Thank you for visiting our Blog. We invite you to explore these articles highlighting advocacy. Written by staff writer and editor Helana Shumway, along with other members of our community, these entries provide valuable information, personal insights, and inspiration to help you navigate your cancer experience and connect with the resources available through the Coalition.
For more information or to ask a question, please email info@bccr.org. Thank you for visiting us here.
August is Make a Will Month: One Conversation I Never Thought I’d Have at 39
One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that estate planning is only for people who are much older or wealthy. The truth is that every adult can benefit from having a plan. I’ve encouraged many of my friends and family to think about their futures and create wills, no matter what their circumstances.
Affirming Care in Action: Honoring the LGBTQIA+ Community During a Breast or Gynecologic Cancer Diagnosis
While cancer does not discriminate in the sense that anyone can be impacted by a diagnosis, cancer affects people and communities differently. Health disparities in cancer care and outcomes exist based on many social identities like race, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic status, along with sexual orientation and gender identity.
Simplify Cleaning at Home
Creating a healthier home often starts with the products we choose – but many of us begin that journey with skincare, not cleaning supplies.
Advocacy in Action – A Journey to the Capitol
For over two decades, advocates from the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester have traveled to Washington, DC, for the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) yearly Advocate Leadership Summit.
What’s in the Air: How Air Fresheners Can Impact Our Health
The SHARE conference focused on advancing health equity through addressing four important themes: access to care, financial toxicity, health literacy and psychosocial impact for those living with breast or gynecologic cancer.
Redlined! Historical Redlining and Breast Cancer
While redlining has long been outlawed, its harm on neighborhoods and communities continues to be seen and felt today. Sarah Lima, PhD, MPH, is an epidemiologist who studies the connection between historically redlined communities and breast cancer. She received her doctorate from the University at Buffalo and has focused much of her research on New York cities that were redlined. Her research asserts that the structural racism set in place by redlining policies impacts present-day breast cancer survival rates and the prevalence of risk factors associated with the disease.
Reflections from the Getting Our Fair SHARE Conference
The SHARE conference focused on advancing health equity through addressing four important themes: access to care, financial toxicity, health literacy and psychosocial impact for those living with breast or gynecologic cancer.
Tax Law Changes in 2026
Recent changes to federal tax law may affect how supporters choose to give to the Breast Cancer Coalition and other nonprofit organizations. Below are a few key updates to be aware of as you plan your support this year.
Community in Action: The Power of Cultivation and Grassroots Collaboration
To cultivate community among those affected by breast or gynecologic cancers.
This is how the Breast Cancer Coalition’s mission statement begins. Cultivating community is a key tenet of the work that we do, but what does this “cultivation” look like in action?
Coalition Advocates Help to Ban Toxins from Menstrual Products in New York
Coalition’s Advocacy Committee is a robust group of survivor advocates and dedicated community members determined to see a future without breast or gynecologic cancer, supporting legislation and policymaking on the local, state, and federal levels.