If you're familiar with Bab
eland's "Come for a Cause" philanthropy program, you'll know that every October (Pink October, actually), we donate a percentage of some toys' sales to an organization providing support or research around breast cancer.� This year, we're thrilled to be working with the Young Survival Coalition, a group devoted to providing support and resources for those under 40 who've been diagnosed with breast cancer.Personally speaking:� when I was diagnosed with cancer at 30, I felt pretty alone.� I joined a cancer support group, but everyone else in the group was over 50; I looked for resources around cancer and sexuality for younger people, but they were near-impossible to come by.� So as you might guess, I'm personally invested in making sure that Babeland provides solid information and support for folks whose sexuality has been affected by cancer. This partnership with YSC, which is� dedicated exclusively to supporting young cancer survivors and patients, means a lot to me.� And I was especially eager to interview Jenna Glazer, the Development Director of YSC, to get a feel for her thoughts about young survivors, cancer and sexuality, and the partnership between YSC and Babeland.� Read on!Abby: Tell us about what the Young Survival Coalition does, and why it's unique.Jenna: YSC provides support, resources and outreach so that women feel connected, empowered and hopeful.� YSC is unique because we are the premier global organization that focuses specifically on issues faced by young women, such as fertility, early menopause, later diagnosis and worse prognosis, and the overall sense of isolation felt by many young women diagnosed with breast cancer.� When we were founded in 1998, there were no other organizations focusing specifically on young women.� When I was first diagnosed I was sitting in an office with women who looked more like my mother or grandmother than a peer, and that felt horrible.� It felt like I was the only young woman facing this disease and it was a very lonely experience.Abby: I know exactly what you mean.� I wish I'd known about YSC when I was diagnosed -- I think it would've made a world of difference to know other young survivors.� Why do you think YSC's partnership with Babeland works so well?Jenna: I think the partnership with Babeland makes so much sense because a young woman?s sexuality can be dramatically impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis, and treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.� Babeland approaches female sexuality in a fun, non-threatening way that engages an open dialogue about the issues that young cancer survivors face.� Survivors spend a lot of time speaking to medical doctors, in a hospital or other clinic setting, and this takes the experience out of that setting and makes it more light-hearted and fun.Abby: Yes, fun!� Fun tends to get forgotten when we talk about post-diagnosis or post-treatment sexuality.� What are some of the other unique issues you see coming up for young women facing a breast cancer diagnosis?Jenna: Fertility problems, early menopause, challenges in career, challenges with caring for young children or possibly not being able to have children, being under-represented in medical research, dealing with long-term side effects of treatment, body image issues, dating?Abby: Clearly, the support you provide around these issues is invaluable.� What kind of support do you provide for folks dealing with changing sexuality, following/during illness and treatment?Jenna: We have a ResourceLink guidebook which provides some resources for young women, and we have an online bulletin board at www.youngsurvival.org where women discuss this topic quite openly.� We present local workshops on these issues, and host a session at our Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. We also have an ?Ask the expert? online series where we have discussed this and other topics.Abby: And this is why the partnership between Babeland and YSC makes so much sense to me.� Finally, what do you think are the areas of greatest need for young women facing diagnosis/illness/treatment?� How do you think young survivors are overlooked/underserved?Jenna: I think that young women are overlooked and underserved simply because we are a small percentage of a huge number of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year.� Each year, over 11,000 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.� That?s a huge number, but about 200,000 women of all ages are diagnosed every year.� So, of course, we?re not as visible.� It?s harder for researchers to really pull out data about young women because in terms of numbers, we?re a small percentage of a huge population.� And young women need a place to come together to share common experiences and concerns.� They need credible information and a sense of community.� YSC works to provide this.Abby: And we're so glad you do.� Thank you, from Babeland, for the work you do!rtility problems, early menopause, challenges in career, challenges with caring for young children or possibly not being able to have children, being under-represented in medical research, dealing with long-term side effects of treatment, body image issues, dating?Abby: Clearly, the support you provide around these issues is invaluable.� What kind of support do you provide for folks dealing with changing sexuality, following/during illness and treatment?Jenna: We have a ResourceLink guidebook which provides some resources for young women, and we have an online bulletin board at www.youngsurvival.org where women discuss this topic quite openly.� We present local workshops on these issues, and host a session at our Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. We also have an ?Ask the expert? online series where we have discussed this and other topics.Abby: And this is why the partnership between Babeland and YSC makes so much sense to me.� Finally, what do you think are the areas of greatest need for young women facing diagnosis/illness/treatment?� How do you think young survivors are overlooked/underserved?Jenna: I think that young women are overlooked and underserved simply because we are a small percentage of a huge number of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year.� Each year, over 11,000 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.� That?s a huge number, but about 200,000 women of all ages are diagnosed every year.� So, of course, we?re not as visible.� It?s harder for researchers to really pull out data about young women because in terms of numbers, we?re a small percentage of a huge population.� And young women need a place to come together to share common experiences and concerns.� They need credible information and a sense of community.� YSC works to provide this.Abby: And we're so glad you do.� Thank you, from Babeland, for the work you do!
