Breast cancer awareness | breast, advocates, preaching - Gaston ...

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TAKE ACTION

Know your risk ? Talk to your family and to your doctor.

Get screened ? Ask your doctor what screening tests are right for you. Annual mammograms starting at age 40 are recommended.

Know what is normal for you ? See your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts.

Make healthy life choices ? Maintain a healthy weight, add exercise to your routine, limit alcohol intake, limit postmenopausal hormone use, and breast feed.

Source: Cancer Services of Gaston County.

Breast health advocates will be preaching to the faithful on April 29 when African-American churches across Gaston County celebrate Pink Sunday.

On the heels of last year?s successful event, Cancer Services of Gaston County is one again teaming up with the Susan Komen Foundation to reach black women with this message: Knowledge is power and early detection could just save your life.

?If we can save just one life then it will all be worth it,? said Kim Elmore, community outreach coordinator for Cancer Services.

But a lot more lives than that could be saved judging from the way Gaston County churches have embraced the event.

Last year, members of the Pink Sunday Committee helping Elmore set a goal of getting 20 churches participate. That number soared to 42, prompting the volunteers to set this year?s goal at 50 churches.

On Pink Sunday, women, men and children are encouraged to dress in pink. Participating churches have lined up guest speakers whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, will hold events to honor survivors and remember those who have lost their battle, and will offer educational programs. The churches will also give away materials, such as fans provided by Cancer Services that include important information about breast cancer, and breast health information provided by the Gaston County Health Department.

Cancer Services is focusing on the African-American churches because black women are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age.

?That?s why teaching about self exams and knowing where to get mammograms is important,? Elmore said. ?Our job is to educate women on how to take care of themselves.?

She attributes the success of Pink Sunday to her committee members who she said have worked tirelessly on the event.

?They?re amazing,? she said, pointing out that many of her volunteers are survivors or know someone who has battled breast cancer. ?Women love to share. They?ve been through it and they want to help someone else.?

WANT TO PARTICIPATE? If your congregation would like to participate in Pink Sunday, contact Kim Elmore at kelmore@gastoncancerservices.org or call her at 704-864-1271.

ABOUT BREAST CANCER

• It?s the most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 cancers diagnosed in women in the U.S., not matter your race or ethnicity.
• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer some time in her life.
• Breast cancer incidence and death rates generally increase with age. From 2002-2006, 95 percent of new breast cancer cases and 97 percent of breast cancer deaths occurred in women age 40 and older.
• White women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African-American women beginning at age 45. In contrast, black women have a higher incidence rate before age 45 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age.
• Breast cancer is curable, but it depends on how early it is detected. For breast cancer cases detected early, there is a 90 percent success rate.

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