Breast Cancer Won’t Wait: An Urgent Call to Action

Breast cancer is not polite.

It doesn’t care that 2020 has already left us weary; it won’t wait patiently until there’s a year less challenging, less marred by natural disasters and a pandemic that stretches the globe. It doesn’t even slow down because there are crucial social justice and civic engagement issues that demand attention.

Unfortunately, according to a study published in August 2020, there has been a 51.8% decline in weekly diagnoses of breast cancer in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other countries have reported similar trends.

As a nine-year breast cancer survivor and the founder of Notes4Hope, a 501(c)3 charitable organization committed to raising funds and building awareness for an integrative approach to treating and preventing breast cancer, this deeply concerns me. Though I understand that many healthcare services were temporarily tabled due to COVID-19 and that some women are concerned about the in-person nature of mammograms, I also know that cancer won’t wait. It will simply advance, further than it might with early detection, and become harder to treat.

That’s why Notes4Hope is working harder than ever to keep prevention top of mind during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together with partners like Channel Impact, we’re finding new ways to spread the message of continued vigilance in the fight against breast cancer. Join us!

Don’t Miss Oktoberbrest

Part of Notes4Hope’s mission is to bring people and live music together, so we are joining forces with our friends at Canyon Club Brewery (CCB) and The Fourth Bore (TFB) for a very special Oktoberbrest.

CCB will brew a custom beer, FUcancer IPA – available at CCB in Moraga, T4B in Orinda, and Forge Handcrafted Pizza’s Jack London Square and Napa locations – and the proceeds will support Notes4Hope’s mission. CCB and TFB will also host several private evenings of live music, where guests can also enjoy food and drink in a safe, outdoor environment. Visit Notes4Hope’s website to see all the details and purchase your tickets today!

Breast Cancer Wellness and Recovery (WAR) Kits

Throughout the year Notes4Hope brings comfort to breast cancer patients via our WAR kits, which contain 11 curated items, from non-toxic hand sanitizer to cozy socks. There’s a bonus addition this year: a Notes4Hope face mask, complete with carbon filter! Click here to see a full list of items, or to purchase one for someone you love.

The WAR kits are free to all breast cancer patients, and your donations to Notes4Hope make this gift of comfort possible. I hope you’ll consider supporting our cause – any amount is appreciated.

Get Social

We’re excited to see all the buzz around our campaigns this year. A highlight was a profile story that recently aired on the KCBS “Difference Makers” show, which focuses on people making positive change in their communities. That show is now live on the KCBS website – take a listen!

To get our message out into the community even further, this year our Channel Impact team will receive a Notes4Hope t-shirt to wear, share, and tag all over their favorite social media platforms. To join us in creating awareness, use the hashtag #Oktoberbrest and help us spotlight the need for vigilance!

Channel Impact is generously hosting us in this space for a multi-part blog series on breast cancer prevention. Check back weekly throughout October to learn some surprising facts about breast cancer, healthy changes that will lower your risk, steps you can take to empower and advocate for yourself, and tools and resources to guide you on a journey of vigilance and prevention.