OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: HEATH DEPARTMENT STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING
From the Harford County Health Department:
Everywhere you look during the month of October you see a little more pink than usual. The clothing is pink, the food is pink, household items are pink, even the internet is colored pink! It’s that time of the year when the nation joins together to support a very important cause: breast cancerawareness.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, aside from skin cancer. The Harford County Health Department wants to remind the public about the importance of screenings. Screenings are the best way to detect the disease. They include a clinical breast exam and a mammogram.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following:
– Women in their 20’s and 30’s should have a clinical breast exam every 1-3 years
– Women over the age of 40 should have a yearly clinical breast exam and mammogram
– Women at high risk should consult with their physician regarding screening type and when to be screened
Wendy Richard, Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Coordinator states, “For women over 40, a mammogram can help spot breast cancer at its earliest stages. Early detection, treatment, and support from family and friends make a huge difference. If all women age 40 and older took advantage of these breast cancer screening methods, clinical breast exam and mammogram, breast cancer death rates would decline.”
For those concerned about the cost of mammograms, the Harford County Health Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCP) offers no-cost mammograms to qualifying women who are Maryland residents, ages 40-64 that have little or no health insurance and who meet the program’s financial income guidelines.
For more information, call the Office of Cancer Prevention Services at 410-612-1780 or visit the Health Department’s website at www.harfordcountyhealth.com.
Deputies Recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month
From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
Starting this week, 139 agency members at the Harford County Sheriff’s Office will wear pins to demonstrate their dedication to the fight against breast cancer.
This special initiative, started by Major Jack Meckley, has been well received by agency members, who bought their own pins to wear during the month of October. For Major Meckley, the project was personal. “After I lost my sister-in-law to breast cancer in 2006, and watched my wife struggle with her own diagnosis of the BRCA2 gene and subsequent preventive surgeries in 2008, I was struck with the realization that we all have stories. Cancer knows no boundaries.” Major Meckley continued, “As deputies, we come to work to help community members while they are at a vulnerable point in their life. We forget that many times, those deputies are dealing with personal tragedy in their own lives, as well. Our job is to protect life, and it is heartbreaking to see those we love, suffer.”
Sheriff Bane offered, “Statistics indicate that one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. They are not just a statistic; they are our mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, family, and neighbors. One in eight means we all know someone. This is just one small way we can show those who are fighting this terrible disease and the families who care for them, that they are not alone.”
Havre de Grace Goes Pink to Support Cancer Awareness
From the City of Havre de Grace:
The City of Havre de Grace in partnership with Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation would like to invite you to experience “Paint the Town Pink” sponsored by Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union (APGFCU) Havre de Grace Branch.
Havre de Grace will feature many events and specials throughout our business district that will give back to the Kaufman Cancer Center and the LifeNet Program. To bring awareness to the campaign you will find the City lit up in pink; community partner Vulcan Materials creates an entrance to the City by positioning a 13,000 gallon CAT water truck with a black body and pink tank featuring the “Paint the Town Pink” logo. The granite quarry situated just to the south of I-95 Bridge over the Susquehanna River will also have lights in shades of pink that will be seen by the traveler crossing the John F Kennedy Memorial Highway.
The kickoff of this month’s events will begin at the Concord Point Lighthouse, October 3rd at 6 pm. Join Harford County, the City of Havre de Grace in the lighting of the Lighthouse and then continue to First Fridays in the Main Street District for food, music and family fun.
University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health’s commitment to build a world-class Cancer Center and Support network came to fruition in fall 2013 with the opening of The Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center. The 75,000 square foot, two-story facility gives cancer patients in Harford County access to top-tier care in their community. The Kaufman Cancer Center provides residents with convenient access to highly-trained physicians, state-of-the-art technology and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Upper Chesapeake Health formed a partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) to provide patients with access to the best medical care in Harford County and the surrounding area.
Building on the foundation of UMMC’s Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, UM Upper Chesapeake Health patients now have access to a large regional health network and expanded services. As a partner of UMMC, one of 66 designated National Cancer Institutes in the country, patients at the Kaufman Cancer Center will have access to resources such as clinical trials, research, and technological advances in cancer care.
Everyone in our community knows someone who has faced the terribly frightening disease of cancer and has seen, firsthand, the impact this has in so many ways. Sometimes the unknown can be the biggest fear for individuals when they receive a cancer diagnosis. Navigating the healthcare system while facing a life-threatening illness can be a major challenge.
The Cancer LifeNet Program at The Kaufman Cancer Center, founded in 2006, offers free-of-charge services to all residents of Harford and Cecil counties, regardless of where they receive their cancer treatment. Services provided by Cancer LifeNet include:
– Education and assistance from oncology nurse navigators
– Counseling and assistance with access to resources from oncology social workers
– Support groups and educational programs
– Support from specially trained volunteer navigators who have personal experience with cancer
The Cancer LifeNet Program at The Kaufman Cancer Center anticipates serving more than 1,250 cancer patients or their loved ones in 2014.
Over 85% of the cancer patients or loved ones served by The Cancer LifeNet Program reside in Harford County. With more than 1,000 new cancer patients per year in Harford County alone, the need for cancer care and supportive services is real and it is urgent.
For more information about Cancer LifeNet call 1-866-393-4355 or to donate directly visit https://www.uchfoundation.org/2014/07/paint-the-town-pink/
Sheriff Bane once again trying to act like he is such a compassionate man, but he is not. Ask him about his Sgt that had a stroke ON DUTY was lost and not found for hours. Then forced to take a normal medical retirement instead of Line of Duty. There are others that have had medical issues and the story is the same. Sheriff Bane is a vindictive man that acts like he cares about his personnel but really it’s an election year and he needs a good PR story about him and his ass kissing major. Say what you want but it’s the truth
Agreed with all you said, as it is really a shame the Major’s wife had to battle cancer and the death in the family. The truth be told, he (Major) should have been fired years ago, like when he first started, but has kissed plenty of butts since then. And yes the Sheriff puts on a good public face, but behind close doors he is the opposite. No doubt.
So if I pay for a pin…I can have my own pin on a uniform? How about a month for Gahler? I’m thinking it should be the month of November. Since there is a pin for this and that….Would we see Bane wearing the pin? Oh wait, they could do like NASCAR and rent space on uniforms and cars…….
So what would a pin for that look like?
Look, its Banus and the Pink Panther. Hey Jesse, when you gonna fire all those law breakers you are protecting in your office.
Seriously though folks, you should give all you can to combat any type of cancer. I’ve had many friends and family that have died from cancer. Breast Cancer is extremely bad, not only does it break down the body from the treatments, it permanently effects the woman’s psyche. Wear that Pink Badge with Pride HCSO and do something that’s right for once………
You act like Jack Meckley Recently changed. He has had his favorites for years and has thought he was better then everyone for years. I have no respect for him now
I do agree that this is an election year ploy by Bane and one of his cronies . Jack ran for Sheriff as a republican in 2010 his only purpose in doing this was to drain funds from the front runner who was running against Bane in the general election. To pay Jack back Bane has promoted him two times in 3 years. Bane does not care about his own employees who has cancer even when one called him and asked for help . Help anyone you can with cancer you never who it will strike next!!
Again agree with this one, in fact the Sheriff has sought out some with medical issues and intentionally made things worse for them, in the name of politics. Ask the Sgt or say a civilain female employee, or some of the others. Good try to be human Mr Bane.
Really? If you really care about a cause you don’t publish pictures of yourself. There are some things you just don’t do and this is one of them. If you published the photo of the pin only you might have excused your real intent. Try spending time doing law enforcement projects and see how you do with that.
Its called campaigning Folks…….