Breast Cancer

She's an award-winning reporter and a familiar face to WSBT viewers. Now this former reporter wants you to know about a surgical alternative you may not be aware of. She says it is a message every woman should hear. Denise Bohn Stewart covered some of WSBT’s biggest stories, including the Benton Harbor riots. But little did she know that when she left the business she'd work harder than she ever had before. Stewart got married seven years ago, and had three beautiful children.

For the third year, Notre Dame is helping fight breast cancer with football. Hundreds of women came to campus to learn more about the game while raising money for the Kelly Cares Foundation. Nearly 600 women took to the gridiron at Notre Dame to learn the X and Os of football from the experts. All with the goal of tackling breast cancer. The event allowed women to run several football drills led by Irish coaches and players. But more so to bring together those affected by breast cancer.

MISHAWAKA — One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and the disease does not just affect women 40 and older.  Janel Sears of Mishawaka was 37 when she found out she had breast cancer.  Her son, Kyle, was her first concern. “I had a 5 year old son, so that was my first thought, what's going to happen to me?  What's going to happen to him?” recalled Sears. She said Kyle was, and continues to be, a great supporter.  Sears had the lump removed, then chemotherapy, and radiation.

CHICAGO (AP) — Millions of women at high risk of breast cancer because of genes, family history or other reasons have a new option for preventing the disease. A big study finds that a drug cut the risk of developing breast cancer by more than half in women who were past menopause. The drug is exemestane (ex-eh-MESS'-tane), sold by Pfizer Inc. as Aromasin (ah-ROHM'-ah-sin) and in generic form. Two drugs are already available for preventing breast cancer — tamoxifen (tah-MOCKS'-eh-fen)

There have been huge advances in breast cancer treatment and survival rates, with more clinical studies in the field locally right now. Surgery can be less invasive, and new drugs have fewer side effects. "We have advanced chemotherapies now, we have targeted therapies,” said Dr. Bilal Ansari of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. “These therapies go directly to the breast cancer cells — called Avastin — and patients do very well on these kinds of treatments.

NILES — Hundreds gathered at a Niles bowling alley Saturday to strike back at cancer. The popular "Bowl for the Cure" event raised money for the continuing fight against breast cancer. "Anything to save someone else you do," said Cheryl Culp, a breast cancer survivor and "Bowl for The Cure" supporter. "It's hard to explain, but when you go through the experience yourself, it's good to see this many people. " Culp said breast cancer affects not only the victim, but everyone around them.

Breast cancer is a devastating diagnosis, but younger women facing the disease have some unique challenges. Survival rates are lower than in post-menopausal women. They can face pregnancy after diagnosis, and some have young children at home to care for. Kim Zobrosky's daughter was just 5 when Kim found her lump. "How do you explain this to your child? What do you say? Right away they think you're going to die,” Zobrosky told WSBT News. Zobrosky said talking to her young daughter was one of her biggest concerns — a concern a majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer will not face.

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — The National Cancer Institute says more than 192,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. That probably meant months of treatment, either chemotherapy or radiation, and months of waiting to find out if it worked. But there is hope on the horizon that those months could turn into days thanks to research going on right now at the University of Notre Dame. Hairless mice have helped Dr. Bradley Smith find a way to speed up the treatment evaluation process.

Catching breast cancer early increases your chance of surviving. Help for cancer survivors has come a long way — especially when it come to image recovery. It's a small, unassuming place inside Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center's Cancer Institute. Inside, it's not like a doctor's office. It’s more like a boutique, or a hair salon. "Image recovery heals the soul,” explained Kim Dalton of the Image Recovery Center. “Doctors take care of the physical aspects and fight the disease.

This month is national Breast Cancer Awareness month, stressing the importance of getting regular check ups and mammograms. As WSBT's Ed Ernstes reports, a local contest is using humor to not only get that word out, but also help pay for mammograms for those who can't afford them.

