Wig Out Client Video

3rd Annual WIG OUT

Friday March 8th, 2013

Held at the Moon Valley County Club

Presented by the Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump! and The Joy Bus

We try to keep the fun in our fundraising effors. The WIG OUT is a hair-raising event with all guests wearing wigs – the more outlandish the better!!! The WIG OUT includes a cocktail hour with live entertainment, silent auctions, dinner and drinks, presentations from our Wig Out clients, and we end the night with a dj and dancing!

The WIG OUT event is our gala event we hold yearly to raise funds to sustain our WIG OUT program, which provides free wigs to breast cancer patients and our educational campaign, “Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!” We have teamed up this year with The Joy Bus this year, who provides free meals to cancer patients.

The WIG OUT  is a good time for a good cause! We hope you WIG OUT with us!!!

Purchase your tickets today!

You can make a difference to women fighting breast cancer.

Make your year-end tax-deductible donation to our Wig Out program.

Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump! is having its 3nd annual Flash Mob. You might be asking yourself, “What in the world is a Flash Mob?” Here’s a clip from last year’s flash mob:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki1GymT_Nhw

At the flash mob rehearsals we will teach participants a choreographed dance to be performed at the actual flash mob on a later date. For those you who have two left feet we are going to incorporate non-dancing parts. Rehearsals will be held:

John C. Lincoln

Breast Health and Research Center

& Mendy’s Place Present

Kid’s Coping Camp

As part of the Arizona Young Breast Cancer Survivor Support Initiative

Who: Children ages 5-12 affected by breast cancer

(With an optional event for parents)*

What: A FREE event to help children learn valuable coping skills and communication strategies

When: Saturday, September 8, 2012

9:30a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Beuf Community Center

3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd.

Phoenix, Arizona 85027

Why: Because a breast cancer diagnosis affects the whole family.

Includes: T-Shirt, Coping Kit, and Lunch

Space is limited.

Register online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/copingcamp

For more information, please contact Paulla at 623-434-2784 OR email azbreastcancer@JCL.com

*Parent Involvement:

An educational event focusing on utilizing these coping skills at home, connecting with other young survivors, and learning about available resources in the community will be held from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Please RSVP if you are interested in attending.

 A few support programs for breast cancer patients in the Greater Phoenix area

During your treatment for breast cancer we strongly advise you to seek out and accept help. Accept the support groups, the dinners, the cleaning, the car pool . . . Any help that is offered. Support can make all the difference in the world getting through this difficult time in your life. We have compiled a list of sites and support groups we think are helpful. 

Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists 480-922-4600

Dr. Quiet was my radiation doctor. In my personal experience I was treated like a person, not a number. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her and her partners.

http://www.arizona-breast-cancer-specialists.com/

Arizona Oncology – 602-277-4868

Dr. Ondreyco is my personal doctor. Her treatment and staff have all been spectacular for me.

www.arizonaoncology.com

The Arizona Institute for Breast Health – www.aibh.org

A team of specialists who offer women diagnosed with breast cancer a second opinion completely free of charge. 480-860-4200

American Cancer Society www.cancer.org 1-800-227-2345

They offer interactive online cancer resource center containing in-depth information on every major type of cancer. They also offer a variety of programs from educational classes to support groups to assistance.

Bosom Buddies Hotline: 602-231-6648

Bosom Buddies of Arizona was founded in 1982 to provide support, education ,and advocacy for those diagnosed with breast cancer. We currently offer 5 breast cancer support groups, including one support group for those diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, all facilitated by breast cancer survivors. We also offer mastectomy bras and prosthesis to those who have no insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover these items. We also offer a 24/7 hotline 602-231-6648. Please visit our website www.BosomBuddis-AZ.org for a complete listing of our support groups and services or call our office at 602-265-2776.

Breast Cancer Fund  http://www.breastcancerfund.org/

In response to the public health crisis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies — and advocates for elimination of — the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease. (One of our favorite sites we frequent often for up to date information regarding prevention and preventing reoccurrence.)

Breast Cancer Org http://www.breastcancer.org/

A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer and breast health as well as an active and supportive online community. (This site is very easy to navigate and packed full of information.)

The Breast Care Center of the Southwest – 602-942-8000

My personal experience here was amazing. Dr. Zannis treated me with care and kindness, not to mention his highly talented surgical skills. We’ve also heard wonderful things about his partner. www.breastcarecentersw.com

Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA) – www.cancercenter.com

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is committed to helping people overcome cancer. The best way we know how is by listening to our patients. By encouraging and empowering each patient to be part of the recovery process, our cancer experts can better understand and serve their needs. At CTCA, every patient meets with a multidisciplinary team of experienced cancer professionals in medical, surgical and radiation oncology, and other specialties when needed, such as pulmonary medicine and gastroenterology. Upon meeting with their care team, each patient at CTCA receives a personalized treatment plan. CTCA cancer experts continually research innovative new options to fight the disease. They also take time to listen to and understand the individual concerns of every patient they treat. It is a whole-person, patient-centered approach to cancer care, and it’s what we do best.

