Suburban Breast Center, Bethesda, MD

4th Annual Washington, DC Golf Weekend Recipient In Memory of Cynthia Rankin

So many members of our Betterment network have been affected by breast cancer. In 2003, we thought it fitting to choose the Suburban Breast Center of Bethesda, MD as the recipient for our 4th Annual Betterment Golf Weekend.

This Center provides a broad spectrum of diagnostic, treatment and supportive services to ensure that women throughout the Greater Washington, DC community have a winning edge in the fight against this frightening disease.  Due to budget cuts, the Center has been faced with turning away 4-5 women every day who are in need of a mammogram -- a test that is critical to early detection of the disease.

Monies raised from the Golf Weekend went toward providing 100 local uninsured women with breast cancer screening. Because of Betterment’s contribution, these women, who would have otherwise been turned away, are now receiving this lifesaving test.

Betterment funds also supported the Center’s “Mammo-Buddies” program. The program, conceived by a breast cancer survivor, addresses the anxiety and fear that can accompany a mammogram. Volunteers – many of them breast cancer survivors – act as a liaison between patients and staff, escort patients to the mammogram area, and talk with them to take their minds off the procedure.  Betterment’s contribution was used to underwrite the costs of parking for volunteers, ensuring that as many patients as possible have a Mammo-Buddy to help them through the often-stressful mammogram procedure.

Today, Suburban Breast Center of Bethesda continues to serve more than 50 women on a daily basis. More than 10 volunteers share their time to assist the Center every year, and more than half of those volunteers are breast cancer survivors.

http://www.suburbanhospital.org/Cancer/SuburbanHospitalBreastProgram.aspx