As a health care professional, I was disturbed when Judy was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer at age 35.  I had (incorrectly) learned from a doctor that young women only acquire breast cancer if it runs in their family.  Then, in college I (incorrectly) learned that breast cancer in women under 50 was rare.  So, not understanding how prevalent misinformation is in our society, I was deeply troubled at how difficult it had been for Judy to receive an accurate diagnosis.  You see, Judy was in the health care system with a growing lump for 18 months before she was finally diagnosed.

In my attempts to help Judy get the best possible care, I spent the next year studying everything in print on breast cancer.  In so doing, I also spoke with women and health care providers across the country, all fighting their own battles with breast cancer, and all feeling that our managed health care system was failing them.

After a year of research, God made the problems within the health care system clear to me and I awoke one morning with a vision of the “Breast-Mapping”® System clearly in my mind.  Although I have a couple of  patents, I know that God's hand was at work here, for I had not planned to solve this problem, nor had I worked to that end before the vision. 

For the next few months, I worked on the project without Judy's knowledge.  Then one day when the prototype was nearing completion, I phoned Judy and said, “Why don't you stop by, I want to show you what I have been working on.”  When I pulled the materials out and started explaining how it worked, Judy's eyes welled up and she burst into tears!  Because I am a sympathy crier, I followed suit.  Through her tears, she was barely able to say, “Thank you Sister, now I know my daughters will be safe.”  Well, I never did get it fully explained to Judy that day and it was a few more days before I could work on it with dry eyes again.

My poor old computer must have crashed 10 times while I was writing the first “Breast-Mapping”® Booklet.  There wasn't enough storage and I didn't have the right software to be writing a booklet.  When Mom found out, I suddenly had the money for a new computer and the proper software. 

When I finished the first full draft of the “Breast-Mapping”® Booklet, I knew we would need the blessing of the health care community.  I designed a simple test; ten health care providers would have the opportunity to review the booklet and my goal was to get “encouragement” from just two.  To my surprise, we received verbal approval from our reviewers . . . “10 for 10”!

The next problem was where to get the money for the first production run.  I had not worked in over a year and money was tight.  Next thing I knew, Judy showed up at the door with Dad and before she stopped talking, I had seed money to get started. 

Marketing a special product like this one has been quite tricky.  Our goal is not to make a fortune; it is to get the word out.  Somehow, everyone thinks that cancer information should be free, but it costs money to produce.  I had several health care professionals in charge of education tell me they loved the system and they knew it would save lives, but they have to watch their bottom line; and they can get free pamphlets from the American Cancer Society.  Therefore, even though they know the “Breast-Mapping”® System was a superior product; they were bound to go for what was free. 

So, I tried the American Cancer Society, I spoke with many individuals in  three different divisions before I gave up.  All I asked for was a small percentage of what they manufactured; I sent several samples and explained the product numerous times in person, in writing and over the phone.  Initially, every person I spoke with was excited about this educational breakthrough, but on every attempt, we were trapped in the bureaucracy.   With all their volunteers and the income the American Cancer Society is  making with their national fundraisers, they could easily manufacture this product and put it in the hands of every woman.  I am still disappointed.

I also tried Avon, for they have the wonderful pink ribbon campaign.  The “Breast-Mapping”® System seemed to be the perfect “next step” in their goal to educate women on breast cancer.  Again I was disappointed.  It seems their bureaucratic committee decided that although the “Breast-Mapping”® System fit into their long-term goals, it was, somehow, not in line with their short-term goals.  (I wrote a note to the Avon's president and suggested that he take a close look at that committee.)

Then we decided to try a company that was smaller, perhaps it could move faster.  It has weighed heavily on my mind that 44,000 women are dying annually because of breast cancer.  So, we licensed the product to what we thought was an up and coming company back east.  Unfortunately, the sales force we were promised never materialized, resulting in few sales.  Eventually the contract terminated leaving both parties disappointed.

We received some Good News in May of 1999, when Ms. Dawn Hedgecock, RN, MSN completed her research, “Breast-Mapping ®: An Alternative Therapy for Breast Self-Exams.”  Under the direction and supervision of the University of Phoenix, Ms. Hedgecock conducted her research on a group of twenty educators with either undergraduate or graduate educations.  Her research led to two hypotheses being accepted: 

H1:  “There will be an increase in knowledge concerning breast-self exams with education and the use of the Breast-Mapping System.”
H2:  “There will be an increase in motivation to do breast self-exams with the use of the Breast-Mapping system.”

