Bangor Y | Partners

Search the Site

Home

Membership

Childcare/After School

Health/Fitness & Martial Arts

Supporting Our Community

Giving

Job/Volunteer Applications

Facility Rentals

Directions

ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES

WOMEN'S HEALTH ~

Caring Connections
A Cooperative Health Program for Women offered by the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center through the philanthropic activities of Healthcare Charities.

Caring Connections recently received notice that the Avon Breast Care Foundation will continue to assist Caring Connections with a supplemental grant during 2009 - the fourth year Avon is assisting this helpful program. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure grants, Bridging The Gap and Bridging Books, have also been renewed through March 2009, and we will submit a new proposal for each grant in January. The Borman Family Foundation is providing Caring Connections with a grant to assist in the mission and activities of the Caring Connections breast cancer support groups and survivors' retreat.

Download Caring Connections Newsletter January-February 2010

Download Caring Connections Newsletter March-April 2010

If you have trouble reading our newsletter, click here to download Adobe Reader

CARING CONNECTIONS Breast and Cervical Health Program Provides no-cost pap tests, mammograms, and related services to women 40 years of age and older through the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program. Women must qualify financially and be underinsured (have insurance with a high deductible) or uninsured. Call Ro LeGasse or Robin Long at 941-2808 to learn more about this program. Early detection is your best protection.

Bridging The Gap
Bridging The Gap (BTG) is a program funded by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Maine Affiliate. BTG provides breast health exams and imaging to women ages 30-39 who are at high risk or have symptoms of concern. Women in their 20's with symptoms concerning them can also receive services at no cost. Women must qualify financially and be underinsured or uninsured. If you are a woman between 20 and 39 years old, and are concerned about your breast health, call Caring Connections at 941-2808. Through the 2007 grant we provided breast screening and diagnostic services to 21 young women. Sixteen of those women contacted us with symptoms concerning them. Our intense outreach efforts result in these women finding Bridging The Gap.

Bone Health Information & Discussion Groups
Groups meet each month. Speakers on maintaining/improving bone health are scheduled monthly. Calcium-rich food samples and recipes are also provided. These groups are for you, whether you have strong bones, osteopenia (some bone loss), or osteoporosis. Learn how to enhance both your bone health and overall health through daily lifestyle choices. Call Caring Connections at 941-2808 for meeting dates and topics or to be placed on the mailing list.

Bridging Books
Bridging Books is a project that provides resource and information packets to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 40 surgeons and other breast health/cancer sites in Eastern and Northern Maine give a packet containing a foundation book and other resource materials to women on the day of or close to the date of diagnosis. Bridging Books is funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Maine Affiliate. Bridging Books provided resource packets to more than 350 women (and some men) in Maine in 2008. A unique collaboration with the Maine Breast Cancer Coaliton helps us provide Bridging Books resources to newly diagnosed persons throughout Maine who have contacted the coalition, not just in our eight target counties.

Caring Connections Breast Cancer Support Groups (formerly called ENCOREplus)
These support groups assist women diagnosed with breast cancer. The groups offer a safe environment of support and understanding for women with questions and concerns that accompany a diagnosis of breast cancer.Groups meet regularly in Bangor, see times below, and in Calais, Ellsworth, Millinocket, and Pittsfield. Additional experienced group leaders in Ellsworth and Dover-Foxcroft are available to assist newly diagnosed women. Specific information about the support groups can be found in the Caring Connections newsletters link above. Meetings in Bangor are also listed below. We invite you to call Caring Connections for related or additional information at 941-2808, or email us at your convenience at careconn@BangorY.org.

Caring Connections Breast Cancer Support Groups - Bangor - Meetings

Wednesdays, 12:30pm
Isaac Farrar Mansion on Union Street, Bangor, Swim time in the Means (warm water) Pool for support group members who are interested - from 2 - 3 p.m.

2nd Tues of the month, 5:30 pm, Isaac Farrar Mansion on Union Street, Bangor - the evening session (on the 2nd Tues of the month) welcomes not only women with breast cancer, but also their partners, friends, spouses, or adult children to the discussion/ informational group. For more information, call Ro or Robin at 941-2808.

~ DATES TO REMEMBER ~

Caring Connections Support Group Date: Wednesday, January 20th, 12:30 - 1:45 pm. Topic: Bone Health. Presenter: Robin Long Location: Isaac Farrar Mansion, at the Bangot Y on Second Street. Come learn what you can do to improve your bone health, whether you have healthy bones now, have osteopenia, or have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Come and enjoy a calcium-rich snack/beverage and take some great recipes home. Bone Health Info & Discussion GroupDate: Thursday, Jan. 21st, 11:00 a.m. Topic: Zumba. Zumba is a fusion of Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to creat a one-of-a-kind fitness program. Come and enjoy a calcium-rich snack/beverage and take the recipe home with you. Seating and space is limited, so please RSVP by calling 941.2808 x 337 or 338, or email us at: careconn@BangorY.org prior to January 21st. Location: Isaac Farrar Mansion, at the Bangor Y on Second Street.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 18th, 10:00 a.m. Topic: The Biodex Balance System - assessment took that can tell you what your risk level for a fall is, based on your balance abilities. Come and enjoy a calcium-rich snack/beverage and take the recipe home with you. Seating and space is limited, so please RSVP by calling 941.2808 x 337 or 338, or email us at: careconn@BangorY.org prior to Feb. 18th. Location: Isaac Farrar Mansion, at the Bangor Y on Second Street.

