Breast Health: An Evening of Awareness

et your questions regarding breast health answered on Oct. 23 at a special evening of awareness sponsored by Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

The free event will start at 5 p.m. with a presentation by City of Hope breast surgeon Dortha T. Chu and imaging radiologist Anjali Date. The next hour will feature an open forum where guests can discuss, ask questions and network about breast health with nurses and oncology specialists.

Some questions to be answered will include:

• Do you know when or how to be screened for breast cancer?

• Do you know how to reduce your risk of cancer?

• If cancer does occur, learn how to increase your odds of finding it at an early, more treatable stage.

• Did you know the five-year survival rate of breast cancer is over 90 percent when detected in the early stages?

• There’s no such thing as being too young. It’s a myth that young women have virtually no risk of developing breast cancer.

“We usually plan events in the month of October around breast cancer awareness,” said Mara Shay, breast health navigator at the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Center. “We needed to do more about education, education geared toward any age group of women, about breast health in general and what are the risks at any age.”

The course is open to the public, and is welcome to women of all ages. Admission is free. This class is designed to teach, Shay said. She noted that while women tend to receive mammograms by the age of 40, the class will help younger women understand what to look out for and how to stay healthy before.

“Most women put it off even later than (age 40), so this can help show what could be abnormal when you’re 30,” she said.

The event will be held at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, 23803 McBean Parkway, Valencia.

For more information, contact Adrienne Thompson, thompsona@ henrymayo.com (661) 200-1562.