South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood - What a Week!

Even if you were literally living under a rock, it would have been impossible to miss the avalanche of activity surrounding the SGK decision to stop funding grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates for breast health, cancer screenings, and prevention education. Personally, I read as many articles as possible—and I’m certain I only made it through a third.

The Team Roe Times February Issue!

We are excited to present to you the second issue of The Team Roe Times in 2012, a joint project between Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and NARAL Pro Choice South Dakota!

 

Packed inside this fabulous issue is a book review of one of the most interesting books I’ve read on adoption, “The Baby Thief”, updates on the South Dakota Legislature, the birth control employer refusal, and two new choice words AND SO MUCH MORE! Please enjoy and share widely.

Download The Team Roe Times Vol 2 Issue 2

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Decision to Reinstate Funding for Breast Cancer Screenings at Planned Parenthood Health Centers Nationwide

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

This show of support underscores what a critical resource Planned Parenthood is in the fight to detect and prevent breast cancer.  We were so heartened by the calls and emails we received from people in our region, who made it clear that they did not like to see politics playing a role in women’s health care. 

Medicaid Cuts Would Harm Women’s Health

 

 

In an article for The Huffington Post, U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) wrote that the “biggest casualty” in the initiatives to cut Medicaid and Medicare have been women’s health programs, especially preventive and reproductive health services, such as those that Planned Parenthood provides.

“Despite this, Republicans call for deficit reduction deals that would substantially cut Medicaid as well as Medicare and Social Security, and have a disproportionate impact on the health and economic security of women nationwide. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will be debilitating to women and families who rely on these programs to afford preventive and reproductive health services. This is no time to gouge a gaping hole in social safety nets that protect these communities from falling into poverty and poor health.”

These proposed cuts are following in the wake of Congress’ restriction of Title X funding, which supported family planning services and saved taxpayers “at least $3.4 billion in health care costs annually”.

Rep. Honda also notes that this trend has diffused into other levels of government, particularly California state government, and other local governments, whose budget cuts have withdrawn support for women’s health programs.

Read Rep. Honda’s full comments on the Huffington Post.

~ Kalie Caetano, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

‘Political Storm’ Over Women’s Health

If you watch the news (prime time or comedic) it should come as no surprise that government intrusion into women’s lives is at historical levels. As the nation’s leading provider and protector of women’s reproductive health Planned Parenthood has found its self at the epicenter of these attacks. The conservative right, under the guise ridding the US of abortion, is actively working to remove women’s access to birth control, pap smears, and breast exams. Attempts to close the doors of Planned Parenthood clinics could leave 11 million women and men across the country without access to their care provider.

 Listen to Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards powerfully and eloquently discuss the exponential growing attacks on women’s reproductive health over the course of the last year; attacks on a woman’s right to protect her health and plan her family.

~ Amy, ND Public Affairs Manager, Planned Parenthood Advocate

PPMNS Certified Nurse Midwife on battling breast cancer preemptively

By Pam CNM, APN

Last week I sat in the lobby of my oncologist's office (which still sounds really strange to me since I don’t have a cancer diagnosis). However, breast cancer was up front and center in my mind. Usually it's not a focus of my life day-to-day, not at all. Well, except for a brief pause that happens right before I take my Tamoxifen every evening. I've been on Tamoxifen for over two years now, as a way to prevent breast cancer. Originally I had no interest in starting this medication, but after talking it through with a buddy whose wife was going through breast cancer treatment, I realized I needed to do a paradigm shift. I began thinking of these little white pills as my “new friend.”

It was 2 1/2 years ago that I underwent my second series of breast biopsies, following a routine mammogram. That's when they diagnosed LCIS--Lobular Carcinoma In Situ. Although it sure sounds like cancer--it is not. Rather, it is an indicator that puts me at an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future. However, Tamoxifen reduces that risk. I remember the surgeon sharing with me what the pathologist told him--"There's a lot of activity going on with the cells.” That was a reality check. At that time, I was in no place to even think about a mastectomy. However my surgeon shared with me how some of his patients were so very afraid of LCIS and breast cancer that they chose to have a mastectomy as their next step.

For me, the next step was seeing my new oncologist and hearing her out about Tamoxifen. She convinced me to go for it and try this medication. I have an MRI every December, and a mammogram every spring. I see my oncologist every 6 months. And the plan seems to be working.

Back to sitting in the lobby...One thing about these appointments is that it makes me stop and pause and think about it all. The mix of emotions comes on kind of strong sometimes. There's feeling happy and relieved I have dodged this bullet multiple times. And feelings of guilt that so many women around me are dealing with or have dealt with breast cancer. About 14 years ago I had my first biopsy which was found to be fibrocystic. The following year, five friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. Four of the five were in there late 30's to early 40's. One of them had a recurrence last Thanksgiving and passed away right after Christmas. Since then, more women around me have been diagnosed. I think about them all....Kathy, Roberta, Barb, Jane, Cathy, Joyce, Kim...and others.

Then there's feeling scared this might be "the time" they find something, alternating with confidence in the plan. I wish I had a crystal ball for the boob question--should I consider a preventive mastectomy? I may not be "well-endowed" but hey, I like my boobs. I discussed mastectomy with my oncologist and know I am not ready to make a decision about this now. Then there's feeling slightly ticked that I have to even be in this position dealing with all this....and back to grateful because I'm pretty damn lucky. So there's a snapshot picture of it. I'll go back to breast cancer not being the focus of my day, but the 6 month visits and testing leads to a definite pause.

So what am I clear on right now? That I love life. That I have a good plan which I'm comfortable with. That I have a great oncologist who answers all my questions and helps me understand the relative risk of all my options. That everyone seems to be touched by breast cancer in one way or another, some more directly than others. That there's more to this journey and more to understand. That each person with this diagnosis will have to make decisions that are right for them, considering all the options before them. That all is well right now.

VIDEO: Pam, Planned Parenthood Nurse Practitioner, discusses breast cancer awareness month and breast health

Planned Parenthood Encourages Women to Get Breast Exams to Help Detect Early-Stage Cancer

October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

[Minneapolis] — In recognition of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota is encouraging women to make breast exams a priority.

“We see firsthand at our health centers that regular checkups save lives,” said PPMNS President and CEO Sarah Stoesz. “With approximately 16.7 million women uninsured nationwide, it’s critical that women have access to affordable, preventive health care, including cancer screenings,” Stoesz said.

Women who don’t have health insurance are more likely to postpone care and delay or forgo important preventive care such as cancer screenings, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. And women below the poverty level are less likely than women with higher incomes to have had a mammogram within the past two years.

PPMNS health centers offer affordable, preventive reproductive health care, including routine breast exams. Ninety-five percent of the care Planned Parenthood provides is preventive and primary. Last year PPMNS provided more than 20,000 breast cancer screenings and over 17,000 cervical cancer screenings to women and families in need of health care in 27 clinics throughout our region.
 
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims to increase public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the United States, and about 40,000 women will die from it. Breast cancer screenings, such as breast exams or mammograms, help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages.

Find a health center near you to schedule an appointment. 

##

PRESS CONTACT: Kathi Di Nicola
651.755.9557