Breast Cancer

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a breast cancer conference said Thursday, renewing debate on a sensitive topic. While better treatments, early diagnosis and mammogram screenings have dramatically slowed the disease, experts said the focus should now shift to changing behaviors like diet and physical activity. The comments added to a series of findings that lifestyle changes in areas such as smoking, eating, exercise and sun exposure can have a significant effect on all sorts of cancer rates.

Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets breast cancer and another doesn't. It is clear, however, that breast cancer is not caused by bumping, bruising, or touching the breast. And this disease is not contagious; no one can "catch" breast cancer from another person. Scientists are trying to learn more about factors that increase the risk of developing this disease. For example, research is in progress to determine whether the risk of breast cancer is affected by environmental factors.

More than half a million dollars is being donated to improve breast cancer services in Kansas.  The Mid-Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure awarded 10 community grants totaling $529,167. The local chapter says it takes funds raised through events like the Wichita Race for the Cure and Cards for the Cure to invest back into the community.  Its goal is to give women access to mammograms, an important component to the early detection to breast cancer. In addition to local grant funding, Komen Mid-Kansas invests 25% of funds raised in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program supporting research awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

Volunteers at Town East Center worked fast and furious on Friday to sign people up for Wichita's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Organizers say 75 percent of the money raised stays in Kansas.  It helps women in need across the state to pay for mammograms and related medical needs, as well as breast cancer education programs.  The other 25 percent helps fund national education programs and research including breast cancer research at the...

Whether running, walking or even sleeping in, thousands will raise money to fight breast cancer this weekend. It's the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and for those who have survived the disease, the event is more than just a fundraiser, it's a celebration of what they've been through. Mary K. Vaughn's story starts back in 2007, before a breast cancer bear sat on her desk and a pink ribbon charm hung around her neck. "I remember breaking down into tears because I thought, you know, I'm exercising, I'm eating right, and then I get this?

Funeral services for longtime KWCH anchor Kim Setty were held Monday. She died Wednesday January 4th after a six year battle with cancer. Click to Read More About Kim's Time with KWCH and to Share Your Thoughts Kim shared 24 years with the people who work at KWCH and those who watched her on air. In that time, she balanced dedication to her job and devotion to her family; she balanced the gravity, and comedy, of working in...

Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States and every 13 minutes a woman dies from the disease.  These are the kind of statistics the Susan G. Komen 'Race for the Cure' is trying to change. You can help this effort by joining KWCH at the 'Race for the Cure' on Saturday, September 29 th at Towne East Square.  For the second year, KWCH is the television media sponsor for the race. KWCH's very own Cindy Klose and Jenn Bates will emcee the event.  Other Eyewitness news reporters, anchors, and meteorologists will also be at the race.

The school year ends in a special way for seniors at Maize South High School. Tuesday, they launched more than 17-hundred balloons into the air over the school's football field. It was more than just a celebration of the end of the year. The idea was to honor the memory of Shelley Poynter. The teacher and coach died earlier this year from breast cancer. The school also awarded the first Shelley Woodard Poynter memorial scholarship, to Joy Anna Henderson. Joy said, "It's kind of sad, but happy at the same time because I know Mrs. Poynter would want this to help somebody cause she was all about helping people and caring about people" Joy told us the whole thing really hits home, because she also lost her mother to breast cancer.

by Kara Sewell (WINFIELD, Kan.) In Winfield near Main Street sits a bucket of bras. But Barbara Hrencher has good reason for mentioning her unmentionables.  Barbara's brassiere collection is really a symbol. In October, she'll string them across the Arkansas River to promote breast cancer awareness. Calling it Bras for a Cause. She'll take any kind of bra, sports bras, regular bras, even t-shirts since breast cancer affects men also. She needs 600. So, every Saturday in September she's taking donations.

Clint Bowyer is both gaining and losing ground in the his quest for a NASCAR Championship. Bowyer scored yet another top 10 with a ninth place finish at Dover and moved two more spots to forth in the points standings. And yet he lost 10 points to the points lead, going from 15 points behind then points leader Jimmie Johnson to 25 points behind current leader Brad Keselowski. This week's race at Talladega could be a game changer for Bowyer. The Alabama track is arguably the Kansas Kid's best.

