Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
A MESSAGE FROM DR. MARIA MERINO, CHIEF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY, NIH. BETHESDA, MARYLAND
"We will be delighted to provide a second opinion and review your biopsies.
Here is what you do. You request from the department of pathology in the hospital where the biopsies are going to be performed, that they either send me the biopsies via Fed Ex directly, or that they give you the material and you send it to me. They may ask you to sign a release form, but that is standard procedure. Once you have the material, send it to me using Fed Ex, at:
Maria J Merino MD,
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bldg 10, Room 2N212
Bethesda, MD, 20892
Phone 301-496-2441
Let me know if there are any problems.
Best of luck
Maria J Merino MD
Chief, Surgical Pathology
NCI"Note from C. Thompson, founder (and first board chair) of PROJECT! OUTREACH: Be sure to keep the Fed Ex Tracking Number until you know Dr. Merino has your materials. Often the laboratory will mail the specimens for you, but tell them to e-mail or phone you with the Tracking Number and insist they be sent via Fed Ex (that's seems unnecessary but believe me, it isn't). Her email address is mjmerino@mail.nih.gov. Dr. M. will correspond with you directly—we do not invade anyone’s privacy nor keep records of "hits" on our web sites. This is between you, the patient, and Dr. Merino who is internationally known and respected (Yes, I used her!!). cj
Be sure to tell her that PROJECT! OUTREACH referred you. You will hear from Dr. Merino directly, or if she is out of town, her assistant will contact you, either way, by email or phone, so include your telephone numbers.
To contact me, website owner: advocacy-cj@gmail.com
REVIEWED Saturday, August 16, 2008