Caring Bridge – www.caringbridge.org

Caring Bridge provides free websites that connect people experiencing a significant health challenge to family and friends, making each health journey easier.

Cleaning for a Reason – www.cleaningforareason.org

This nonprofit offers free professional housecleaning, and maid services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer. You must apply online for their services.

Chemo Companions – www.chemocompanions.org

Provides companionship through a network of trained volunteers who bring comfort, conversation, laughter and nourishing essentials to the chemo lounge. Our mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of those undergoing cancer treatments by offering friendship and emotional support. The guiding forces behind Chemo Companions are love, compassion, understanding and hope.

Happily Ever After League – http://www.happilyeverafterleague.org/

The Happily Ever After League (HEAL) is a non-profit 501©(3) organization that was created to provide financial support to moms during their post surgery and recovery from cancer.

There are no financial requirements to qualify for the program. Arizona mothers with at least one dependent child can receive support from HEAL.

The Live and Give Foundation, Inc. aka Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!  www.checkforlump.com

The Live and Give Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization, encouraging women to “Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!” Our mission is to motivate women to perform regular breast self-exams and mammograms, to increase the chances of detecting breast cancer in its early stages. The Live and Give Foundation, Inc. also offers direct assistance to breast cancer patients through our ‘Wig Out’ program, that offers free custom wigs to breast cancer patients in Arizona undergoing chemotherapy.

Lotsa Helping Hands – www.lotsahelpinghands.com

This is a wonderful site that allows you to set up a calendar for help. Friends, family, coworkers can sign up on this site to bring meals, help with carpools etc. It is extremely useful and easy to use.

My Hope Bag- www.myhopebag.org

Providing bags of HOPE and comfort, as well as support services, for women with breast cancer. With the information provided in My Hope Bags, a woman can find support from… other women who have gone through her type of cancer, as well as medical information on what to expect through her journey. We have also added items of comfort for her time alone while meditating, praying or just thinking about things to come. Cancer is a long journey… we just want to be a little ray of HOPE along the way!

Singleton Moms – www.singletonmoms.org

If you are a single mother Singleton Moms offers emotional, financial and domestic support while undergoing treatment. Telephone: 480-818-5285. Email: contact@singletonmoms.org

Wellness Community – www.twccaz.org

They offer free monthly programs and support for all cancer patients, survivors and their family. They have a wide range of programs from writing workshops, to yoga, to cooking classes to family groups, etc.

602-712-1006.

Wig Out! – www.checkforalump.com

The Live and Give Foundation, Inc. aka ‘Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!’ formed a ‘Wig Out’ Program that offers free wigs to breast cancer patients in Arizona undergoing chemotherapy. Through the Wig Out Program, you can pick out one wig of your choice, up to $250.00 retail price. We work with reputable local wig shops. The wig shop will bill the Live and Give Foundation, Inc. directly – no money out of your pocket. For women who do have insurance coverage for wigs, Wig Out will supplement the insurance allowing you to select a wig that suits you without worrying about the price or a co-pay.

Join us at this hair-raising event!

The 2nd Annual Wig Out

brought to you by, “Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!”

Friday May 4th 7:30pm

at the Secret Garden!

With Scandalesque performing!

And Voodoo Swing!

Purchase your tickets today!!!

I’m always amazed by how courageous women are. Recently, I have befriended one such woman who is beginning on her journey battling breast cancer. Her willingness to remain positive and keep her faith in God as He guides her on this path is so inspiring. She so graciously offered to share her journal entry with us on how she discovered her breast cancer. Please send prayers her way!

The Beginning of the Journey

Several of you have asked me how The Lump was found in my breast. So let me start at The Beginning.

Greg and I were driving back from a trip to Texas on November 13, 2011. We had stopped in Sweetwater, Texas, for the night. I was in the hotel shower, soaped up, and stopped cold. Was that a lump in my breast? Uh oh. Yep, that’s a lump. I tried to feel it from a few different directions because I was a bit stunned. It was still a lump. Undeniably.

I dried off and walked out into the room. I said to Greg, “I just found a lump in my breast.” His response: “What does that mean?”

I didn’t know. It was shocking really. Really. It was something you always heard about, but I never expected it would happen to me. Zero family history of any type of cancer with the exception of my daddy’s self-inflicted lung cancer from years of smoking. With no family history, it had been three years since I’d had a mammogram, and I really hadn’t been very good about doing regular self-exams. (In retrospect, that was DUMB … don’t be a chump, check for a lump! And get a mammogram regularly … please!)

We came back to Phoenix, with me still in denial. I walked around for a week with the thought of The Lump in the back of my head, but I just couldn’t force myself to pick up the phone to call the gyny.

Then I was talking with one of the Twisted Sisters (we are three friends whose charter is based on the Ecclesiastes scripture that “a chord of three strands cannot easily be broken). I shared The Lump story with her, and she said, “You’re calling the gyny for an appointment right now.”

