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Project promoting breast cancer awareness
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| Jeanette Johnson, community outreach associate for the Women's Health Project, a collaboration between Planned Parenthood and a research team from the University at Albany, discusses the preventative measures women can take to catch breast cancer early Saturday at an event at Bliss Towers in Hudson. (Andrew Amelinckx/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
Partnership between Hudson Planned Parenthood and UAlbany encourages self-examination and clinical exams
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Breast cancer awareness event at Bliss Towers
HUDSON — In the midst of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a new collaborative effort between Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and a University at Albany research team held an educational and motivational event at Bliss Towers in Hudson Saturday.
The Women's Health Project, as the effort is being called, discussed the preventative measures women can take to catch cancer early as well as to let those present know they weren’t alone in that effort.
The purpose of the multi-year community-based initiative, according to the project’s literature, is to help bring effective strategies for early detection to the under-served African American population in the area as well as to help break down the barriers that keep those women from seeking reproductive health care.
“White women are more likely to get it,” said Jeanette Johnson, community outreach associate for the WHP, “but black women are more likely to die from it.”
The project is being conducted under the auspices of the University at Albany’s Center for Elimination of Minority Health Disparities and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Saturday’s program focused on what women could do to help catch the disease as early as possible.
“Early detection is your best protection,” Johnson told those present.
Johnson said that a monthly self-exam coupled with a yearly clinical exam that includes a mammogram can help detect the second most common form of cancer in women early on.
“There’s a 98 percent survival rate if caught early,” she said.
Johnson pointed out that not all lumps were cancerous, saying that three-fourths of them turn out to be benign, but that only a medical professional could make that determination.
As women get older, she said, they are more likely to get the cancer. According to figures given at the event, at age 30 there is a one in 234 chance a woman will develop breast cancer, but that by age 70 the rate is one in 26.
Johnson is working with a number of local organizations on a series of community events similar to the one held Saturday. Many of those organizations had booths where women could find out what services were available, from free or low cost health insurance to free transportation to get to and from medical appointments.
Free breast cancer screenings are being given at the Medical Office Building at 71 Prospect St. in Hudson, directly across from Columbia Memorial Hospital, Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Members of the Community Advisory Board for the Women's Health Project include Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium, Columbia County Department of Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia Opportunities, Hudson Housing Authority, Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, Operation Unite Education and Cultural Arts Center, Overcomers Ministries International, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
Breast cancer survivor Elana Mosley, executive director of Operation Unite, also spoke at the event.
She said that like many women she didn’t always take time out of her busy schedule to take care of herself, but that since her battle with cancer she has learned to “take care of me.”
Mosley said that becoming aware of chemicals they may be exposed to and the importance of nutrition and exercise were also imperative.
“Be the best you can be as your healthy self,” she extolled those present.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
HUDSON — In the midst of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a new collaborative effort between Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and a University at Albany research team held an educational and motivational event at Bliss Towers in Hudson Saturday.
The Women's Health Project, as the effort is being called, discussed the preventative measures women can take to catch cancer early as well as to let those present know they weren’t alone in that effort.
The purpose of the multi-year community-based initiative, according to the project’s literature, is to help bring effective strategies for early detection to the under-served African American population in the area as well as to help break down the barriers that keep those women from seeking reproductive health care.
“White women are more likely to get it,” said Jeanette Johnson, community outreach associate for the WHP, “but black women are more likely to die from it.”
The project is being conducted under the auspices of the University at Albany’s Center for Elimination of Minority Health Disparities and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Saturday’s program focused on what women could do to help catch the disease as early as possible.
“Early detection is your best protection,” Johnson told those present.
Johnson said that a monthly self-exam coupled with a yearly clinical exam that includes a mammogram can help detect the second most common form of cancer in women early on.
“There’s a 98 percent survival rate if caught early,” she said.
Johnson pointed out that not all lumps were cancerous, saying that three-fourths of them turn out to be benign, but that only a medical professional could make that determination.
As women get older, she said, they are more likely to get the cancer. According to figures given at the event, at age 30 there is a one in 234 chance a woman will develop breast cancer, but that by age 70 the rate is one in 26.
Johnson is working with a number of local organizations on a series of community events similar to the one held Saturday. Many of those organizations had booths where women could find out what services were available, from free or low cost health insurance to free transportation to get to and from medical appointments.
Free breast cancer screenings are being given at the Medical Office Building at 71 Prospect St. in Hudson, directly across from Columbia Memorial Hospital, Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Members of the Community Advisory Board for the Women's Health Project include Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium, Columbia County Department of Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia Opportunities, Hudson Housing Authority, Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, Operation Unite Education and Cultural Arts Center, Overcomers Ministries International, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
Breast cancer survivor Elana Mosley, executive director of Operation Unite, also spoke at the event.
She said that like many women she didn’t always take time out of her busy schedule to take care of herself, but that since her battle with cancer she has learned to “take care of me.”
Mosley said that becoming aware of chemicals they may be exposed to and the importance of nutrition and exercise were also imperative.
“Be the best you can be as your healthy self,” she extolled those present.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
To comment directly on this story, go to www.registerstar.com.
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