Avon Letter

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Dear Family & Friends,

Soon I will be joining thousands of others from around the country in this year's AVON CANCER WALK to raise money for breast cancer research. I am gathering donations and walking to help fight all types of cancer, especially breast cancer. I am walking in memory of my mother, Phuc Thi Tran, who passed away from this terrible disease. I’m also walking for my sister, Oanh Vu, who has been touched by breast cancer and today, she is a survivor. Last, I’m walking for my colleague, Susana Hamilton, who is also a breast cancer survivor.

I am asking for your help. By making a contribution on my behalf, you will be helping the Avon Cancer Walk Association provide needed funds to the followings organization to help anyone who has been touched by this dreadful disease.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT BREAST CANCER IN THE U.S.

  • A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • Every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.
  • Approximately 230,480 women and 2,140 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
  • Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer.
  • 39,520 women and 450 men in the U.S. will die from the disease annually.
  • The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 2.6 million U.S. women with a history of breast cancer are living today, more than half of whom were diagnosed less than 10 years earlier. Most of these individuals were cancer-free, while others still had evidence of cancer and may still be undergoing treatment.
  • There are more than 250,000 women under the age of 40 in the U.S. living with breast cancer, and over 11,000 will be diagnosed this year.
  • White, non-Hispanic women are more likely to develop breast cancer but African-American women are more likely to die from it.
  • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women.

My goal is to raise $1800 for this cause by April 15. Please go to www.avoncancerwalk.org and make a $5, $10 or $20 gift. Click on See Your Impact, then to DONATE NOW, then click on DONATE TO A PARTICIPANT, type in my name and make the donation. All gifts are fully tax deductible. If you prefer, you can mail check to my office, made payable to Avon Cancer Walk at 55 E. Empire Street, San Jose, CA 95112.

REMEMBER: EARLY DETECTION HELPS SAVE LIVES

  • Be sure you and your loved ones follow the recommended guidelines from the American Cancer Society for early detection of breast cancer. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family consult your doctor on the need to begin these steps at an earlier age.
  • Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers.
  • Yearly mammograms with a clinical breast exam are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as woman is in good health.
  • Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s.
  • Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
  • Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year.
  • Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women of average risk of breast cancer.
  • Together we can fight Breast Cancer disease successfully.

And please do a random act of kindness to someone each day. Your kindness will be rewarded in many different ways!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Phuong Kim Nguyen, Esq.