During most of this time, Judy has been on one cancer treatment or another.  She has been traveling back and forth to Houston since January of 1998, when the cancer metastasized to her liver.  I accompany her whenever possible.  The experimental treatments she has received there have helped control the cancer and she tells us that she feels well.  She is a fighter; always has a smile on her face!  If you didn't know she was a cancer survivor, you would never know.  Judy and I make breast cancer presentations to groups of women whenever we are given the opportunity.  We simply explain our story, breast cancer facts, and introducing the “Breast-Mapping”®System.

After returning from a recent trip to Houston, I awoke with a vision to publish the “Breast-Mapping”® Booklet on the Internet as a “Gift to Humanity”.  It would be passed from e-mail to e-mail across the world. 

In less than a month, everything came together for this site to be launched.  Kevin Kern and Lorrie LaBelle from Buddies Internet Creations built this beautiful site and currently still maintains and hosts it.

Well, now you know the history of the “Breast-Mapping”® System.  The next few weeks should prove quite interesting.  I think the information above is the most important, but I have been advised (by the experts) to include the information in my personal biography below. 

Biography

Tresa VanWinkle, RN / Inventor
P.O. Box 4249
Alamogordo, NM   88311-4249
Phone:  (505) 437-3600
FAX: (505) 437-4191

EDUCATION:
Formal Medical:

Nursing Degree, NM State University, May 1989.Continuing Medical: Multiple continuing education courses, seminars, conferences, home study programs and constant independent research.

My most rewarding education has been self-study in areas where life has given me a passion to learn all that I may.

Breast Cancer is one of my areas of focused self-study.  (I am always searching for new articles, so feel free to send them to me)

WORK HISTORY:

Worked as staff nurse at Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital from May of 1989 - Feb. 1991 on Medical / Surgical floor; from Feb. 1991 to Aug. 1993 on Obstetrics. 

At this point my personal business became so demanding that I resigned from GCMH and went to work for Alamogordo Home Care, Aug. 1993 - March 1994, where my hours were more flexible. 

BUSINESS HISTORY:

From 1980 to 1986 "Whimsies" was a handcraft company.  "Whimsies" closed from 1986 through 1991 while I attended college and began my nursing career.  In 1990, we applied for our first patent.   In 1991, we incorporated to form "Whimsies, Inc." ®, a research and development company for new products.  In early 1994 our first patent issued on the "Nursing Cradle"®.  In late 1994 our second patent issued on the "Therm-Pillow"®.  In late 1996 our third patent issued on the "Therm-Pillow"® and our “Breast-Mapping”® System patent issued in 1999.  My time is now divided between my family, work, helping Judy and getting the word on early diagnosis out to humanity.

PUBLISHED WORKS 

"The Turtle Philosophy", Revolution, The Journal of Nursing Empowerment, January 1996.
"Discover the Power of Thermal Therapy", To Your Health, October 1996.
"Breast-Mapping"® a booklet on the woman's role in the early detection of breast cancer, February 1997, 2nd ed. March 1999.

HONORS / ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

Gold Cord Graduate New Mexico State University
Who's Who among American College Students
Who's Who in American Nursing
Who's Who in American Business
English Excellence Award NMSU 1987
Founder and Charter Member Alamogordo Student Nurse Association 
Charter Member Phi Theta Kappa Honor Fraternity at NMSU-A 
President's Associate Award 
Academic Tuition Scholarship
Business & Professional Women's Scholarship 
ABWA Cholla Chapter Scholarship
ABWA Paisano Chapter Excalibur Academic Excellence Award
GCMH Auxiliary Health Careers Award
Women of the Moose Hospital Scholarship
New Mexico State University Deans Honor Roll

CURRENT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: 

Executive Director and Founder CAPPED, Inc.,  www.capped.org
Life Member Gerald Champion Medical Center Auxiliary
Member Alamogordo Women’s Club
 

Manufactured by Whimsies, Inc. ® (www.breast-mapping.com)
Toll Free:  1(800) 437-3688