October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection, and at Davidson College, two women’s organizations have planned events to support the cause. Beginning on Oct. 24, the women of Connor Eating House and the Sigma Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha offer various events that increase awareness about prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer.

Monday, Oct. 24

Bake Sale – The women of Connor and AKA will be selling home-baked goods such as cupcakes, cookies and brownies. The women of Connor House will be selling their “Big or Small, Save Them All” t-shirts. The members of AKA will be selling balloons for their balloon lift off on Oct. 29, commemorating all those fighting breast cancer. These sales will take place on the first floor of the Alvarez Student Union.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Health Fair – There will be a “Know Your Body!” fair on the first floor of the Student Union Atrium from noon-3 p.m. Mintview OBGYN will be informing students and community members about the risks and prevention of breast cancer. There will also be smoothies, yoga, breast cancer “Myth Busters” and more to inform the community about how to make better choices to keep their bodies healthy.

Drink Pink at Flatiron Kitchen Feb. 2, 2011 (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Drink Pink — Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse on Main St. in Davidson will host Connor House’s annual Drink Pink event. A portion of proceeds from designated menu items, pink cocktails, pink lemonade, or Shirley Temples will be donated directly to Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test on behalf of Connor House and the American Cancer Society on behalf of the Sigma Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Thursday, Oct. 27

Awareness Panel — Connor and AKA will host an Breast Cancer Panel entitled “Unraveling the Ribbon: Behind Breast Cancer.” The panel will feature breast cancer survivors, family members, the founder of Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test, and Dr. Joe Konen, a family physician and pharmaceutical researcher. The panel will present the many facets of breast cancer and answer questions about the effects of long-term disease on patients and the healthcare system.

Friday, Oct. 28

Pink Party — Connor and AKA will host a “Pink Party” at the Black Student Coalition from 11 p.m. -2 a.m. Participants are asked to dress in pink in celebration of those affected by breast cancer.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Balloon Release — The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will release pink balloons in the air during the Men’s Soccer Game to commemorate those affected by Breast Cancer.

Connor House and the Sigma Psi Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. hope that you can attend some of these events. If you have any questions about the events, please email Katie Baskin, Alex Hanken or Erin Turnquest.

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This is great progress, however there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection and others who do not get regular screening mammograms and clinical breast exams. According to the American Cancer Society, there is expected to be an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women this year, along with 2,140 new cases in men.

Doctors suggest that beginning at the age of 40, women should receive regular mammograms and annual breast exams.

Additionally, women should:

• Talk to their families about their history and to their health care provider to learn about personal risks
• Complete a self breast exam every month and recognize that it is okay to consult a health care professional if there are any changes
• Include healthy lifestyle choices like maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, breastfeeding and limiting alcohol intake.

“If all women age 40 and older would take advantage of early detection methods – mammography plus clinical breast exam – breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent,” says Sheri Corso, Director of Imaging Services, at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville.

“The key to mammography screening is that is be done routinely – once is not enough. Remember that routine screenings save lives,” continued Corso.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center is scheduled to host events that will help support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Programs include Senior Extra at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center on October 5 at 3pm and a Lunch and Learn at the South Iredell Senior Center on October 13 at 11am. Representatives from Mooresville Surgical Associates and Lake Norman Imaging Center will discuss screening, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. Reservations are required. Contact Community Outreach at 704-660-4859 to reserve a space.

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to individuals throughout the greater Lake Norman region. Located just off I-77 at Exit 33, the Mooresville medical campus offers complete specialty services from 24-hour emergency medicine and maternity to oncology and advanced surgical services. For more information about the services offered at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, please visit www.LNRMC.com.

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September 14, 2011

First Baptist Church Mooresville
150 South Church St.
Mooresville, NC 28115
4:30 pm-7:30 pm

September 16, 2011

Pine Lake Preparatory School
1639 Mecklenburg HWY
Mooresville, NC  28115
8:00 am – 1:30 pm

September 17, 2011

Leanne Stoltzfus Student Drive
589 Brawley School Rd
Mooresville, NC  28117
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

September 22, 2011

Mooresville High School
659 East Center Ave
Mooresville, NC  28115
8:00 am – 1:30 pm

*Please note the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas’ minimum weight requirement for blood donors is 120 pounds.

More public drives can be found by logging on to the Community Blood Center of Carolinas Website at www.cbcc.us. CBCC also has donation centers in Charlotte, Belmont, and Union County. You may call 704-972-4700 to make an appointment at any location.

Charlotte Center
4447 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209
Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10am – 8:00pm

Gastonia Center

2524 East Franklin Blvd, Suite E, Gastonia, NC 28056
Sunday*, Monday, Saturday*: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 10:00am – 7:30pm

*The Gastonia Center will be open the first, third and fifth Saturday and the second and fourth Sunday of the month.

CMC-Union Center

600 Hospital Drive, located in the Pavilion area, Monroe, NC 28112
Tuesday and Friday: 7:30am – 5:00pm

Concord Center

Old Creamery Building
363 Church Street North, Suite 170, Concord, NC 28025
Sunday* and Tuesday: 7:00am – 5:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am – 8:30pm

*The Concord Center will be open the first, third and fifth Sunday of the month.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 19 regional hospitals, serving patients who live in 16 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. CBCC’s hospital partners include: Carolinas Healthcare System, CaroMont Health, Piedmont Medical Center, Grace Hospital, Valdese Hospital, Frye Regional Medical Center, Central Carolina Hospital and Stanly Regional Medical Center .The Center’s mission is to be the steward of a community resource – life-saving blood. CBCC is strictly a blood center, completely focused on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives. Every drop of blood collected stays here to help people in our community. Our vision is to help build and strengthen the bonds of community.

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