by Stephanie Laird
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that almost 10,000 new cases of breast cancer
among females will occur this year in Ohio. The CDC estimates that
almost 2,000 Ohio women will die from breast cancer this year.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed for women in this
country. It is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer in
this country, and more than 40,000 American women are expected to
die in 2005 because of breast cancer. Although affected in much
smaller numbers than women, almost 2,000 men will join the ranks of
those who have breast cancer, and nearly 500 men will die from it in
2005.
If breast cancer is detected and
treated early, the possibility of suffering and death can be greatly
reduced. Mammography is the most effective means of detecting breast
cancer. Even though mammography rates are growing for insured women,
rates among the uninsured remain low. Women beneath the poverty line
are not likely to have had a mammogram within the previous two
years.
October is National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, which provides women an opportunity to educate
themselves about breast cancer. For more than twenty years, this
month has served as a reminder for women about the importance of
early breast cancer detection and treatment. Community Service
Programs (CSP) will be sponsoring several events and clinics in
Southeastern Ohio designed to raise awareness and provide preventive
measures against breast cancer.
“As women age,” says Janice Smith,
CSP Healthy Adult Project coordinator, “the risk of breast cancer
rises. Women should begin to perform monthly breast
self-examinations by age 20. By the time they turn 40, they should
receive yearly mammograms. We want to encourage women to get yearly
breast exams done by a trained nurse practitioner or physician.
These can detect abnormalities that may go undetected by a
mammogram. As risk factors vary from person to person, a woman and
her physician should decide upon the examination regime that’s best
for her.”
“Educating women about breast health
is extremely important.”
The reduction of risk factors for
breast cancer plays an important part in fighting breast cancer,
says Smith.
“There are several steps women can
take to reduce risk factors: decrease daily fat intake, increase
fiber in the diet, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, limit alcohol,
stay active through exercise, maintain a healthy body weight and
don’t smoke.”
Along with Smith, CSP’s Melanie
Moynan-Smith, M.S.N., certified nurse practitioner, and Anne
Pearch, CSP perinatal nurse coordinator, will be leading CSP’s
activities during the month. Four breast and cervical cancer
screening clinics and six educational exhibits will be held.
Uninsured and underinsured women who
are age 50 or older are encouraged to make appointments for free
mammograms and/or a clinical breast exam. Uninsured and underinsured
women age 40 and older are encouraged to make appointments for
cervical cancer screening.
“Our breast and cervical cancer
screening clinics are a year-round service meant to improve women’s
health in our region of Southeastern Ohio,” says Moynan-Smith.”
“At the exhibits we will be
providing information about breast cancer awareness, detection,
warning signs and breast self-examination, and answering questions
women have pertaining to cervical cancer as well.”
“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection
methods — mammography plus clinical breast exam — breast cancer
death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent,” says Pearch.
“The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely —
once is not enough.”
CSP will have exhibits at the Scioto
County Health Fair and Wal-Mart’s health fair. Additionally, CSP is
supporting Lee National Denim Day Friday, Oct. 7, to raise money for
the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The Komen foundation is dedicated to
fighting breast cancer and has raised more
than $740 million that has been used for innovative cancer research
and community outreach programs as well as diagnostic efforts. In
2001, Komen was named one of the 100 best charities by Worth
magazine.
A complete list of this National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month events held by CSP follows.
National Mammography Day is
Friday, Oct. 21. For more information, please call (800) 844-2654.
National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month Events
§
Breast Cancer Display
and Education, Hocking County Fairgrounds food distribution site,
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 9 to 11 a.m.
§
Breast and Cervical
Cancer Clinic, Barlow United Methodist Church, State Route 550,
Barlow, Ohio, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
§
Breast Cancer Display
and Education, Federal Resource Center in Stewart, Thursday, Oct.
13, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
§
Scioto County Health
Fair, CSP Breast Cancer Display and Education, Portsmouth, Friday,
Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to noon.
§
Wal-Mart Health Fair,
CSP Breast Cancer Display and Education, East State Street, Athens,
Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
§
Breast and Cervical
Cancer Clinic, Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Tuesday, Oct. 18,
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
§
Breast and Cervical
Cancer Clinic, Morgan County Health Department, Wednesday, Oct. 19,
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
§
Breast Cancer Display
and Education, Shade Community Center, old State Route 33, Friday,
Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to noon.
§
National Mammography
Day, Friday, Oct. 21
§
Breast Cancer Display
and Education, Athens County Fairgrounds food distribution site,
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 9 to 11 a.m.
§
Breast and Cervical
Cancer Clinic, 4th Floor Parks Hall, Thursday, Oct. 27, 8
a.m. to noon.
