We’re Bona Fide and Certified
We’re thrilled to announce that West Cancer Foundation has earned the distinguished Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive data and insights for the nonprofit sector. The Candid Seal validates a nonprofit organization’s credibility and transparency, and the Platinum certification is the highest level that can be achieved beyond Bronze, Silver and Gold. According to Guidestar’s most recent analysis, only about 78,000, or 5%, of the more than 1.7 million nonprofits registered with the IRS had a Candid Seal. Only 15% had achieved the Platinum certification.
“This objective ranking and distinguished designation from Guidestar is impressive for a nonprofit that is only four years old,” said West Cancer Foundation Executive Director Leighanne Soden. “It validates not only our mission, but also our transparent way of doing business and raising money. We’re honored to be among the small percentage of nonprofits that can claim this achievement.”
Spread Joy This Holiday Season by Giving to Those in Need
Celebrate the joy of the season and honor those you love by giving to others. The West Cancer Foundation Holiday Card Program sends beautiful greeting cards to your list of friends and family and, in so doing, supports cancer services for those in need in our community. For a minimum donation of $10 per card, we’ll take care of personalizing and mailing each card for you with the list you provide. This year’s holiday card features the artwork “Harmony” by Memphis artist Ken Lecco who uses his art to support meaningful causes and inspire hope in those who are suffering. To order your cards, please contact Keri Burnette at 901.322.2984 or kburnette@
West Cancer Foundation Comes to the Rescue…. Again
When Jacquelyn noticed pain in her chest, she assumed it was her heart. Her breast screening results showed otherwise. After a diagnostic mammogram and biopsy, she got the news nobody wants to hear: HER2 triple negative breast cancer. “When you hear the word cancer, you automatically assume the worst. I felt that I was going to die and was in an extremely dark place,” she said. She had lost her health insurance and couldn’t afford the much-needed bras, prosthesis and lymphedema garments following her mastectomy.
But West Cancer Foundation broke right through that barrier to provide what she needed. “I just couldn’t believe it. Going through this journey was hard enough, but knowing that these services were available lifted a weight off my shoulders. The foundation means a lifeline to me. I couldn’t afford the things that I needed, and the foundation came to my rescue.”
New Prostate Cancer Treatments Offer New Hope
Here’s some good news for prostate cancer. Recently the FDA approved a new treatment for the most advanced type of prostate cancer. Before this treatment, patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) had few therapeutic options, but this development offers new hope for men battling this type of prostate cancer. The new treatment offers very positive results for mutations affecting the BRCA and other DNA-repair genes, and combines enzalutamide with a second drug, talazoparib, that was already on the market for female cancer patients who test positive for BRCA mutations.
Commenting on the new treatment, Dr. Marc B. Garnick, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center said, “Genetic testing for BRCA, which originally targeted females, is now becoming mainstream for men with a family history of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as men with mCRPC, regardless of family history. This is important as it has implications for other family members and treatment choices alike.”
Support Group Spotlight: Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Support Group
Research shows that connecting with a support group can have a meaningful and positive impact on cancer recovery, and physicians consistently recommend that patients seek out and participate in support groups. The Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Support Group is open to anyone affected by pancreatic cancer, including patients, family members and caregivers who want to learn more and develop a network of supporters. It meets the second Saturday of each month from 10:15 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Cordova Public Library located at 8457 Trinity Road. It is free and no registration or RSVP is required. A virtual meeting option for those who cannot attend in person is also offered.
Celebrating our Expansion in Style
We recently celebrated the official opening of the new West Cancer Foundation offices with an Open House that brought together supporters, Board of Directors and community partners. Located at 850 Ridge Lake Blvd., Suite 207, the new space is an expansion from our previous location and gives us room to grow and increase the services we can provide to the Memphis cancer community. It’s also home to our newly established wig boutique which will provide free wigs to those in need. Look for more exciting news to come on our wig program.
Our Mission
West Cancer Foundation’s mission is to break through barriers to cancer care and improve patient outcomes by providing accessible patient resources, early detection and education, and community-based research.
