I want to share some of the many new and exciting things I came across and learned about at the Young Survival Breast Cancer Conference. One online support group I found to be very helpful and innovative is called Pink-Link. It was started only a year ago and I think this is something that is needed in the breast cancer community.

The Pink-Link Breast Cancer Support Network provides valuable community and support resources for women affected by breast cancer.

Pink-Link is a nonprofit organization and all breast cancer support services are free. Pink-Link's key service, the online database of breast cancer patients and survivors, creates an intimate and personal link between breast cancer patients and survivors. The organization was founded by Victoria Tashman in 2005.

After completing a year of breast cancer treatment, Victoria wanted to give back to the community who supported her. Victoria had a wide support group of friends and family and met many women who were battling breast cancer on their own. Some of these women were afraid of talking to their doctors, asking them questions, and finding out more about their diagnosis and treatment.

Victoria realized that not all women take advantage of their local support groups, either because they didn't know about them, didn't feel comfortable in a group, or weren't able to go to group meetings.

She also realized that in most group meetings, the chances of meeting another breast cancer patient or survivor with the same diagnosis, recommended treatment, family situation, and other such details was very slim.

Victoria created Pink-Link to fill this void. By creating an on-line database of patients and survivors, Victoria envisions women diagnosed with breast cancer getting the particular, targeted support they need from the comfort of their own home. Victoria believes in the power of women helping other women and is positive that through Pink-Link, women with breast cancer can face their illness with increased knowledge and confidence.