STC Thinks Pink for Breast Health

Stephens show Adult Education students the proper way to do a breast self-exam.		Dressed in shades of pink, the ladies show off their matching “Working for the Cure” tote bags.

There are many ways to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer; awareness activities are just one of those ways. Sue Stephens, Radiology Department Supervisor for the Jefferson County Hospital shed some light on the illness that affects thousands of women each year as she spoke to Sandersville Technical College’s Adult Education class at the Jefferson County Center in Louisville.

“My advice is for all women to perform monthly breast self-exams; it is a very useful screening strategy when used in combination with regular physical exams by a physician and a mammogram,” states Stephens.

Students were provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer. Primarily a female illness, Stephens issued a wakeup call to the male students by pointing out that cases in men are rare but not unheard of. Using artificial models, students were guided on how to detect breast abnormalities like lumps, dimpling, puckering, or ridges of the skin on the breast. “The best protection is early detection,” adds Stephens.

“You can never be too informed; awareness activities helps educate our students about early detection, diagnosis, and treatment,” said Raydor Coneway, an Adult Education Instructor at STC.

All participating ladies received “Working Together For the Cure” tote bags in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The men received special edition bottles of Gatorade that featured stories of breast cancer survivors in Giving Hope a Hand, a nationwide program led by national supermarket chain Kroger®.

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October 22, 2009

(2009, November 12). The News and Farmer / Jefferson Reporter, p2B.