Indiana University Health released the following on Friday:   LA PORTE, Ind. - During the entire month of May, several Indiana University Health locations throughout Northern Indiana are offering mammograms at an exclusive $95 discounted rate to women. Appointments can be scheduled by calling: IU Health La Porte Hospital in La Porte:  219.326.2444 IU Health Diagnostic Imaging at LifePlex in Plymouth:  800.654.4841, ext. 2444 IU Health Starke Hospital in Knox: call  574.772.1177 According to the American Cancer Society, mammograms are the most effective and valuable tool for early detection of breast cancer.

On Tuesday, Oscar-winning film star Angelina Jolie revealed she underwent a double mastectomy after learning she had a high risk of breast cancer. WSBT Reporter Denise Bohn knows all too well what Jolie has gone through.  Bohn discovered she has the BRCA 1 gene mutation after being diagnosed with breast cancer nearly 5 years ago at the age of 38. After having initial surgery to remove her cancer and following her chemotherapy treatments,...

We introduce you to a local woman who is battling breast cancer and show you a group of local doctors providing an opportunity for her and other cancer patients to learn more about their disease and course of treatment. Jacqueline Rico was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in February 2012. “I was waiting for someone to come and say, 'Jacqueline, we made a mistake, and you don't have cancer,'” said Rico. But that wasn't the case. She's undergone a mastectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy, and now seven straight weeks of radiation therapy.

Thousands of people braved the cold early this morning to raise funds and awareness about breast cancer. The American's Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk started at Howard Park this morning. The 5k walk led participants through the downtown streets of South Bend. The money raised from this event helps provide free resources and support to men and women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. It also funds research and helps give access to mammograms to people who need them.

This month is national Breast Cancer Awareness month, stressing the importance of getting regular check ups and mammograms. As WSBT's Ed Ernstes reports, a local contest is using humor to not only get that word out, but also help pay for mammograms for those who can't afford them.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - Over 100 people in southwest Michigan put on some pink and walked along the beaches to support Breast Cancer Awareness month. The 2nd annual "Beach Stroll" in St. Joseph stepped off Saturday in front of the Silver Beach Carousel. One of the highlights of this year's event was "Izzy" the pink fire truck, sponsored by the Clay Fire Station in South Bend.  Survivors signed the truck and left inspiring messages. The truck is covered from end to end with names.  33-year old Melanie Kinney added her name to the wheel of the truck.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She and several friends and family participated in Saturday's Beach Stroll to help increase awareness about the disease.  The proceeds from the Beach Stroll go to the Susan G. Komen of Southwest Michigan affiliate.  Last year, the affiliate helped fund 1,800 mammograms to uninsured or underinsured women and men.  The Beach Stroll is just one of several events planned in southwest Michigan for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

  “I have breast cancer.” That was the hardest sentence I've ever had to say. Maybe it was because I had to say it to my parents over the phone, long distance, alone in the hot dingy garage of a hospital parking lot. Until that point, save for the five minutes following that initial diagnosis, I had held it together. Let's backtrack. One month ago today, my husband and I got the news that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

For the third year, Notre Dame is helping fight breast cancer with football. Hundreds of women came to campus to learn more about the game while raising money for the Kelly Cares Foundation. Nearly 600 women took to the gridiron at Notre Dame to learn the X and Os of football from the experts. All with the goal of tackling breast cancer. The event allowed women to run several football drills led by Irish coaches and players. But more so to bring together those affected by breast cancer.

Giving and not receiving anything in return … a difficult concept for some adults to comprehend … is a lesson well demonstrated by some Parkside Elementary School second graders.  This week, students wrapped up a fund-raiser designed to bring smiles and kind words to area cancer patients. About 80 students walked Tuesday to IU Health Goshen Center for Cancer Care to deliver their gifts, including a check for $1,550 and student-created books, joke books, and colorful student-made magnets.

MONTICELLO, Ind. - In a lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of a Monticello, Indiana middle school student, the American Civil Liberties Union argues attire featuring the breast cancer awareness slogan “I [heart symbol] boobies” is protected speech under the First Amendment. A spokesperson for the ACLU of Indiana says In January the student, who attends Roosevelt Middle School, was told by school officials to turn a bracelet bearing the phrase and a pink ribbon inside out. He was told he would be expelled if he continued to wear the bracelet at school.