Editorial
A matter of survival
Like most cancers, breast cancer is a hidden killer, working within a body
for years to destroy it from the inside out.
But unlike some cancers, breast cancer sufferers have extremely high survival rates when
the cancer is detected at its earliest stage. Stopping the disease's spread is the key to
ensuring someone's life can be saved.
So, with October being "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," the Clackamas County
Breast and Cervical Health Program wants local women - and the men who care about them -
to think about their annual health check and mammogram.
If it has been awhile, the county program urges women to make an appointment for the
simple, but crucial, examinations.
Consider the breast cancer facts:
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
- About 2,200 women in Oregon will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2000.
- About 500 women will die of breast cancer in Oregon this year.
- As women grow older, the risk of breast cancer increases.
But there is good news, too.
Survival rates are close to 97 percent when the cancer is found at its earliest stage,
thus underscoring the need for women to undergo health checks and mammograms annually at
the very least.
Workers at the Clackamas County Breast and Cervical Health Program strive to educate
people about the importance of early detection of breast and cervical cancer.
The program offers free Pap tests, clinical breast examinations, and mammograms to women
aged 40 and above who have no health insurance, or an unmet deductible, and who meet a
specified low-income guideline.
Tell a relative, friend, coworker, or the mother of your child's friend to get checked.
For more information, call the CCBCHP at 503-557-6446.
If you're worried about a lump, or possible growth, don't suffer in silence. Get on the
phone, and make an appointment.
It could prove to be the best decision you make in October - or in any other month or
year. |
Letters
to the editor
The Peddler's Market
was a huge success
The Canby Adult Center's recent Peddler's Market was a great success. If you've
never attended this event, you're missing out.
In particular, I would like to thank two wonderful bands for entertaining us - Ida Colby
and the Old Time Fiddlers, and the marimba band Eurimba! The music was infectious, and
even produced an impromptu conga line on the south lawn.
Thanks are also due to Green Acres Farms, Montecucco Farms, Cutsforth's Thriftway, C&S
Farms, John's Peach Orchard, Fir Point Farms, Three River Farms, The Dairy Garden,
DirectLink of Oregon, and USA Networks for their donations.
Another pair of thanks to Earl "Chuck" Voss and Paul Wenrick, who manned the
barbecue pits with help from Ivan. The chicken and ribs were delicious! As usual, staff
and volunteers too numerous to list manned the booths, the kitchen, the Attic Treasures,
the volunteer information kiosk, and other areas.
I am always impressed with the quality of our volunteers, and their ability to get the job
done.
Proceeds from the event go to support our hot meals program. Again, my thanks to all you
great people!
Anna Phillips
Canby Adult Center director
Kiwanians grateful to
local blood donors
I would like to thank all the wonderful people who took time out of their day to donate
blood in the Canby Kiwanis Club's Red Cross Community Blood Drive.
We had 143 people donate. We had 26 deferrals, so 117 units were donated, giving possibly
351 people another chance at life.
This really helps when the Red Cross is short of blood. They are still on a yellow alert.
I would like to explain the difference between a walk-in and a donor who has an
appointment.
Appointments are taken in the order they come in. Walk-ins are interspersed every five or
six appointments. The average time for a person to complete the whole procedure was 45 to
60 minutes for an appointment, and 60 to 80 minutes for walk-ins.
Again, thank you. Remember, you all gave 351 people a chance at life.
Keith and Nancy Murphy
Co-chairs Kiwanis Community Blood Drive |
