Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection aims to boost awareness of breast cancer, and enhance early detection through community collaboration.
Established in 1996 as NCTP, Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection has grown from a community effort focused on breast cancer awareness into an organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and uplifting those impacted by breast cancer throughout Northern California. While our name has evolved, our commitment to the importance of early detection remains at the heart of our mission. When caught and treated early, breast cancer has a significantly higher survival rate, making annual mammograms, monthly self-breast exams, and awareness of other early detection tools critically important. Breast cancer can affect anyone — young or old, with or without a family history — and it does not discriminate.
Through advocacy, outreach, education, and community support across Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas, Tehama, and Trinity Counties, Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection continues the legacy by helping individuals and families navigate the challenges of breast cancer with compassion, connection, and hope. We invite you to join us in our mission by supporting Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection and helping us continue to spread awareness, provide support, and encourage early detection throughout our communities.
It is the hope of Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection to secure donations from local businesses, individuals, and grant opportunities in order to continue educating women and men about breast cancer awareness, annual mammograms, self-breast exams, and the importance of early detection, while also expanding support and resources for those impacted by breast cancer.
Early Detection Saves Lives
The campaign originated in 1996 in Northern California through the efforts of three individuals: Dr. Michael Figueroa, Oncologist of Solace Cancer Care (previously Cancer Care Consultants), Carol Lake of the American Cancer Society – Northern California Unit, and Melody Christenson of MD Imaging in Redding, California. What began with just 500 free bags handed out to the public has grown into a longstanding community tradition. Today, Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection proudly continues that legacy by distributing up to 22,000 Breast Cancer Awareness Bags and Calendars to more than 30 surrounding communities each year during our annual awareness campaign.
Image courtesy of Dr. Adam Attoun from Dignity Health Advanced Imaging
Breast Cancer Awareness Bags
Each Breast Cancer Awareness Bag contains educational materials such as:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar
- Breast Self-Examination Instructions
- Breast Cancer Resources (found inside the Awareness Calendar)
Each Breast Cancer Awareness bag also contains pink gift items to help raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Examples of past items include pink antenna ball, pink pens, hairbrush, and more. Each year various businesses donate different items to add to the educational mission.
Beyond the Bag
Breast cancer is not just one day a year. In 2016, Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection launched the Beyond the Bag Initiative to educate women and men in the North State of the importance of early detection throughout the entire year. The annual Pretty In Pink Prom fundraising event was created to raise monies solely for this new program.
Breast Cancer Detection Fund
In 2023, Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection took over the Breast Cancer Detection Fund from the Soroptimist International of Redding when they retired their chapter after 76 years. Soroptimist International of Redding held their first Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon in 1998. Through the years, money raised at the luncheon funded the Breast Cancer Detection Fund. The fund assisted hundreds of women and men in Shasta and Trinity Counties, in alliance with Dignity Health Advanced Imaging, who could not afford necessary screening for breast cancer. Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection is honored to now offer this program directly, allowing patients the freedom to choose where they receive their testing, while ensuring all funds remain local. The Breast Cancer Detection Fund is an allocated funding source to assist anyone who does not have adequate insurance which would cover breast cancer detection screening or other breast cancer diagnostic services. If you have been putting off early breast cancer detection practices due to a lack of adequate insurance, contact Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection today!
Community Events
Nor-Cal Breast Cancer Connection hosts breast cancer education booths at community events & health fairs providing education materials throughout the year.
Mobile Mammography
In 2018, Beyond the Bag hosted its first No-Cost Mobile Mammography Event in Fall River Mills, CA, to be followed in 2019 by Mobile Mammography events in Alturas, Fall River, Shingletown, and Chester. In 2023 with funding from a Sierra Pacific Foundation Grant, we were able to hold a Mobile Mammography event in the fire ravaged town of Greenville.