Clint Bowyer is both gaining and losing ground in the his quest for a NASCAR Championship. Bowyer scored yet another top 10 with a ninth place finish at Dover and moved two more spots to forth in the points standings. And yet he lost 10 points to the points lead, going from 15 points behind then points leader Jimmie Johnson to 25 points behind current leader Brad Keselowski. This week's race at Talladega could be a game changer for Bowyer. The Alabama track is arguably the Kansas Kid's best.

Saturday morning a sea of pink covers part of east Wichita as thousands gather for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. They show up at Towne East Mall to run and walk in honor those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, those still fighting the disease and those who have beat it.  The annual event grows each year. It serves as a fundraiser for the Mid-Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen.  The money raised at the race goes to fund grants for the women and men in 95 counties served by the foundation.  "We serve those who desperately need our help, and to continue to invest in research to find the cures for breast cancer," said Lindsay Smith, local chapter executive director.  Last year the Mid-Kansas chapter granted more than $529,000 in community grants.

Pleasant Valley Middle School teacher, Kelli Frazier, loves history.  She even documents her own. "This was going from the chemo to the radiation treatments,” Kelli said. Kelli's scrapbook tells the story of her fight with breast cancer.  It started March 2006. "I actually found my lump.  It surfaced very high on my left breast area.  And, you could see it,” Kelli said. Kelli was only 39-years-old. She had no family history of the disease. "It was one of four tumors.  The others were where I couldn't see them,” Kelli said.

Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States and every 13 minutes a woman dies from the disease.  These are the kind of statistics the Susan G. Komen 'Race for the Cure' is trying to change. You can help this effort by joining KWCH at the 'Race for the Cure' on Saturday, September 29 th at Towne East Square.  For the second year, KWCH is the television media sponsor for the race. KWCH's very own Cindy Klose and Jenn Bates will emcee the event.  Other Eyewitness news reporters, anchors, and meteorologists will also be at the race.

The school year ends in a special way for seniors at Maize South High School. Tuesday, they launched more than 17-hundred balloons into the air over the school's football field. It was more than just a celebration of the end of the year. The idea was to honor the memory of Shelley Poynter. The teacher and coach died earlier this year from breast cancer. The school also awarded the first Shelley Woodard Poynter memorial scholarship, to Joy Anna Henderson. Joy said, "It's kind of sad, but happy at the same time because I know Mrs. Poynter would want this to help somebody cause she was all about helping people and caring about people" Joy told us the whole thing really hits home, because she also lost her mother to breast cancer.

The Buhler community finally has the results from a cancer investigation. After months of analyzing data, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment released its findings. Certain types of cancer in and around Buhler are not higher than average. For months now, the talk in the small community of Buhler around the tables at the Mustard Seed Coffee Shop has been about cancer. "Probably every day, every table was talking about once or twice," Blanca Kaufman of Mustard Seed Coffee Shop said.

More than half a million dollars is being donated to improve breast cancer services in Kansas.  The Mid-Kansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure awarded 10 community grants totaling $529,167. The local chapter says it takes funds raised through events like the Wichita Race for the Cure and Cards for the Cure to invest back into the community.  Its goal is to give women access to mammograms, an important component to the early detection to breast cancer. In addition to local grant funding, Komen Mid-Kansas invests 25% of funds raised in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program supporting research awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

For about a month now, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has analyzed and interpreted cancer cases from Buhler and Reno County.  KDHE is trying to figure-out if Buhler has a higher than average amount of cancer cases. The county health department asked for the agency's help, after the community became concerned with the high number of Buhler Grade School teachers diagnosed with cancer.  The school district hired a firm to do environmental testing.  Then, the city tested the water supply.  All those tests results came back within "safe standards.

The Buhler mayor says the Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not find any issues with the grade school's water samples. Mayor Dan Friesen says he doesn't have any more information in regards to KDHE's research on the incident levels of cancer in and around Buhler. However, a KDHE spokesperson says a state epidemiologist found the rates of lung and breast cancer in Reno County as a whole are not statistically different from those of the state as a whole.

Testing reveals the Buhler Grade School is safe.  But those close to people who've died say that can't be the last word. The day after a meeting detailing the results of an environmental study,  Katelyn Canter--a mom of small children and sister of a Buhler teacher--echoes the fear that something mysterious is killing people. "I think there is something going on," Canter says.  "I think just sitting there saying, well, we can't do anything, isn't enough. " And Buhler Mayor Daniel Friesen says the case is far from closed.  He says he just talked with the Kansas Department of Environment and Health.  He also plans to brainstorm with the city council to consider if the city can or should do anything more.