eland's "Come for a Cause" philanthropy program, you'll know that every October (Pink October, actually), we donate a percentage of some toys' sales to an organization providing support or research around breast cancer.� This year, we're thrilled to be working with the Young Survival Coalition, a group devoted to providing support and resources for those under 40 who've been diagnosed with breast cancer.Personally speaking:� when I was diagnosed with cancer at 30, I felt pretty alone.� I joined a cancer support group, but everyone else in the group was over 50; I looked for resources around cancer and sexuality for younger people, but they were near-impossible to come by.� So as you might guess, I'm personally invested in making sure that Babeland provides solid information and support for folks whose sexuality has been affected by cancer. This partnership with YSC, which is� dedicated exclusively to supporting young cancer survivors and patients, means a lot to me.� And I was especially eager to interview Jenna Glazer, the Development Director of YSC, to get a feel for her thoughts about young survivors, cancer and sexuality, and the partnership between YSC and Babeland.� Read on!Abby: Tell us about what the Young Survival Coalition does, and why it's unique.Jenna: YSC provides support, resources and outreach so that women feel connected, empowered and hopeful.� YSC is unique because we are the premier global organization that focuses specifically on issues faced by young women, such as fertility, early menopause, later diagnosis and worse prognosis, and the overall sense of isolation felt by many young women diagnosed with breast cancer.� When we were founded in 1998, there were no other organizations focusing specifically on young women.� When I was first diagnosed I was sitting in an office with women who looked more like my mother or grandmother than a peer, and that felt horrible.� It felt like I was the only young woman facing this disease and it was a very lonely experience.Abby: I know exactly what you mean.� I wish I'd known about YSC when I was diagnosed -- I think it would've made a world of difference to know other young survivors.� Why do you think YSC's partnership with Babeland works so well?Jenna: I think the partnership with Babeland makes so much sense because a young woman?s sexuality can be dramatically impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis, and treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.� Babeland approaches female sexuality in a fun, non-threatening way that engages an open dialogue about the issues that young cancer survivors face.� Survivors spend a lot of time speaking to medical doctors, in a hospital or other clinic setting, and this takes the experience out of that setting and makes it more light-hearted and fun.Abby: Yes, fun!� Fun tends to get forgotten when we talk about post-diagnosis or post-treatment sexuality.� What are some of the other unique issues you see coming up for young women facing a breast cancer diagnosis?Jenna: Fertility problems, early menopause, challenges in career, challenges with caring for young children or possibly not being able to have children, being under-represented in medical research, dealing with long-term side effects of treatment, body image issues, dating?Abby: Clearly, the support you provide around these issues is invaluable.� What kind of support do you provide for folks dealing with changing sexuality, following/during illness and treatment?Jenna: We have a ResourceLink guidebook which provides some resources for young women, and we have an online bulletin board at www.youngsurvival.org where women discuss this topic quite openly.� We present local workshops on these issues, and host a session at our Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. We also have an ?Ask the expert? online series where we have discussed this and other topics.Abby: And this is why the partnership between Babeland and YSC makes so much sense to me.� Finally, what do you think are the areas of greatest need for young women facing diagnosis/illness/treatment?� How do you think young survivors are overlooked/underserved?Jenna: I think that young women are overlooked and underserved simply because we are a small percentage of a huge number of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year.� Each year, over 11,000 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.� That?s a huge number, but about 200,000 women of all ages are diagnosed every year.� So, of course, we?re not as visible.� It?s harder for researchers to really pull out data about young women because in terms of numbers, we?re a small percentage of a huge population.� And young women need a place to come together to share common experiences and concerns.� They need credible information and a sense of community.� YSC works to provide this.Abby: And we're so glad you do.� Thank you, from Babeland, for the work you do!rtility problems, early menopause, challenges in career, challenges with caring for young children or possibly not being able to have children, being under-represented in medical research, dealing with long-term side effects of treatment, body image issues, dating?Abby: Clearly, the support you provide around these issues is invaluable.� What kind of support do you provide for folks dealing with changing sexuality, following/during illness and treatment?Jenna: We have a ResourceLink guidebook which provides some resources for young women, and we have an online bulletin board at www.youngsurvival.org where women discuss this topic quite openly.� We present local workshops on these issues, and host a session at our Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer. We also have an ?Ask the expert? online series where we have discussed this and other topics.Abby: And this is why the partnership between Babeland and YSC makes so much sense to me.� Finally, what do you think are the areas of greatest need for young women facing diagnosis/illness/treatment?� How do you think young survivors are overlooked/underserved?Jenna: I think that young women are overlooked and underserved simply because we are a small percentage of a huge number of women diagnosed with breast cancer every year.� Each year, over 11,000 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.� That?s a huge number, but about 200,000 women of all ages are diagnosed every year.� So, of course, we?re not as visible.� It?s harder for researchers to really pull out data about young women because in terms of numbers, we?re a small percentage of a huge population.� And young women need a place to come together to share common experiences and concerns.� They need credible information and a sense of community.� YSC works to provide this.Abby: And we're so glad you do.� Thank you, from Babeland, for the work you do!
