"I like the word fight," says Lisa Muccilo, the founder of YSC New Jersey. "This feels like a fight. And it feels like you never want to run out of ammunition." Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27. Five years later, after numerous treatments, her cancer has recurred several times and is now metastatic. Certainly, Lisa continues to do everything she can to combat her own breast cancer. But, for her, a key part of her personal battle is the fight to raise awareness among young women and the medical community.

Ultimately, the kind of ammunition Lisa is talking about is information - for young women, their loved ones, and their doctors.

Now, there's a powerful new tool to help the Young Survival Coalition achieve its mission. In a major effort to educate, inform and inspire, Fighting for Our Future debuts in October 2002. Fighting for Our Future is a one-hour primetime Lifetime Television documentary-which features an interview with Dr. Susan Love- that will air October 10 at 7pm (EST and PST). Hosted by actress Melissa Joan Hart (of WB's Sabrina the Teenage Witch), this is an intimate and comprehensive journey into the lives of young women courageously battling breast cancer, and a celebration of the founding members of the YSC. "Fighting for Our Future has the power to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of women," said Carole Black, President & CEO, Lifetime Entertainment Services. "Its scope and breadth make it a critical resource on breast cancer and young women."

A companion book to the program (also titled Fighting for Our Future and available October 1 everywhere books are sold) is being published by McGraw Hill and serves as the first survival guide for young women with breast cancer. Through in-depth interviews with YSC members from across the country, leading doctors and researchers, and family members and loved ones, the companion book helps young women understand and cope with the unique issues they face-from premature menopause, dating, and career issues to raising children and becoming active in the breast cancer community.

"Personal stories, medical advice and honest answers to the questions young women with breast cancer ask: this book is a valuable resource for women, health professionals and caregivers," said Amy Langer, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO).

In an effort to reach newly diagnosed young women, the YSC is also partnering with the American Cancer Society in New York to distribute Alone No More, a 30-minute educational video. This is part of a pilot project with ACS's Reach to Recovery program to ensure that young women have access to materials relevant to their needs and that ACS's volunteer training program includes a focus on young women.

According to Elizabeth Tarr, Reach to Recovery's New York director, this partnership "has definitely reenergized the program. It made the staff and volunteers feel like we really are addressing the tremendously broad scope of breast cancer patients. We really are serving everyone."

Beth Murphynal video, the goal of raising awareness about young women with breast cancer is being realized. Young women are finally being given a voice in the breast cancer and medical communities. And they are being heard.