Women’s group promotes breast cancer awareness

WELLSBURG -- Efforts to prevent cancer and support the fight against it were a recurring subject at Tuesday's Brooke County Commission meeting.

The commission signed a proclamation declaring October Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the request of the Brooke County Community Educational Outreach Service and joined members of the civic group, better known as the CEOS, in placing a pink and white wreath outside the county courthouse to promote awareness of the disease.

Drawing on data supplied by the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, the proclamation states 12 percent of West Virginia women, about 1,400, are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and about 281 die from it. But officials with the program also report the chance for survival can be greatly improved through early detection in the form of self and clinical examinations and mammograms.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 45-54 get mammograms each year. Women ages 40-44 may consider yearly mammograms, especially if there is a family history of the disease and other contributing conditions.

The organization suggests women 55 and older may switch to mammograms every other year or yearly if they choose but should continue to undergo them as long as they are in good health.

Through the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, the Brooke County Health Department offers clinical breast exams, as well as pap tests and pelvic exams, for free or little cost to West Virginia women ages 25-64 who meet certain income guidelines.

The screenings are available at the Brooke and Hancock county health departments, All About Women Health Associates in Weirton and C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc.'s Family Medical Care clinics in Weirton and Newell.

In cooperation with the health department, Bonnie's Bus, a mobile mammogram unit, will be visiting Brooke County on Dec. 1. Offering digital mammograms, the 40-foot long wheelchair-accessible vehicle was established with a portion of a $25 million donation to the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in memory of Bonnie Wells Wilson, who died of breast cancer, and funds from Susan B. Komen for the Cure West Virginia.

Medicaid, Medicare and all private insurance will be accepted, and funds are available through the breast and cervical cancer screening program so that no woman 40 and older will be turned away.

The bus will be parked outside the Brooke County Public Library that day. Appointments should be made by calling the health department at (304) 737-3665.

In related business, Anthony "Butch" Rotellini of the Ohio Valley Mopar Club said the group will hold a car show Oct. 8 at the Dollar General store at state Route 2 and Cross Creek Road in support of the Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition.

Brooke County Sheriff Larry Palmer added his deputies may appear a little hairier in October and November because they have been permitted to grow beards as part of the No Shave November campaign to support the American Cancer Society.

Palmer, who has grown a goatee, said since he entered office in January, he has allowed his deputies to grow neatly kept goatees throughout the year. But he said he's happy those officers with facial hair will be making a $25 donation to the American Cancer Society for each of those months.

Palmer also commented on a recent report of drug overdoses in the county. He said there were 22 overdoses reported in the last nine months.

Palmer said these include overdoses investigated by local law enforcement and reported for walk-in patients at Weirton Medical Center.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)