Dear Friend,

            I know that my letter finds you in the midst of a busy time in your life.  It seems that all of our lives are filled with activities, jobs, chores, family and friends.  I don’t want a large chunk of your time and I don’t want to dip into your wallet.   I would simply like to ask for your support in a quest to give young women a better chance in the fight against breast cancer.

            First, please take a moment to think about all of the women in your life who are under the age of 40.  With those women in mind, I would like to share an unfortunate reality.  Most medical insurance does not pay for diagnostic testing for breast cancer have no history of the disease.

            When my daughter, Susan, was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was 37 years old.  She had none of the conventional risk factors; she was just unlucky.  She was three years away from hitting the magical 40^th birthday when insurance companies began to see the risk of breast cancer significant enough to warrant paying for a yearly mammogram.  Since she was so young, she had never had a mammogram or any other test.  Once she showed symptoms of cancer, doctors tested her with a mammogram, which actually showed no signs of cancer.  Because younger women tend to have denser breast tissue, mammograms often will not detect cancer.  Her doctors therefore ordered a sonogram, which is the test that diagnosed her cancer.

            I will never know if earlier diagnostic testing would have made a difference in my daughter’s fight against this terrible disease.  I don’t have pages of data or file folders filled with study results.  I can only tell you that, in my heart, I know that earlier testing might have given Susan a better chance of detecting her cancer before it spread throughout her lymph system.  My daughter lost here fight in November of 2003, but I decided to keep her gloves in the ring by taking up her cause.

            My goal is to change the policy of most insurance companies who currently cover diagnostic tests for breast cancer for women under 40 ONLY if they have family history of symptoms of the disease.  To change insurance companies, state legislators must pass a law that requires insurance coverage for sonograms for the “under 40” age group.  My request alone will not do much to encourage legislators to pass a law but hundreds of letters from people across the state will definitely make an impact.  This may seem like a daunting task, but please keep in mind that although today it is common knowledge that “starting at age 40, women should have a yearly mammogram,” insurance companies didn’t always cover this test.  It was only through a change in legislation, sparked by countless letters to state senators and representatives that this coverage came to be a reality.

            So, finally, what do I need from you?  I just need you to contact your state senator and representative and ask them to consider making changes in our insurance laws.  Letters should be no longer than one page with the purpose for writing in the first paragraph.  Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Health, Dr. Calvin Johnson, returned my call and advised that we need ”lots” of people to write their legislators requesting insurance coverage of sonograms.  You may also want to consider contacting your health care provider.  To have a louder voice in Harrisburg, encourage friends, co-workers, church “family,” neighbors, and family to write as well.

            My youngest daughter wrote a poem for her sister on the day that she died.  When you read it, I hope you can see Sue’s face and the faces of the thousands of others who have died of breast cancer.  You may want to send a copy with your letter.

            The American Cancer Society tells us that breast cancer is fairly rare in women under 40 (5%) and that is why it is not a particularly pressing issue.  My opinion is that one woman who dies is one too many, especially if that woman is your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, teacher, co-worker, friend, or neighbor.  Anything you can do to help is appreciated by countless women who will benefit from our simple efforts.

On behalf of all young women, I thank you.

Imogene Snyder

For more information call or write Imogene Snyder at 1303 Robinwood Drive, Clarion, PA  16214 or 814-226-9305; or, email Sandy Miller at millersonlogan@comcast.net.

So…What’s the Plan?

My work is done – I’ve done my best – Perhaps…it is time now for me to rest.

I just have to ask… what’s the plan?

You remember my time at Clarion High?                          Fill every moment with something worthwhile-

I was the sprinter you swore could fly-                            Build up those frequent flyer miles-

Track records I held-but that’s not all-                             Baseball, theatre, Spanish club, too-

I played in the band and some basketball.                       An adjunct professor at CMU.

I dished out chicken at KFC-                                             A Vice President position at Databay

While I studied calculus and history-                              I’m “in charge” at home and away-

And in the end- I’d done my best-                                    A special ed. Advocate- I just want the best-

Graduated first in my class-above all the rest.                We vacation-we travel-we never rest.

So… what’s the plan?                                                         Autumn Leaf craft show-a traditional plan-

                                                                                                I’m an avid Steelers and Pirates fan-

College in Clarion-I found my way-                  I love to watch movies-help my niece play softball-

Three degrees in five years unheard of they say-          My faith in God surpasses it all.

And I had my fun-sorority and band-

On the graduate stage-Summa Cum Laude I stand.       That’s my plan-I always want more-

                                                                                                But God’s plan presents a sudden detour-

So… what’s the plan?                                                         It doesn’t seem fair-it doesn’t seem right-

                                                                                                I do not give up without a fight.

Three degrees aren’t enough-I can do more-

Off to Kent State-an MBA I score-                                   I did all that I could-all that I dared-

Back home to PA-to start my career-                                I fought the fight-I tried not to be scared-

AGH I will change-it will take years.                 And even at times-so weak I couldn’t stand-

                                                                                                I asked those around me-so… what’s the plan?

A job is just part of life’s plan-you see-

I surround myself with family.                                           Then-at the end of my earthly life-

I feel so blessed-one lesson I learn-                                 I must alter my role as mom and wife-

Family supports me through life’s twists and turns.      Surrounded by family-God takes me home-

                                                                                                It seems all along He had a plan of His own.

I’m a granddaughter-daughter-a stepmother too-

A sister-an aunt-I’m “Grandma Sue”-                               I’m still your baseball coach-your friend-

But perhaps my favorite roles in life-                                Your professor-your boss-your colleague and then…

I’m MOM to two boys-I’m Gary’s wife.                           I’m still your daughter-your sister for life-

                                                                                                I’m still your mom-still Gary’s wife.

God’s plan sometimes doesn’t seem so great-               

He gave me a challenge in ’98-                                          I’m still in charge-same questions unsaid-

I altered my own plan to include chemo-                         Did you brush your teeth? Did you make your bed?

A stem cell transplant and we’re good to go.                 Is your homework done? Did you get enough rest?

                                                                                                Most important of all- Did you do your best?

So… what’s the plan?

My roles are the same-I’m just farther away-

You cannot see me every day-

But you’ll feel me there-I’m your angel’s right hand-

And you better believe-I have a plan.

Poem written by Sandra Snyder Miller for her sister Susan Snyder Branscum who died of breast cancer on November 3, 2003