Cancer survivorship is a day-to-day, ongoing process that begins with your diagnosis and continues through the rest of your life. It is essential when moving forward with survivorship to keep your body fit and well. Healthy living and lifestyle behavior matters as breast cancer patients move beyond cancer.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among females in Harrisburg. In 2009, 32 women in the city of Harrisburg were diagnosed with breast cancer and seven died, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
White women are more likely to develop breast cancer, but less likely to die from it compared to African-American women. Also, African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors and are diagnosed later. Why? It is thought that factors that contribute to the higher death rates among African-American women include differences in access to and utilization of early detection and treatment and differences in tumor characteristics.
We are pleased to report that death rates from breast cancer have been decreasing since 1990 and are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness. However, there is still more work to do to prevent breast cancer and help women survive once it is diagnosed.
To celebrate cancer survivorship, the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute will partner with the Harrisburg Community Cancer Network for its 3rd annual Harrisburg Community Cancer Education Summit on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Zion Assembly Church of Harrisburg, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The upcoming summit, Moving Forward with Survivorship: Keeping Yourself Fit and Well will celebrate breast cancer survivorship and the importance of exercise and nutrition. This event will include topics on 10 myths and facts about exercise and fitness, cancer survivorship, nutrition, a doctors panel entitled “Lost in Transition, from Oncologist to your Primary Care Physician,” a message of hope, door prizes and much more.
This event is sponsored by the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and The Walmart Foundation through the American Cancer Society.
Harrisburg Community Cancer Education Summit, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sat., Nov. 3 at Zion Assembly Church of Harrisburg, 2101 N. 5th St. