Earlier this month, in partnership with the nonprofit Breastcancer.org, we launched our fourth annual Pink Ribbon campaign. Our Pink Ribbon initiative is designed to raise awareness about breast cancer and better educate women, their families and friends about the disease through educational programming available On Demand and online. As part of our annual campaign, I sat down with Dr. Marisa Weiss, President and Founder of Breastcancer.org, to see what she had to say about her personal and professional battle against breast cancer. Check out what Dr. Weiss had to say...
What does the Comcast/Breastcancer.org partnership mean to you and Breastcancer.org? Has it affected your organization in any particular way(s)?
Speaking for myself and on behalf of Breastcancer.org, we are so proud to partner with Comcast on the Pink Ribbon Campaign. By combining each of our strengths, medical expertise on breast health and breast cancer and the most engaging and far-reaching live media distribution network, we have great therapeutic power to make a difference. Together we are providing information, hope and support, at all times of day and night, to women and their loved ones who are bravely facing a breast cancer challenge or who are determined to do everything possible to reduce their risk of ever getting breast cancer.
How do you think the On Demand platform helps to inform viewers about breast cancer awareness?
For women who are interested in breast cancer prevention, we provide many practical steps they can take in their everyday life. Most breast cancers have nothing to do with family history and inherited genes -- but rather, the wear and tear of living and the many choices we make on what we eat, drink, breathe, take and use every day. Pink Ribbon provides much-needed information on this subject.
For women and their families who are facing a diagnosis of breast cancer, Pink Ribbon provides great reassurance, knowledge and confidence. They are often feeling overwhelmed, confused and anxious about the complex medical information about breast cancer as well as the many decisions they have to make in a short period of time. This is exactly when you need someone to walk you through it. But between or during your 7-minute (average) time doctor appointments, there's unlikely to be enough time to figure everything out. You still need other places to go to process the information, make decisions, and move forward with a plan. The Pink Ribbon campaign provides a safe place to go for a full set of easy-to-use programs, from breast self-exam instruction to role-playing difficult conversations you need to have with your doctor to inspirational movies. In many engaging ways, Pink Ribbon builds awareness and makes a real impact.
On a personal level, are there any stories you can share about the path to recovery?
My own diagnosis made me a duel citizen of two very different but inextricably interconnected worlds. I'm now the patient doctor. It took a little time to learn how to straddle my two roles, but now I can shift from one role to the other in different settings as well as integrate the two roles when there is common ground and synergy.
I feel lucky to be alive and determined to do the best I can to be healthy and enjoy my life every day.
I am extremely grateful for the superb care that I received from my doctors. But even with great care, there are gaps and hurdles along the way. New unanswered questions, nagging fears, doubts about past decisions, lingering side effects, and a list of "wudda, cudda, shuddas." You can feel upset, uncomfortable and alone. Plus, these days, with the economy down and with so many Americans struggling, a breast cancer diagnosis can put huge strain on the family and destroy any remaining stability.
My diagnosis made it even clearer to me that the needs are still huge. So much is at stake, millions of precious lives.
The Breastcancer.org/Comcast Pink Ribbon Partnership is a great place to turn to for some of the best medical information and support when they are in a battle to protect their precious lives and when they are ready to recover and embrace a full life again.