Page 15 - FOCUS December 2017

CANCER CARE
Breast Cancer Research, at the Graham Cancer Center. “The benefits are still there 20 years later.”
Attendees were asked to give feedback on the presentation so it can be fine-tuned before it is rolled out to the community. They included members of four African- American sororities — Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho. Attendees also had the opportunity to volunteer to become presenters or to champion the initiative by telling others about it.
“Collaborative agencies can come to- gether in Delaware to help people in the community,” said Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN, Community Health Outreach manager at the Graham Cancer Center. “We are all working together to make this a healthier place to live.”
A presentation on the link between diabetes and cancer was led by Dr. Savoy and Heather Bittner Fagan, M.D., lead for community engagement in the Delaware CTR-ACCEL research partnership. Both diseases share the risk factor of obesity.
At least 13 cancers are associated with obesity, from brain cancer to multiple myeloma. For women, that also includes ovarian, uterine and breast cancer. While mammograms are contributing to earlier diagnoses of breast cancer, a number of other cancers are not detected until they are in advanced stages, said Dr. Bittner Fagan. In addition, overweight people are less likely to seek testing.
“A lot of these cancers we don’t have great screening for,” she said. “And as obesity goes up, screening rates tend to go down.”
The good news is lifestyle changes that prevent or reverse diabetes will cut cancer risk. That includes 150 minutes of mod- erate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week and eating a healthy, plant-based diet.
Three speakers from the American Cancer Society, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and Cancer Support Commu- nity Delaware shared resources that are available to women throughout the state.
Cathy Holloway, vice president of Mission Delivery at the Breast Cancer
Coalition, focused on survivorship, including programs that connect survivors with peer mentors.
“We talk about practical things, not just medical issues,” she said. “Where did you get your wig? How are you feeling today?”
Alyssa Atanacio, RD, LDN, a Christiana Care dietitian, showed attendees how to read the labels on food in order to prepare meals that are high in fiber, vitamins
and minerals, and low in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and added sugar. She also shared free online tools, such as the USDA Body Weight Planner.
“Maintaining a healthy weight is key in both cancer prevention and diabetes prevention,” she said.
This program was presented in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho, Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Susan G. Komen Philadelphia and the Cancer Support Community. The conference was funded in part by a grant from the American Cancer Society. ●
Workshops for survivors included Healthy Lifestyles — A YMCA nutrition project.
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