Breast Cancer Awareness Health Fair Set for October

October always brings a multitude of special events planned by the Holzer Health System. In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have several events scheduled at several locations to provide our communities with valuable information on breast cancer.

Holzer Center for Cancer Care will host a special community Health Fair focusing on breast cancer awareness on Saturday, October 18, 9:30am to 12:30pm at the Holzer Center for Cancer Care, located at 170 Jackson Pike in Gallipolis. This year’s theme is “Here is to Your Good Health”, focusing on fitness and wellness. As part of the theme, a free Zumba demonstration will be held at 10am, followed with Essentrics (stretching and strengthening) at 10:30am. Both presentations will be conducted by Ashley DeLille. All women in the community are welcome and encouraged to attend. Women should feel free to bring a guest and dress in pink, the signature color for breast cancer awareness. Refreshments and door prizes will be available.

Featured at the event will be a variety of free health screenings, including non-fasting cholesterol, glucose, bone density, clinical breast checks, and much more. Free mammograms will be available for those that qualify. In addition, several display tables will be on hand providing information and awareness items like the custom cancer bracelets from sleekwristbands.com, that you can take away to spread the word about breast cancer.

Mammograms are provided through the Komen grant funds that the HCCC receives. At the Health Fair, information will be on hand concerning the Cancer Center’s Susan G. Komen Foundation grant funding. Free mammograms will be provided to those that qualify and sign up in advance. Grant dollars have been used to provide important funding for breast exams by a certified examiner, annual mammograms, spot films, educational materials and support for uninsured and underinsured women age 40 to 64 in Gallia, Jackson and Vinton counties.

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2014 are:

• About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

• About 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

• About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3 percent). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. At this time there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, which includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.

The important fact women should keep in mind is the earlier breast cancer is found, the chances of successful treatment increase. Early detection of breast cancer and an immediate start of cancer treatment saves many lives each year.

Holzer Health System encourages women to follow the screening schedule recommended by the American Cancer Society. This includes an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional for women age forty and over; a clinical breast exam every three years for women in their twenties and thirties; and breast self-exams, at their discretion, for women in their twenties.

We encourage women in the community to attend the health fair on October 18 at the Holzer Center for Cancer Care. Make it a “Girls Day Out” and spend some time with the favorite women in your life while also gathering important health information and taking advantage of valuable health screenings. For more information, call (740) 446-5901.