Thank You to the 2008 Planning Committee!

Health Forum Educates Women About Cancer

One in eight women are likely to develop invaisive breast cancer, unfortunately in African American women it grows faster and they have a greater risk of dying from it.

A health forum sponsored by the American Cancer Society not only raised awareness but also helped debunk myths about breast cancer in the African American community.

Patricia Turner, a 20-year-survivor says it is important for women to realize breast cancer is not a death sentence.  "If you detect breast cancer early enough the survival rate is up to 90 percent," says Turner, a survivor and spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society.

Experts on women's health issues and local exhibitors were on hand to answer questions throughout the day. Sheila Ward, a nutrition specialist hopes the over 700 women who attended the forum walked away with some useful tools.

"The cancer risk reduction benefits are going to be there, if you are physically active even if you don't see it on the scale so I think that resonated home with them," said Ward.

People who attended the event said they felt empowered to take better care of themselves.

"I've learned alot today and I am taking it back to my community to share with other ladies who were unable to come today," said Frances Robinson.

"Stress is cause for cancer and I did not know that. We all live with stress but we can also eliminate it," said Cheryl Chandler.

For more information on breast cancer prevention and early detection, you can visit the American Cancer Society website.

Copyright 2008 by Young Broadcasting, Inc.

Download the Presentations

The 2008 presenters have made their presentations available for download.  Please click on the links below to access each of the presentations from the forum.

Breast Cancer 101 by Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook

De-Stress Your Life by Shavon Arline

Coping as a Woman by Dr. JoAnn Thomas-Wilson

Nutrition & Fitness: The Power Team by Dr. Sheila A. Ward