LOCALS COMPLETE "WOMEN FIRST" TRAINING

(04/26/2006)

Submitted by Barb McKown Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center, Inc. (MHHCC) would like to congratulate the first class of Women First Lay Health Advisor trainees. The Women First Program was created to share awareness of breast and other cancers. The first portion of the program was held in October with a Women's Day Event and All-Cancer Survivor Dinner. Both events were very successful with breast cancer awareness information distributed to over fifty individuals. The second portion of the Women First Program was to host a lay health advisor training. A lay health advisor is any individual who is willing to learn about a particular health issue and then share the message with others. Women First participants (L-R) Alta Mae Richards, Harriett Dial (BCCSP), JoAnn Straub, Dorothy McCauley, Catherine Virden and Barb McKown (MHHCC) The Women First participants completed three training sessions on breast cancer awareness. During the first session, participants learned the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of regular self-exams, annual exams and mammograms. Models were used to allow the women to recognize the shape and textures of a lump. Harriett Dial of the WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs explains the proper method for self-exam The second training allowed the women to learn about effective communication with conversation starters and other pointers. The final training was geared around treatment options and related cancers (uterine, cervical and ovarian). The participants were provided with several resource packets and contact information to help in their awareness campaign. During the graduation ceremony, the ladies were given breast cancer pink ribbon lapel pins with an angel attached to represent their important role in the fight against breast cancer. The participants will be distributing information at the CCCOA Health Fair on Wednesday, May 3 at the Arnoldsburg Community Building. A condensed version of this training is available for any community groups interested in joining the war against cancer. For information, please contact Barb McKown at 354-9244. The Women First grant was funded by an educational grant from the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and the Claude W. Benedum Foundation.

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