REDMOND, Wash., and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and Sparks.com today announced the launch of a new Breast Cancer Resource Center on MSN.com TM WomenCentral, with programming by WebMD, at http://womencentral.MSN.com/ . The WomenCentral Breast Cancer Resource Center addresses a wide range of issues a woman and her family may confront, with practical resources for physical as well as emotional and mental recovery. In continued support of this cause, Sparks.com, the world’s largest paper greeting card store and major sponsor of the new Breast Cancer Resource Center, is donating $1 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Bay Area Affiliate for each WomenCentral user who registers with its service through Nov. 30.
“With a topic this critical, it’s very important to provide comprehensive, clear and easy-to-access information,”
said Rob Bennett, director of marketing for the Consumer and Commerce Group at Microsoft.
“WomenCentral goes beyond what traditional media or other sites offer to provide the most useful information that will have an immediate impact on a woman’s life, whether she is a breast cancer survivor herself, or a family member or friend.”
Ellen Stovall, cancer survivor and executive director of the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship, said,
“When I was diagnosed with cancer, the scariest part was not having the information. I wanted to know everything there was to know about my disease and the steps that I could take immediately, from the point of my diagnosis. For the first time in history, technology is giving people the power of information. A service such as WomenCentral puts current information at our fingertips whenever and wherever we need it, giving survivors an element of control and making cancer much less scary.”
The reality of breast cancer is often more complex than most Web sites and media are able to cover completely, but WomenCentral’s Breast Cancer Resource Center distinguishes itself by providing a greater depth and breadth of information and offering more practical and empowering solutions. For example, rather than simply telling women that they should change their diet, WomenCentral’s resource center offers favorite recipes of breast cancer survivors. The new resource center also offers a frank look at the more sensitive issues women want to discuss, such as breast cancer’s effect on a woman’s sexuality.
WomenCentral, with WebMD, provides articles and tips that help reduce the stress and confusion of an already difficult time and help enable women to become more proactive about their recovery. Articles will be rolled out weekly, and the complete resource center will be available as a permanent part of the WomenCentral site. The following are among the major sections of the WomenCentral’s Breast Cancer Resource Center:
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Breast Cancer 101 discusses what things everyone should know about breast cancer and treatment. It highlights various topics with articles such as
“Communicating With Your Doctor”
and
“A Closer Look at Medical Insurance.” -
Reducing Your Risk helps women learn how to do self examinations, how to be savvy consumers of mammogram services and whether preventative drugs may be useful to them.
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Living With Cancer offers no-nonsense tips and advice for getting through breast cancer, maintaining a healthy mental attitude and learning how to cope emotionally. It profiles real women living with cancer and offers articles such as
“How to Manage Pain.” -
Survivors highlights breast cancer survivors and celebrates cancer survivorship.
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Research and the Future showcases the latest developments in breast cancer treatment, including those in clinical trial. It also discusses the future of mammography and cross-cultural issues.
About MSN.com WomenCentral
WomenCentral ( http://womencentral.MSN.com/ ) is the one-stop resource for women, featuring high-quality content, useful tools and smart solutions for daily living. MSN.com WomenCentral blends popular features from Women.com, the award-winning network of sites for women, with its own original content and the acclaimed programming from MSN.com to create the best place for women to get things done. Resource categories for women include Career, Relationships, Family, Women, Fitness and Style. The Today page highlights all of the latest content for every department on the channel. WomenCentral also features a Web Guide of premiere links, exclusive online columns by Molly Ivins and Judith Martin, (a k a Miss Manners) and content from the award-winning UnderWire® women’s online entertainment and information magazine show.
About Sparks.com
Sparks.com, the world’s largest paper greeting card store, is helping people connect with the important people in their lives. With more than 10,000 unique cards in stock, Sparks.com offers its customers convenience and selection that cannot be duplicated in the physical world of traditional card retailers. Additional services include an online reminder service, address book and gift certificate selection from a wide variety of retail partners for gift-giving needs. Sparks.com is dedicated to offering consumers a new era of choice in the $7.5 billion greeting card market. Founded in April 1998, the company is based in San Francisco.
About WebMD
Atlanta-based WebMD, which is privately held and was founded in 1998, offers a comprehensive suite of Internet-based services and information for physicians as well as health-care information services and online communities for consumers. WebMD can be reached through its Web site at http://www.webmd.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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