Pretty in Pink: Burton Grandparents fight cancer with fun, education
Dressed in pink from head to toe, Denise Carson, president of Burton School District’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren club, welcomed community members to their ‘Pretty In Pink’ event Wednesday morning to raise awareness for all cancer survivors.
About 15 grandparents, mothers and a dad attended the event at the PALL center at Burton’s district office, where they received a warm welcome by the hostess.
“We wanted to bring breast cancer awareness to the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group,” said Irene Ortega, Burton School District communication and community engagement officer. “So we invited a special speaker for all hear to learn more about cancer and to ask questions.”
Dr. Stowe Kim from Sierra View Medical Center’s Roger S. Good Cancer Treatment Center spoke to those in attendance about cancer as they all sat around a pink covered table.
“There is no doubt that cancer is increasing. In the next couple of decades there will be a 50% increase worldwide
corresponding to the amount of cases,” said Dr. Kim as he read statistics from his Powerpoint presentation. “I’ve been doing this long enough to see the improvement in cancer treatments and survivors.”
Dr. Kim said from 2012 to 2030 there will be a 50 percent increase in cancer cases, and a 60 percent increase in cancer deaths. He pointed out that in California the incidence rates declined by 15 percent from 1988 to 2014, and cancer mortality declined by 30 percent during those years.
The audience stood quiet and listened attentively to the presentation.
“One out of eight women can get cancer in their life, and men can get breast cancer too,” added Dr. Kim but only one percent of men get it world wide.
The presentation continued as Dr. Kim gave the audience tips on breast cancer screening.
“Most women should begin yearly mammograms at age 45,” said Dr. Kim. “Women should continue their regular mammograms as long as they are in good health. Breast exams, either from a medical provider or self-exams, are no longer recommended, but women should be familiar with their breast and report changes to a physician.”
At the end of the presentation audience members were able to ask questions to Dr. Kim, they all engaged and asked when was is the best time to start checking their breasts.
Dr. Kim gave a recommendation from the American Cancer Society that women from age 40 to 44 should start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so. He then added that women from the age of 45 to 54 should get yearly mammograms, and women ages 55 and older should have mammograms every two years .
After the presentation everyone was invited to enjoy some lemonade, cupcakes, strawberries and other snacks all decorated in pink.
The group continued with two presentations from Effie Coulter and Isabel Velasquez, who gave their testimony as cancer survivors.
Pretty In Pink ended with a giveaway of prizes for all. Baskets full of goodies were given out, and nobody left the event with empty hands.
“Thank you all for coming and I thank you all for your continuous support for the group,” said Carson. “Next project is coming up, ‘Coats for Kids,’ this will be our first time and we need as much help possible.”
Coats for Kids Project will be done with the intention of assisting children in need, and will be giving away coats, sweaters, gloves and beanies Dec. 1 at Jim Maples Academy.