Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is conducting Lung Cancer Screenings. If you are a current or former smoker, speak with your physician to discuss the risks and benefits of receiving a low dose CT scan.
Category Archives: Education
Meet Dr. Gulshan Harjee!
Meet Dr. Gulshan Harjee! Dr. Harjee has been a Board member of Georgia Breast Cancer for 3 years and adds a wealth of knowledge to our mission of education. In an interview with Dr. Harjee, she provided the following information.
Why did you join GABCC?
My passion is service and having battled breast cancer fortunately with Health Insurance it became a mission for me to join an Organization that would allow me to advocate for women who were not so fortunate as I am. I was recruited by Sheryl Cherico , our Chairwoman also a Cancer survivor with similar values .
How has breast cancer affected you? (ex. Do you know someone, are you a survivor? Work with patients, etc)
Breast Cancer , I believe has made me more aware of my own mortality , given me hope that I survived and made me much stronger spiritually and I believe I am more compassionate . I am paying more attention to what my patients are telling me. I am more aware that the clock is ticking .
Your occupation? How long have you worked there? Tell us a little bit about your job.
I am an Internist and the founder of First Medical Care Inc a State of the Art Primary Care that I was the CEO of for 30 years. We have received several Awards for patient satisfaction, for Excellence in Care and a Multitude of Award for Humanitarian work. Being that I am an interested in the whole patient and providing comprehensive care carefully listening, examining and analyzing the person‘s complaint, diagnosing and managing the problem for resolution. Breast cancer has become a major part of my concern for my patients. I educate them on the need for self breast exam and regular mammograms. Through my Position on a local Hospital Board I was able to bring a Local Philanthropist to invest into an updated Women’s” Center.
What has been your most memorable part of belonging to GABCC?
My involvement with the Pink Ribbon was a truly amazing experience. Through participation as a GABCC Board member we received recognition as well as part of the fundraising the event procured . This Annual event brought many survivors and family members as well as bringing awareness of this terrible le disease. None of us survivors are immune to recurrence and metastatic disease
If you would like more information on Dr. Gulshan Harjee, or would like to speak to her, please contact us.
GABCC Attends Artz, Eatz and Beatz
April 22 – The 2nd Annual Artz
Event creator, Anderson “Smitty” Smith was witness to the harshness of cancer, recently losing the love of his life to breast cancer. After his experience, Smith wanted to do something to join the effort in fighting this disease. He and his beloved Oksana both loved art, food and music, so Artz, Eatz and Beatz was born in 2015 as a tribute to Oksana. The event is about his journey into despair and how he found a way out by sharing his personal experience with others.
“Artz, Eatz and Beatz was created as a catalyst to change how we think about cancer. It is a celebration for the survivors and in memory of those who did not make it,” said Smith. “Cancer is not black nor white. It does not care if you are living a happy life, your kids are graduating from college, if you have a new baby or if you just got engaged. Cancer will affect your life, whether you are young or old. We all know someone. We are all in this together,” added Smith.
Several GABCC Board members attended the event including Board President, Sheryl Cherico, Secretary Rebecca Walden, and new board member Frank Goldman. Also in attendance were GABCC Executive Director, Amy Upchurch and GABCC local community partner, Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) to showcase its new Atlanta retail boutique.
Together, we are Georgia’s VOICE to END Breast Cancer.
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GABCC Hosts Interactive Advocacy Day at Georgia Capitol
Atlanta, Ga. (February 28, 2017) – The Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund (GABCC), a nonprofit organization serving as Georgia’s voice to end breast cancer, is holding a free community event that brings together citizens and lawmakers to discuss the impact of breast cancer on Georgia.
“Nearly 9,000 Georgians will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. This disease is devastating, not only for these women, but for their families and our communities. It is our goal to provide attendees with a unique opportunity to build and enhance their advocacy skills as well as get up close and personal with their elected officials,” said Amy Upchurch, GABCC’s Executive Director.
Led by trained breast cancer advocates, the workshop will be held at the Georgia Capitol from 10 am-12 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The workshop is free, however, registration is required to ensure adequate materials for all attendees.
Please register here or call 404-633-6499 for more information.
The Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund (GABCC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving as Georgia’s VOICE to END breast cancer. GABCC has been a leader in advocacy and education efforts since 1994. Through its targeted efforts, the organization has empowered more than 7,500 citizen advocates to join the fight against breast cancer, and has educated legislators at the state and national levels about the importance of enacting legislation to increase access to medical treatment for those diagnosed with breast cancer and funding research for a cure. For information about GABCC, visit our website: www.gabcc.org.
Advocacy Works. Are you WITH us?
Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President and one of our great leaders, once said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”
His words still ring true today. If we don’t do anything, we will continue to lose more than 40,000 women and 450 men to breast cancer each year in this country, and 522,000 women around the world. So, what can we do about breast cancer? How can we end this disease once and for all?
Although, scientists have discovered a great deal about this disease over the past 30 years, the dialogue about breast cancer hasn’t changed much at all. Awareness masks the hard truths that cannot be made better with a pink ribbon, like the fact that people are still dying.
It’s time for a new conversation. We need action. We need real results. We need to end our addiction to comfortable. To easy. To good enough. It’s time to be leaders. True leaders—that means every one of us who want to play a role in knowing how to end breast cancer must take action. We all must find the will, the strength, the belief to do what it takes to achieve the end of breast cancer.
For more than 20 years, the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund has been dedicated to state and national legislative advocacy efforts…fighting to ensure funds were, and continue to be appropriated for breast cancer research and treatment; and to ensuring that all women have access to quality medical treatment for the disease. We lead interactive education workshops throughout the state, arming attendees with key information on breast health, diagnosis, treatment, research and essential advocacy tools. We also work with the Georgia General Assembly and the US Congress to ensure that funds raised actually support programs and services for the families who are affected, both now and in the future. We are working to change the conversation about breast cancer. And you can too.
Advocacy is inherently political and attempts to increase the power of the powerless with our elected officials. Advocacy is action aimed at changing the system. And advocacy makes a real difference! In fact, without it, we wouldn’t be where we are in breast cancer today.
Successful grassroots advocacy efforts are dependent upon individuals. Not necessarily political experts. But individuals who are passionate about an issue and prepared to make their voices heard. No experience necessary. If you can plead a cause, defend those in need, and speak up for those who choose not to, you are an advocate.
Every legislative session brings changes that directly impact access to breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment. Individuals who are committed to eradicating breast cancer, must be diligent in monitoring legislative changes and making sure that their voices and opinions are heard. Our involvement is essential to make elected officials care about breast cancer issues and take a position. Because only we can effectively explain why we care about breast-cancer related legislation.
The legislative process is complicated, but becoming an effective advocate can make a real difference. Are you with us? Are you ready to join us as Georgia’s VOICE to END Breast Cancer? Join us on Tuesday, February 28, for Georgia Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Because together we can change the conversation from awareness and screening, to prevention and saving lives. And together, we ARE Georgia’s VOICE to END Breast Cancer!