Young Survival Coalition

Young Women Facing Breast Cancer Together.

OUR MISSION

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Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers, medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and length of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 and under.

OUR HISTORY

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Founded in 1998 by three young breast cancer survivors, YSC was the first national nonprofit to focus exclusively on the unique issues facing young women affected by breast cancer.

Above, left to right: YSC co-founders Roberta Levy-Schwartz, Joy Simha and Lanita Moss.

YOUNG WOMEN CAN AND DO GET BREAST CANCER

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• Nearly 13,000 women diagnosed annually under 401

• More than 26,000 women diagnosed annually under 452

1 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2013-2014 2 12.5% of total breast cancer under 45. ACS, 2013-2014

THE FACTS

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• There is currently no effective screening method to detect breast cancer in young women. 

• Young women are more likely to have aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, including triple negative and HER2+disease2 , larger tumor sizes and higher incidence of lymph node involvement.

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• Today there are an estimated 250,000 breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. who were diagnosed at age 40 or younger.4

1 Ruddy, K. et al., "Presentation of breast cancer in young women," Journal of Clinical Oncology 27:15S (2009). 2.Carey K. Anders et al., "Breast Carcinomas Arising at a Young Age: Unique Biology or a Surrogate for Aggressive Intrinsic Subtypes?" Journal of Clinical Oncology 29:1 (2011). 3. Carey K. Anders et al., "Young Age at Diagnosis Correlates with Worse Prognosis and Defines a Subset of Breast Cancers with Shared Patterns of Gene Expression," Journal of Clinical Oncology 26:20 (2008). 4 Based on 2000 Census data.

• Nearly 80 percent of young women diagnosed with breast cancer find their breast abnormality themselves.1

THE ISSUES

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• Lack of Research• Diagnosis During Pregnancy• Early Onset Menopause• Fertility• Child Rearing• Financial Difficulties• Education Impacts• Career Challenges• Body Image• Relationships, Intimacy & Dating Issues

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Goals of CDC Cooperative Grant

• Evaluate

• Enhance

• Grow

• Sustain

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Evaluate• YSC CDC Steering Committee

• Review

• Evaluate

• Analyze

• Plan

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Enhance; Grow

• Supportive Partnerships

• Collaborate

• Build

• Reach

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Enhance; Grow

• Healthcare Providers

• Communicate

• Educate

• Supply

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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Regional Field Managers work with healthcare providers and volunteers in local communities.

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Enhance; Grow

• Co-Survivors

• Summit

• Regional Symposia

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YSC CONFERENCES

March 6-8; Houston, TXThis three-day national conference will feature inspirational speakers, workshops and special wellness activities.• Spend 3 days learning, sharing and

reclaiming your life• Discover what makes under-40 breast cancer

different• Relax, have fun and focus on your health and

wellness• Connect with a community of young

survivors, co-survivors and healthcare professionals

youngsurvival.org/conferences

YSC CONFERENCES

Spring 2015, Washington D.C.

One-day regional symposiums will focus on the individual pursuit of resiliency and survivorship for young women affected by breast cancer and their co-survivors.

• Educational and inspirational speakers and workshops

• Opportunity to connect with survivors and co-survivors in your region

• Evening celebration

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youngsurvival.org/conferences

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Grow; Sustain

• Organizational capacity

• Develop and incorporate programmatic sustainability

• In 2012, YSC assembled a team of leading advocates, researchers and clinicians for an 18-month initiative focused on young women with breast cancer. 

• YSC’s goal is to drive systemic change by refocusing the research community on the tough questions that, when answered, will improve and extend life for young women with breast cancer. 

• The results of these efforts is the YSC Research Agenda that was released May 2014 as well as the soon to be published white paper.

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YSC RESEARCH AGENDA

youngsurvival.org/research-agenda

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Thank you!

youngsurvival.org