Get Healthy: Breast health, awareness is a year-long community effort

Q: How is Carson City Health and Human Services involved with breast cancer awareness?

Carson City Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remind all that the best way to identify breast cancer early is with a mammogram. Clients should confer with their health-care provider for a recommended mammogram schedule that is tailored to their circumstances.

Women who do not have a health-care provider can discuss this matter at a health services clinic appointment.

Carson City Health and Human Services, like other health-care providers, is aware that October is devoted to breast cancer awareness, yet supports breast-related activities every month. Clients at the health-services clinic receive clinical breast exams during routine checkups, or at special appointments scheduled to address a problem such as breast pain, a lump or breast discharge.

Occasionally, during a routine breast exam, a suspicious finding prompts the health center to refer the client for further medical intervention. Carson City Health and Human Services, which receives federal and state funding, has a number of local funding and service partners.

Thanks to these organizations, clients meeting eligibility guidelines and have suspicious breast exams may receive funding for mammograms: Soroptimist International of Carson City, Susan G. Komen Foundation and Women's Health Connection.

For more than three years, Carson Surgical Group and Great Basin Imaging have delivered professional and sensitive care to clients working within our referral program.

"Breast health really is a community effort here at CCHHS," said Clinic Manager Roni Galas, RN. "When a mass is found, women are frightened and worried. It's even worse when money and lack of insurance coverage factor in. These organizations truly save lives because they help the women pay for services they could not afford otherwise."

BREAST CANCER

AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

Some 2010 breast cancer awareness activities have already taken place, such as the Soroptimist International of Carson City "Stroke to Help" golf tournament, Think Pink kickoff at Red's Old 395 Grill, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Boomtown.

There are still several upcoming events in the Carson City area, such as:

• Breast Cancer Educational and Awareness Symposium at Carson Valley Country Club, 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Call 445-7500 for information.

• Bunco fundraiser at Carson Valley Inn, 5 p.m. Friday. E-mail kathy1.

johnson@ge.com.

• Cancer Firkin Sucks 5K run starting at Firkin & Fox

8 a.m. Saturday. Contact pinktotties@gmail.com or 232-4188.

Breast Cancer Awareness Info Fair at the Carson City Library Auditorium, noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

• Information reception at Carson Tahoe Cancer Center sponsored by the Safeway Foundation, 4-6 p.m. Oct. 14. Call 445-7500.

• Pink Ball Bash Golf Tournament at Carson Valley Golf Course, 10 a.m. Oct. 16. Call 267-3181.

All Month Long:

Breast Cancer Awareness display in Carson City Library lobby.

Play for the Cure at Bodine's. Call 885-7777.

CARSON CITY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Clinic Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday

9 a.m.-4 p.m., by appointment

900 E. Long St.

775-887-2190

THURSDAY IS

IMMUNIZATION DAY

8:30-11:30 a.m.; 1-4:30 p.m.

No appointment needed

775-887-2190

Check out our new website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us on Facebook.

* Pam Graber is the public information officer for Carson City Health and Human Services. She can be reached at 775-283-7906 or pgraber@carson.org. More information is available online at www.gethealthycarsoncity

.org.