Back story: Greg and I had both been focusing on losing weight since October 1. By the time I found The Lump six weeks later, I had lost about 25 pounds. Imagine my surprise when the gyny said, “All you girls who have lost weight come in her with lumps in your breasts!” She said that because the breast is mostly fat tissue, it’s hard to detect lumps when you’re overweight. She felt The Lump (and actually found two more suspicious areas in her exam), said the edges felt smooth, which was a good sign, but she ordered a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.

I couldn’t get those tests scheduled for another two weeks.On December 16, Greg came with me, and after the ultrasound was done, the radiologist (who had a wonderful, warm spirit and excellent bedside manner) said, “Well, you didn’t get a good report today. I’m afraid this is going to be a worrisome process for you for a while.” He didn’t flat out say that I had cancer, but we could read between the lines.

What? WHAT??? I got dressed, and Greg and I walked out of the building into the Arizona sun. We looked at each other, and I said, “Well, THAT was not what we expected.” And we cried.

The holidays were upon us, so although we had a terrible feeling about what the results of the needle biopsy would be, we couldn’t make an appointment for the biopsy until January 4. Thank GOD for my primary care doc and friend who told me that most breast cancer is slow growing and that we had time. That gave us a great deal of comfort, while we waited for the day of the biopsy.

We had to make a decision about whether to “ruin” Christmas for our families by telling them about the pending biopsy or not. That was a tough decision. The truth was we really didn’t know anything for sure. In the end, the fact that we wouldn’t have told them if we weren’t gathering for Christmas won out … we kept the news to ourselves and waited for the biopsy and results.

I got a small group of prayer warriors to join us in praying that the biopsy would go well with negative results. The day came. Greg smooched me in the waiting room, and off I went. The biopsy technician was warm and funny and a great distraction. The doc was clinical, had no sense of humor and was a very “chop chop” kind of guy … so of course, I made fun of him a bit. The tech and I had a lot of laughs, actually, a few at his expense.

The tech did a great job of telling me what to expect during the procedure and said that I would hear up to 15 loud “clicks” as they took the tissue samples, five for each site. But guess what? The doc did a great job and only had to do three samples for two sites … total of six, NOT fifteen. He decided to not biopsy the second lymph node because of its proximity to an artery, which he said is common. His comment: “It’s too close to the artery, and we don’t want to have a bloodbath in here.” My response: “Hey, knock it off with the language!” (The tech and I cracked up, but he did not, of course).

The procedure was done in about 1.5 hours, and the tech walked me to the lobby. I tried to get the tech to tell Greg that I couldn’t do any housework for the next two months, but he didn’t buy it! Oh well.

Then it was waiting … again. We were told if the biopsy was malignant, we would get a call within 24-48 hours. I was just exiting the freeway by our home on Thursday, January 5, 2012, when my cell phone rang. I pulled off into a parking lot. It was my gyny. “You have cancer.”

Let the journey begin. xoxox

Please take note – According to the National Breast Cancer Society nearly 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams and with early detection the 5-year survival rate is 98%.

Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump! offers a Wig Out program that provides free custom wigs to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Please contact hollyrose@checkforalump.com to apply to our program. And help us spread the word to women who need our assistance. Thank you!

Live and Give,
Holly Rose

Hello,

I am so sorry that you or your loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Having had breast cancer myself, I know how frightening an experience this is. You are not alone, though, there are so many organizations and individuals dedicated to helping you get through this difficult period.

The Live and Give Foundation, Inc. aka ‘Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!’ is one such organization. We have formed a ‘Wig Out’ Program that offers free wigs to first time breast cancer patients in Arizona undergoing chemotherapy. Through the Wig Out Program, you can pick out one wig of your choice, up to $250.00 retail price, from a reputable local wig shop, Classy Sisters. Classy Sisters Wig Shop will bill the Live and Give Foundation, Inc. directly – no money out of your pocket. For women who do have insurance coverage for wigs, Wig Out will supplement the insurance allowing you to select a wig that suits you without worrying about the price or a co-pay.

To apply to the Wig Out program please send us your name, address, phone number and email address. Please also provide a copy of your pathology report or letter or wig prescription from your oncologist. This is purely for our records and we will not share this information with anyone. Only your first and last name will be given to the wig shop.

Please email to hollyrose@checkforalump.com
(be sure to add us to your contacts or check your spam folder for our reply)
or mail to:
Live and Give Foundation, Inc.
340 W. Gleneagles Drive
Phoenix, Az. 85023.

Once we receive your information we will contact you to confirm acceptance into the program. You are then free to visit Classy Sisters Wig Shop located at 35th ave and North of Greenway. http://www.classysisterswigs.com. Simply mention you are with the Wig Out Program from ‘Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!’ and give them your name. Be sure to confirm that they have your information before selecting your wig.

We are very pleased to announce that we also have established a bank of gently-used wigs that can be “borrowed”. These wigs are professionally cleaned and are available as an extra or back-up to the new wig purchased through the Wig Out Program. We only ask that you return wigs borrowed from the wig bank so others will have the same opportunity. Please contact Kate at 602-606-2954 for an appointment to select a wig from our wig bank.

We have included a list of local wig shops that offer discounts to anyone who mentions, “Don’t be a Chump! Check for a Lump!”

We have also included a letter with support groups in town.