Dear Friends,
This year the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition recognizes 20 years of taking action in the fight against breast cancer right here in our local communities. We are honored to have been a resource to the community for the past 20 years by raising awareness of breast cancer and breast health through education, outreach programs, access to screening and support services.
There have been many changes in breast cancer care and treatment over the past two decades. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, and at the time, there were very few resources available to me. There were no support groups and certainly no other young women that I knew with breast cancer and with whom I could talk. There was no Internet so I had only a few pharmaceutical pamphlets and the information from my doctors to guide me. At that time, breast cancer was still my mother’s and grandmother’s disease, not something that happened to young women.
I have worked in non-profit organizations my whole working life and I realized that information about breast cancer—and support for those newly diagnosed—must be made readily available. In fact, that’s exactly why DBCC was founded in 1991. There was a need to address breast cancer and set up support for those who were impacted by the disease.
Twenty years later, we and our partners have made great progress in this life-saving fight. The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition now offers a Peer Mentor Support program which matches those who are newly diagnosed with trained survivors who have faced similar diagnoses and treatments.
Our Clinical Trials Initiative educates those newly diagnosed about research and participation in clinical trials. Our “Beginning Your Breast Cancer Journey” provides information about resources available to those diagnosed with breast cancer, and answers their pressing questions about treatments, financial concerns, transportation issues, counselors and more. We also support the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s “Breast Cancer Deadline 2020,” which is an effort to end breast cancer by Jan. 1, 2020.
Yes, breast cancer is still an epidemic, but so much has changed for someone who is diagnosed with breast cancer. People still lose their battle with this terrible disease every day, but more people are surviving and living full, productive lives even while fighting this disease.
I’m honored to be part of an organization that offers breast cancer patients the support services I never had, but which would have made my journey easier. Please contact us if we can be of help to you. Let others know that we are right here to help and please join us in the fight against breast cancer.
Breast cancer is not just a challenge for the person newly diagnosed; it is a challenge for all of us.
Warm regards,
Victoria G. Cooke
Executive Director, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
Office Locations
New Castle County
111 W. 11th St., Suite 3
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 778-1102
Toll Free: 1-866-312-DBCC
Kent County
165 Commerce Way, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 672-6435
Toll Free: 1-888-672-9647
Sussex County
16529 Coastal Highway
Suite 116 (Rt. 1)
Lewes, DE 19958
Phone (302) 644-6844
