‘Birthday party’ raises awareness

May 16, 2008 09:55 am

— By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer
The Corbin Senior Citizens Center hosted a birthday party — cake and all — and invited all of Corbin’s women 40 years and older.
The mass celebration was part of a statewide campaign called “Celebrate your birthday with a mammogram.” According to the campaign’s press release, organizers hope to educate about 800 women across the state about cancer screening and care resources.
The campaign is headed by the Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP), first-lady Jane Beshear, and locally by the Tri-County Cancer Coalition.
Joyce Pavlovich, from the Tri-County Cancer Coalition, explained the birthday theme wasn’t just an excuse for cake, but rather an important reminder to seniors and women of all ages about yearly mammograms.
“We chose the birthday theme so that woman associate their birthday with getting mammograms. It’s kind of a reminder for them every year that it’s time again,” Pavlovich said.
The “party” also educated seniors on the various resources that they can seek if they do need to be treated for cancer. The women at the party received special birthday cards containing information about screening. The women are asked to pass along three of these cards to female friends or family.
“We find that older woman are not as likely to have mammograms and pap smears done. So we have events like this to educated older and under-served woman. We like to show them the different avenues that are available for treatment too if they should need it,” Pavlovich said.
According to KCP more than 3,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Kentucky alone. The American Cancer Society estimated that there were 40,460 deaths due to breast cancer last year. The American Cancer Society recommends that all women 40 years and older have an annual mammogram.
KCP coordinator Mindy Rogers said that the turn-out for the Corbin party was encouraging.