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Community Corner

Breast Cancer Survivors Groups Offer Hope, Support

Sisters of Greater Long Island, featuring African-American women who survived the disease, share their stories at special forum for residents.

They are survivors, and as they will let you know, they are sisters. Not by blood, but by a bond - the bond of surviving breast cancer.

The Town of Babylon hosted a breast cancer awareness last week featuring the Sisters of Greater Long Island.

The Sisters is a support group for African Americans affected by the disease. According to their members, black women get breast cancer at a lower rate than those not of color, but die at a greater rate.

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Survivors shared their stories, and stressed, above all else the number one key to defeating breast cancer: early detection.

"My message today, to every woman, is to make a promise to yourself to schedule a mammogram yearly, and do your monthly breast self-exams, and pay attention to your body," said Sisters President Patricia Swinton, of Massapequa, a 25-year survivor.

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The Sisters offer education and hope for those with breast cancer and their families, and the origanization believes that a strong support system is vital in fighting the disease. Monthly meetings are held at the Town's Pool Building in North Babylon.

"We let them know we're sisters, and we're here for them," Swinton said. "We're here to assist them and to comfort them....We're here for support and encouragement."

The Sisters also work with local hospitals to seek out those needing guidance, or even needing a ride to their treatments. They also hold fundraisers, and, to that end have just published their first cookbook.

Also on hand were members of the Witness Project, a national, faith-based group that also spreads the word of breast cancer, and where to turn.

"In church we save souls, but with Witness [Project] we save lives," said Witness "role model" Pam Isabell of Amityville, a seven-year survivor (two times over).

Breast cancer is still often thought of as something that only strikes the older set, but one Amityville resident said that's not true, and she shared her story, as well.

LaKesha Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at the age of 31. She says she's fine now, and has started Pink S.H.O.E.S. Inc, a support group for women 40 and under.

Jackson feels the message of early detection and "it can happen to you" is more effective if a woman can relate to the person delivering it.

"I feel like my story will be able to help someone else, especially younger women say, 'You know what, if this happened to her, then maybe it could happen to me too. Let me go get a sonogram,' [that] it's not just an older woman disease," she said.

Or strictly a "woman disease," period, as men could get breast cancer, too, and should also be aware of any changes around their chest area.

The overlying goal? Be selfish about yourself and your body, according to Isabell.

"Don't feel guilty when you take care of yourself....You've got to put yourself first," she said.

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