May 2005

Whenever I start to think that something is hard in life, or catch myself mildly complaining, it occurs to me that things aren’t so bad. After all “I still have my health”, as the cliché goes. But some people do not have even that. They’re battling a life-threatening illness, or undergoing harsh treatments or facing major surgeries. Good health is something we all take for granted. It’s like turning on a faucet and expecting water to run out. Until it doesn’t, you think it’s always going to be there.    

With early detection techniques and cutting edge treatment options, more people are living with breast cancer today than dying from it. As I am lining up workshop presenters for our October 19 Keystone Breast Cancer Conference, I am learning about all kinds of exciting new topics. There truly is hope out there for newly-diagnosed women that did not exist even ten years ago. 

If you have breast cancer, you can be glad you live in Pennsylvania. Here in this state, we can be proud of the research that is taking place, of the healthcare professionals that tend to us, and of the loud voice of advocacy groups like the PBCC. We’re here to ease the pain in some small way. I wish you good health this month…and that you never take it for granted. 

Heather Hibshman
Executive Director