health centers." Supporters know Planned Parenthood provides crucial services besides abortion, and critics of Komen's choice to stop funding assert the irony of cutting off life-saving cancer screenings to show you're pro-life.

As evidence that the decision was politically motivated, women's health activists could point to a recent backlash against Komen from the Evangelical Christian group LifeWay. LifeWay was selling pink Bibles to benefit Komen, when it discovered the breast cancer group gave money to Planned Parenthood. LifeWay immediately pulled the Bibles, getting the attention of pro-life activists. In addition, Komen's founder and CEO, Nancy G. Brinker, is a longtime Republican with ties to the Bush family, and the foundation's newly hired vice president is a former politician with known pro-life positions. Also, Komen cited a controversial investigation of Planned Parenthood in Congress started by a staunchly pro-life member.

Even so, Susan G. Komen's founder and CEO maintained its decision to not fund organizations under investigation is part of a broad effort to reorganize donations and make them more efficient. See Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Nancy G. Brinker explain the foundation's decision below.

The Komen Foundation Is Launching a Fragrance

Jaime Richards — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:45:55 PST

For nearly 30 years, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has been raising funds and awareness to help fight breast cancer. And now, the organization is set to launch a fragrance in April. Promise Me, which will be sold in an eau de parfum ($59) and an eau de toilette ($20-$30), is a floral oriental that will include notes of blood orange, bergamot, mandarin, aldehyde, pink peony, black current, rosewood, wild orchid, white patchouli, and musk.

"My sister was always passionate about fragrance," said Nancy Brinker, sister of the late Susan Komen, founder of the foundation, and author of Promise Me ($10-$32), a book that depicts how the organization came to be. The organization hopes to raise $1 million from sales, but critics are likely to notice that just 13.5 percent of the net sales will go to the foundation.

Look for Promise Me in department stores, drugstores, and on TV in just a few months. The limited-edition fragrance will be sold until October, with plans to launch a different scent next year. Will you check it out?

Think Pink! 5 Kids' Products in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:36:54 PDT

You don't need to wear rose-colored glasses to be seeing pink this month. It's October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means it's annual shop for the boobies time! We've found a selection of child and baby products that give something to the cause with every purchase.

Clockwise from top left:

Infant Splatter Romper ($12): 25 percent of your purchase price will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Crane Drop Shaped Pink Cool Mist Humidifier ($45): Partial proceeds go toward the fight against breast cancer.
Kids Stainless Steel Scissors with Antimicrobial Pink Handles ($4): 10 cents from the sale of each product are being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Plush Winter Bear ($12): 25 percent of your purchase price will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
California Baby I Love You Aromatherapy Bubble Bath ($14): A portion of the proceeds of the I Love You line of products is donated to the California Breast Cancer Research Program.

Think Pink: Potter & Moore Tea Rose & Sage Eau de Toilette

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:30 PDT

In 1749, gardeners John Potter and William Moore joined forces to start a business cultivating herbs and flowers. They specialized in lavender and eventually they evolved into creating fine bath, body and beauty products including perfumes. They took a special interest in garden roses and believed that individuality had a great deal to do with fragrance choices. Soon, their company became very successful, so much so that products are still being developed to this day.

One of their best-selling floral and herbal essences is a romantic scent called Tea Rose and Sage Eau de Toilette ($63).

The smell is delicate and sweet, but what also makes it special is knowing that 10% of October sales are donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the world's largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

If you have never taken the time to read the touching story about a promise between two sisters, and about how this foundation was born, I suggest doing so as a reminder about what these seemingly small donations can do to help. Every person can make a difference.