Director’s Corner — December 2025

As we enter the final month of the year, I find myself reflecting on how much strength, compassion, and community have carried us through 2025. This season invites both celebration and reflection. For so many in our breast cancer community, it can bring a mix of emotions. While the holidays are joyful for some, they can also be difficult, stressful, lonely, or tender for others. Wherever you find yourself this season, please know that you are not alone. At Going Beyond the Pink, we remain committed to fostering connection, kindness, and compassionate support for all.

I just recently celebrated 12 years of survivorship, and I've been reflecting a lot on grace, gratitude, and grit. My amazing colleague and friend, Maggie, shares those traits in abundance. She'll be celebrating 12 years of survivorship soon, too! If you haven't read her new blog post, you'll want to! Check it out here.

I’ve also been loving the growth and energy inside our Pink Squad program this fall. I’m learning something new every day from the conversations, the questions, and the shared wisdom within the group. And I’m thrilled that beginning in January, Maggie and I will be launching our cancer coaching and ask-me-anything segments; an opportunity for us to go even deeper into survivorship support, practical guidance, and whole-person wellness. If you or someone you love is looking for a supportive, empowering space in the new year, we would love for you to join us.
👉 Join Pink Squad here.

While we celebrate survivorship milestones, we also carry heavy hearts. In November, our community experienced the loss of Heather, a 38-year-old mother of five, who died from advanced breast cancer. Heather’s courage and spirit touched many, and our thoughts remain with her family as they navigate this heartbreaking loss. We are grateful to see how the Leland community came together to honor her life and show love to her family, giving her the "one more Christmas" she wanted to share with her family.
👉 Learn more about Heather’s story and how you can support their family here.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are filled with purpose and hope. Your generosity helps us expand our educational programs, provide care bags and navigation support, train Breast Health Peer Educators, and continue walking alongside survivors and their families every single day.

This Giving Tuesday and throughout the end of the year, we invite you to make a gift to Going Beyond the Pink. Together, we’ll do great things in 2026—more support, more education, more compassion, and more empowerment for those who need it most.

Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for showing up with love. And thank you for believing in the power of connection and survivorship.

With gratitude and hope,

Kara

New Blog Alert — Reflections on the Importance of Connection in Surviving Breast Cancer

Breast cancer survivor and GBTP team member Maggie reflects on how connection, support, and community helped her navigate diagnosis, treatment, and the years that followed. From late-night emails with her nurse navigator to friendships formed in the infusion center, her story is a powerful reminder that no one should have to face cancer alone—and that support can change everything. 🩷

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​Read Maggie’s blog, “Reflections on the Importance of Connection in Surviving Breast Cancer,” here.

Save the Date! REACH Survivor's Symposium is March 27 & 28, 2026

Mark your calendars - the REACH Survivors Symposium is happening March 27–28, 2026 at the beautiful Halyburton Nature Center in Wilmington, NC. This year’s theme, Rooted in Resilience: Thriving Through Every Season of Survivorship, invites participants to explore what it means to grow, heal, and thrive at every stage of life after a breast cancer diagnosis. Whether you're newly navigating survivorship, living with metastatic disease or years beyond treatment, this is a weekend you won’t want to miss.

New this year, the 2026 REACH Symposium kicks off Friday evening with a cocktail reception and a special video screening to set the tone for connection and inspiration. On Saturday, March 28, we’ll dive into a full day of educational sessions and hands-on experiential workshops—blending expert insights with real-world tools to support your whole-person wellness.

More details and registration info are on the way soon, but for now, be sure to mark your calendar and plan to join us in the heart of nature for this empowering and uplifting gathering.

November Workshop - Taking Shapes: a Meditation and Art Experience

November's monthly workshop, Taking Shapes: a Meditation and Art Experience featured Beth Blair, Artist, Reiki Master and Intuitive Coach who led us in a guided meditation to clear our minds and release energy blocks. Then, using creative shapes, we learned to transmute negative energy and rewire thought patterns through neurographic art.

Next Workshop Will Be January 21 - Reflection & Renewal: Creating a Vision for the New Year

Join us Wednesday January 21 2026 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the GBTP office located in Independence Mall and take a gentle pause to reflect on the past year and look ahead with intention. Join us in exploring self-care planning, fatigue management, and ways to strengthen community support, all while crafting a personal vision for the year ahead. Registration is required - click here to register.

Have You Joined Pink Squad Yet?

Pink Squad, Going Beyond the Pink’s new online wellness and survivorship platform, is officially live—and there’s still time to join!

This is your virtual space to connect, learn, and thrive with others who understand the breast cancer journey. Members gain access to live expert-led programming, group coaching sessions, and interactive classes designed to support your mind, body, and spirit. Each month features sessions with cancer care professionals— including nutritionists, exercise specialists, and wellness coaches—focused on topics that matter most to survivors and care partners.