BREAST HEALTH AND BREAST CANCER RESOURCES

BREAST HEALTH

Army of Women - this revoluntionary initiative has two key goals: - To recruit one million health women of every dage and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all.
- To challenge the sicentific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women.
Please visit: www.armyofwomen.org The initiative is a collaboration of the Avon Foundation and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

Breast & Osteoporosis Center of Eastern Maine Medical Center is the most comprehensive and technically advanced breast health service in the region. The BOC offers digital mammography, breast ultrasound, computer-aided detection (CAD), screening & diagnostic bone density tests, breast biopsy services, prosthetic & undergarment fittings for women with breast cancer, and other related services.

Caring Connections - at the Bangor Y. Read about our no-cost programs related to breast & cervical health. Invite us to speak at your club, group, or employment site. Call us at 941-2808 for more information or go to www.BangorY.org and read about Caring Connections under Women's Health.

Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program - learn whether you can qualify for no-cost breast & cervical health screening services. Call MBCHP at 1-800-350-5180 to see if you qualify to receive these screening services at primary care sites throughout Maine, or call Caring Connections at 941-2808 x 337 or 338.

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition - www.mainebreastcancer.org
Read about the coalition's work and the Support Service Fund. The SSF provides financial assistance to people in Maine for breast health & breast cancer-related needs. 1-800-928-2644 or download a membership or Support Service Fund application from the website.

Sisters Network Inc. www.sistersnetworkinc.org 1-866-781-1808. If you are a sister of someone who has had breast cancer you may be a candidate for this study.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Maine Affiliatewww.komenmaine.com 207-262-7117. PO Box 1626, Bangor, ME 04402-1626. Komen organizes The Race for the Cure, and it provides grants in Maine for several programs that offer breast health services.

Susan G. Komen for the Curewww.komen.org This is the national website. 1-800-462-9273

BREAST CANCER

Adjuvant!- The site where you can learn more about the risks and benefits of adjuvant (after initial breast cancer treatment) drugs. This is where your doctor can find a program that will calculate the benefit of various treatments in your individual case. www.AdjuvantOnLine.com

American Cancer Society - a good resource for the entire family. Has Reach to Recovery, Road to Recovery, and many other helpful programs www.cancer.org

Caring Connections- at the Bangor Y. To learn about our breast cancer support and discussion groups for women, call us at 941-2808, or e-mail us at CareConn@BangorY.org, or go to www.BangorY.org and look in Caring Connections. Caring Connections has several programs for women with breast cancer, including the Women's Network and a Retreat on Branch Lake in September of each year. The Caring Connections Energizers (formerly the ENCORE Energizers), a team of survivors, family, friends and supporters, is oftentimes the largest community team at the Race for the Cure each year.

Caring Connections breast cancer support groups (formerly ENCOREplus) - a support, education and discussion program for women with breast cancer. These support groups are located in Washington, Hancock, Piscataquis, Penobscot, and Somerset counties. Groups are managed by trained volunteers. The sessions provide a time to express feelings and concerns related to breast cancer, including mastectomy and other forms of breast cancer surgery; radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and much more. For more information, call Caring Connections at the Bangor Y at 941.2808.

Fertile Hope - www.fertilehope.org Focsues on fertility issues in women with breast cancer.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer www.ibcsupport.org This site provides accurate information for patients with inflammatory breast cancer.

Kids Connectedwww.kidsconnected.org 1-800-899-2866

Living Beyond Breast Cancerwww.lbbc.org 1-800-753-5222

Living with Breast Cancer www.breastcancer.org - this site is a good overall resource. It was created by Dr. Marissa Weiss, a radiation oncologist.

Love/Avon Army of Women.www.armyofwomen.org - A partnership between the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation that was launched in October of 2008. This new initiative empowers women with a new opportunity - a simple but revolutionary call for one million women of all ages and ethnicities to join the "Army" and consider serving as research volunteers to help scientists understand the causes of breast cancer - and how to end it once and for all. Women nationwide are invited to be "one in a million" and help end breast cancer. Visit www.armyofwomen.org

Maine Affiliate - Susan G. Komen for the Cure - www.komenmaine.com 207-262-7117. PO Box 1626, Bangor, ME 04402-1626
Komen for the Cure manages the large fundraiser, Race for the Cure, and it provides grants in Maine for several programs that offer breast health services

Maine Breast & Cervical Health Program - learn whether you can qualify for MaineCare. Do you have Breast or Cervical Cancer, and no health insurance? Do you need help to pay for treatment? Call MBCHP at 1-800-350-5180 to see if you qualify for financial assistance through the Treatment Act. Or call Caring Connections at 941-2808 x 337 or 338

Maine Lymphedema Networkwww.mainelymphonet.org 1-800-326-8855

Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancerwww.mautnerproject.org 1-202-332-5536

Men Against Breast Cancer www.menagainstbreastcancer.org 1-866-547-6222

National Breast Cancer Coalition www.natlbc.org and www.stopbreastcancer.org A national organization focused on political and policies issues.

National Cancer Institute - a very comprehensive site, with data for both doctors and patients. it lists clinical trials and is a good source of accurate, unbiased information. www.cancer.gov 1-800-422-6237

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.www.nccam.nih.gov A good place to seek out scientific information about complementary and alternative therapies.

National Institutes of Healthwww.nih.gov

National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials www.clinicaltrials.gov

National Institutes of Health - Complementary and Alternative Medicine www.ncam.nih.gov

National Lymphedema Networkwww.lymphnet.org 1-800-541-3259 This network offers support to people with lymphedema.

Sharesheret (for young Jewish women)www.sharsheret.org 1-866-474-2774

Susan Love, MDwww.SusanLoveMD.com

Breast Cancer Network of Strength www.networkofstrength.org 1-800-221-2141 a national organization that is focused on support. They have a 24-hour hotline (800/221-2141) to help answer and provide direction for clinical questions.

Young Survival Coalitionwww.youngsurvival.org 1-212-916-7667 Focused on young women diagnosed and living post breast cancer treatment.

Back to Health & Fitness page.