With Komen, We Can

Komen awards St. Joseph’s $225,000 for breast cancer treatment and screening

(September 2013) - Women in need are now receiving breast cancer screening and treatment, thanks to two grants totaling $225,000 awarded to St. Joseph’s from Komen Central and Northern Arizona (Komen CAN Arizona) affiliate.

Screening and diagnostic projects, which include screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms and all otherbreast cancer diagnostic procedures, were funded at $75,000.Treatment projects, including further diagnostics, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, lymphedema treatment orother treatments as indicated by a treating physician, were funded at $150,000.

Komen funds are used as a funding source of last resort for men and women who are medically underserved, uninsured or underinsured.

“Komen CAN Arizona support allows us to see womenwho are desperately in need of breast cancer screening services,” says Gail Brown, WHNP-C, nurse practitioner in St. Joseph’s Breast Evaluation Center. “In some cases, these are women who have never had a screening mammogram before, and we discover breast cancer. The Komen grant allows us to save lives by providing services to patients in need.”

In April, Komen CAN Arizona gave more than $1.5 million to fund breast cancer screening, education, treatment and research. More than $1.2 million will fund 15 community grants throughout central and northern Arizona, while more than $450,000 will go toward national research efforts.

Since its inception in 1993, Komen CAN Arizona has granted more than $24.2 million, making it the largest private grantor of community breast cancer funds in Arizona. The community grants program helps Komen CAN Arizona carry out its mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by partnering with nonprofit organizations to fill in the critical gaps of service throughout medically underserved communities.

“Part of delivering our promise is working day to day with our community partners to ensure that the women in our community do not go without vital screening and treatment services while we navigate the changing healthcare landscape, both locally and nationwide,” said Beverly Kruse, executive director for Komen CAN Arizona. “Collaboration is key to reaching our goal, and we’re fortunate to work with so many organizations whose missions align with ours.”