You’ll find classes in yoga, meditation, gentle stretching, cooking and nutrition, managing side effects of treatment, and more—all accessible from the comfort of home. Whether you’re seeking new tools for self-care, practical guidance for survivorship, or a welcoming community that “gets it,” Pink Squad is here for you.

💗 Spots are limited, so click here to sign up and join our vibrant community!

In the News - Study Clarifies Breast Cancer Risks Linked to Genes and Family History

A big U.S. study led by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has produced clearer numbers showing how genes and family history together affect lifetime breast cancer risk. The study is linked here and used data from nearly 68,000 women, combining genetic tests, family history, lifestyle and national cancer statistics. Instead of complicated “relative risks,” it gives easy-to-understand chances, for example: women with a harmful gene and a close family history.
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What the Numbers Say

Depending on the gene you have and whether a close family member has had breast cancer: ​

• With a high-risk gene and a close family history:
  • ~ 22.5% chance of breast cancer by age 50
  • ~ 51.2% chance by age 80 ​
• With the gene but no close family history:
  • ~ 9.4% chance by age 50
  • ~ 29.7% chance by age 80
• For some genes (like PALB2), if there is family history, lifetime risk may climb as high as ~ 81%.
• For others (e.g. BRCA1), the lifetime risk estimate (~ 60%) was similar regardless of whether there was a family history.

Why This Matters for Breast Cancer Survivors

• More clarity, less confusion: The “absolute risk” numbers (chances over time) are easier to understand than technical statistics.
• Personalized choices: These clear numbers help you and your doctor decide if you want more frequent screening (like MRI), or consider preventive measures. ​
• Genes aren’t the whole story: The study emphasizes that breast cancer risk is never determined just by genes. Lifestyle, family history, and other factors matter too.

Takeaway for Survivors

• If you know you carry a high-risk gene, talk with your health provider about what your risk likely is — this study gives realistic estimates.
• Based on your personal risk, you might consider earlier or more frequent screening or additional preventive steps.
  Even with a gene variant, healthy lifestyle and good screening remain important — because genes alone don’t decide everything.

INA®, The Intelligent Nutrition Assistant

Going Beyond the Pink and Savor Health have partnered to share an amazing resource with you (psst... it's free!). Ina®, The Intelligent Nutrition Assistant provides personalized, evidence-based nutrition support 24/7 “on demand” to help cancer patients.

Learn more & sign up to get free access to INA here: https://www.goingbeyondthepink.org/ina​

Healthy Cooking: Lemon-Turmeric Crinkle Cookies

Just in time for Christmas! These healthy-ish cookies are easy to make and will be the perfect gift for your cookie exchange!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¾ cup/150 grams granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt or fine salt
• 1½cups/192 grams all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup/92 grams powdered sugar, for coating

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together oil and turmeric until combined. Let sit for about 30 seconds to let turmeric dissolve. Add sugar, lemon zest, cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Vigorously whisk to combine and aerate the mixture, about 1 minute.
2. Whisk in baking soda and salt. Add flour, then switch to a rubber spatula and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate dough until hard enough to scoop, about 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment. Using a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop (or two spoons) and working one at a time, scoop out 1½-inch/29-gram rounds and coat them in powdered sugar. Place them a couple of inches apart on the baking sheets and bake until crinkled and no longer wet-looking on top, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool completely on the pan before eating.

Enjoy!

A special Thank You to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.! As part of their ongoing Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative, the ladies of the Beta Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. proudly delivered 12 Breast Cancer Care Baskets to survivors at Going Beyond the Pink. We are so grateful for your generosity and for all of the wonderful work you do in our community.

Recruiting Participants - Couples’ Communication about Metastatic Breast Cancer Study

Researchers at the University of Connecticut are seeking individuals with metastatic breast cancer to participate in a study about couples & intimacy. We hope the findings from the study will be useful for individuals facing metastatic cancer by identifying communication practices that help couples manage the challenges of cancer on their relationship. Eligible participants will be asked to complete a 45-minute online survey that

includes scales and open-ended questions. Interested participants can complete this brief 5-minute screening survey: https://tinyurl.com/UConnMBCStudy

Order Now for Christmas! Shop GBTP Custom Merchandise

Looking for a way to show your support for GBTP? How about rocking some GBTP-branded t-shirts or sweatshirts? They make great gifts for friends and loved ones and help support the work we do. Shop our GBTP t-shirts, sweatshirts and mugs here.

Help Us Continue Helping You!

Since 2017, Going Beyond the Pink has been helping the breast cancer community in Southeastern North Carolina with support resources, care bags, educational materials, survivorship workshops and financial assistance to help cover rising out-of-pocket medical costs for breast cancer patients.

Your continued support of our mission has a direct impact on our local community. To date, we’ve awarded over $110,000 in financial assistance and provided thousands of support resources to our breast cancer community. Supportive resources are shown to improve breast cancer survival rates by up to 64%!

Your support helps our breast cancer community beat the odds!

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Words to Live By

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