October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout October, there will be many opportunities to do your part in fighting this terrible ailment.
Breast Cancer Support Group
The breast cancer support group meets on the last Thursday of the month from 7 pm. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rockdale Medical Center’s East Tower classroom. This group is for breast cancer patients and their families, and is free of charge. For more information or to register, call Gayle Kelly at 770-922-8060.
RMC Women’s Diagnostic Center adds new digital mammography system
Rockdale Medical Center’s Women’s Diagnostic Center — the only one of its kind in Rockdale County — now offers all-digital mammograms. RMC’s new GE Full-Field Digital Mammography Systems were designed by women for women. They have better visibility of the breast and chest wall and provide better patient comfort as compression slows as it comes in contact with the breast. Digital exams also take half the time as traditional film-based mammograms.
Studies have shown that digital mammography detects up to 28% more cancers in women 50 and younger and for those in "difficult-to-image" categories. Women 40 or older should have a mammogram every year.
For your convenience, you may schedule a bone density scan on the same day as your annual mammogram at RMC’s Women’s Diagnostic Center. A physician’s order is required for these tests. Ask your physician to schedule your appointment or call 770-918-3707.
Seventh-annual Atlanta 2-Day Walk, Oct. 3 and 4
The Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer has raised $5.5 million over the past six years and awarded 107 grants to local breast cancer organizations in the Atlanta area. In 2009, the 2-Day has awarded a record $1 million to local breast cancer organizations providing diagnosis, education, support and research to thousands of Atlanta area women affected by the disease. The goal is to give back at least 70 percent of the funds raised to provide awareness, education, mammograms, genetic testing and research, transportation, translation, patient advocacy and support services to thousands of women and their families right here in our community. To register, contact 404-531-4111, ext. 20, info@2daywalk.org or visit itsthejourney.org
Breast Cancer 3-day Walk, Oct 23-25
Thousands of women and men come together, each raising money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Then they take their commitment to end breast cancer one step further and walk 60 miles over the course of three days. Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds of this event go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant. The remaining fifteen percent of net funds goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund to provide a permanent endowment for ongoing support of breast cancer initiatives. For more information or to register, go to www.thet3day.org.
Look good, feel better
This hands-on, group workshop is dedicated to helping female cancer patients cope with and combat the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Learn skin care and makeup applications, as well as demonstrations on hair/wig techniques. A free gift of full-size name-brand cosmetics is given to each attendee. The free workshop meets Dec. 9, at the RMC East Tower classroom. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345.
