During a routine mammogram in 2023, Julie Rudman, founder and executive director of The Breast Cancer Club, was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma — a type of breast cancer. Her diagnosis, treatment and a three-hour conversation with another Kansas City woman with breast cancer led Rudman to change the fabric of breast cancer support in Kansas City.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer, my friend asked if she could connect me with a friend who had breast cancer,” she said. “The friend and I met at Corner Bakery. She had flowers and a gift bag, and she talked to me for three hours. At the end, I said, ‘I can’t thank you enough.’ She said, ‘Just pay it forward.’”
The next day, Rudman realized the way to pay it forward was to give the gift of support, resources and community to anyone in Kansas City who is impacted by breast cancer.
“People always say, ‘Welcome to the club you never wanted to be a part of,’” Rudman said. “I thought, ‘Where’s the club? There isn’t any club.’ So I decided to build the club.”
The organization’s website, thebreastcancerclub.org, features a forum, links to local resources and communication forms, among other things. The club is also working on projects around the community, including the collection and redistribution of gently used cancer supplies.
“People don’t know what to do with their supplies when they’re done, and the only place I know of in town that dealt in used supplies has closed their doors,” Rudman said. “Supplies are expensive, and you don’t need them for long. There’s a lot of good, gently used stuff out there that we want to get in people’s hands.”
The Breast Cancer Club centers around five core values: community, privacy, inclusivity, equity and convenience. Its mission is to provide support and connection for everyone in the Kansas City area who is impacted by breast cancer — whether someone has a diagnosis, is in remission, is at high risk, or has a loved one with breast cancer, they are welcome to join. The club is for all people, regardless of gender, ethnic heritage, religious denomination or any other culturally defining factor.
“We are inclusive. Anyone with breast tissue can get breast cancer, and all humans have breast tissue,” Rudman said.
Yet the inclusivity of the group expands far beyond gender. Rudman said, “breast cancer affects us all but does not affect us equally.” She shared statistics to support that statement: White women are the most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer; Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer; and Hispanic women are 30% more likely to die from breast cancer.
“The pursuit of health equity is woven into the fabric of The Breast Cancer Club. We are doing everything we can to be inclusive. Our logo features five shades of skin tones – to represent everyone – and our website displays in more than 100 languages,” Rudman said.
“As an 11-year breast cancer survivor, I was very fortunate to have an excellent support system, but I know this isn’t the case for everyone,” said Miriam Kaseff, a board member of The Breast Cancer Club. “We hope to reach as many people as possible through our free online platform, especially in communities where illnesses like cancer are not discussed.”
According to Rudman, there remains a great deal of shame and stigma associated with breast cancer in some communities. Anonymity within the club is critical so all feel comfortable when asking for help and talking about their health and their bodies.
While some of the information is globally applicable — including forms that help individuals communicate with friends, family and physicians — The Breast Cancer Club is hyperlocal to Kansas City. It provides a discussion network where individuals can ask for and share local information about treatment options, doctors and other resources.
“This is built for KC,” said Rudman.
Coming soon on the website will be a list of local businesses that are providing discounted goods or services to breast cancer patients, as well as a library of video resources. Videos will include yoga for those who can’t do upper body weight-bearing exercise (with local instructor Ali Jacobson) and meditation (led by Aimee Bernstein). Rudman also seeks teachers from other communities to help create more connections throughout Kansas City.
Jewish community as a driving force
According to Rudman, the Jewish community has been a critical driver and supporter of The Breast Cancer Club.
“This community has been the engine. My first conversations were with members of Kansas City’s Jewish community — people teaching me the landscape, helping me understand how to do this work and leveraging their connections,” Rudman said. “This whole journey has been tied into the Jewish community from the very beginning. Dr. Michael Farber found my cancer; Dr. Brad Koffman was my radiation oncologist. I reached out to Joe Hiersteiner with legal questions, and Rita Cortes walked me through how to create a nonprofit organization. Fay Balk donated two pro bono sessions with the board to help craft our mission statement and come up with our core values.”
The list of those in the Jewish community who supported Rudman in turning her dream into a reality is a long one that goes well beyond Rudman’s husband, David, and three children, Zoe, Grace and Max. According to Rudman, many who helped did it out of a sense of social justice and tikkun olam, yet there remains an overarching awareness of the impact of breast cancer within many Jewish families and friend groups.
“People of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry are at greater risk of having the BRCA mutation, which puts them at higher risk for developing certain cancers, one of them being breast cancer,” Kaseff said. “Even though we have many Jewish friends who are willing to share information and help in any way, some people are very private and don’t want others to know about their illness. The Breast Cancer Club provides support with anonymity. They can ask for help, learn about providers and find local resources without providing their identity.”
Whatever the reasons for involvement, Rudman says she is indebted to many.
“I’ve been lifted up in many ways by the Jewish community. So many of my advisors and donors have come from within. I think many in our community feel aligned with our mission,” Rudman said.
More information about The Breast Cancer Club is available at thebreastcancerclub.org.
