EMPORIA, VA (Oct. 5, 2011) – Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both breasts. Second only to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. Although the occurrence of breast cancer is much less common in men, the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 2000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually in American men. While mammography screening remains the best available method for the early detection of breast cancer, it is also important to have an annual clinical breast exam, perform monthly breast self-exams and to obtain a risk assessment from a physician.
The first National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) was held in October 1985 as a week-long event designed to inform the public about breast cancer, screenings, diagnosis, and treatment. Twenty-six years later, this NBCAM organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies working together to educate women and men about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment not only during the designated month of October, but throughout the year. This successful event is credited indirectly with doubling mammography rates in women age 50 and over and decreasing breast cancer related deaths.
Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC) invites you to join in the effort to fight breast cancer by raising awareness of this dreaded disease by participating in the SVRMC Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities.
SVRMC kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 10th with the Senior Circle Dinner with the Doctor featuring guest speaker Paul Hogg, MD. Dr. Hogg will speak with the group about the new equipment and procedures offered at SVRMC to diagnose breast cancer. This meeting will begin with dinner at 6PM in the SVRMC Classrooms with Dr. Hoggs’ presentation to follow. While the public is invited, reservations are required. To reserve your seat, contact Senior Circle Advisor, Tracy Mitchell, at 434-348-4455.
Once again, the Mammography Services Department at SVRMC is collecting pink Yoplait® yogurt lids for the “Save Lids to Save Lives”® campaign. For more than a decade, Yoplait® has sponsored the “Save Lids to Save Lives”® campaign, donating $0.10 for every pink lid collected from Yoplait® yogurt for donations in excess of 25 million dollars. This year, Yoplait® will donate a minimum of $500,000 and up to 1.6 million dollars to the Susan G. Komen for a Cure® supporting research and community outreach across the country. If you would like to contribute, you may place your clean, pink Yoplait® yogurt lids in the collection container located in the main lobby at SVRMC. The SVRMC Mammography Services Department will count and forward all lids collected to Yoplait® for inclusion in the 2011 “Save Lids to Save Lives”® campaign. Lid collection will begin immediately and continue through December 15, 2011. For more information on SVRMC’s Yoplait® “Save Lids to Save Lives”® campaign, contact Betty Lou Robinson at 434-348-4821 or Sandy Webb at 434-348-4447.
Since 2006, the Information Systems Department has participated in the Recycle to Fight Breast Cancer (RFBC). RFBC is a free, online national effort dedicated to protecting the environment by keeping toxic, cancer causing items out of landfills and by providing a no-cost recycling program so that anyone, coast-to-coast, can participate. The program works much like the recycling of aluminum, plastic, newspaper and glass. Every day, millions of old cell phones and empty printer cartridges end up in our nation’s landfills taking up valuable space and releasing toxic chemicals into the earth that research suggests may cause cancer. The RFBC program collects these items, prepares them for recycling and allows individuals and organizations to participate by providing shipping labels and supplies, and/or dispatching a collection truck to your location at no cost. RFBC donates all the profits from its recycling efforts to support the fight against breast cancer through advanced research, education, screening and treatment. For more information on Recycle to Fight Breast Cancer or to participate, go online to www.recycleforbreastcancer.org or contact Tracy Bullock or Susan Bryant at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center at 434-348-4400.
On Friday, October 21st, SVRMC staff invites you to join them for their annual “Go Pink Day” in recognition of National Mammography Day. Since 1993, National Mammography Day has been observed on the third Friday in October to encourage women to make an annual mammography appointment and to raise awareness about the role that mammography plays in the early detection of this dreaded disease. Joining this celebration is easy, simply dress in your favorite pink attire. In addition to the “Go Pink Day”, SVRMC staff will be allowed to wear their favorite denim for a $5.00 donation to benefit Susan G. Komen for a Cure®.
For more information on any of the activities being held at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, contact Sandy Webb, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at 434-348-4447.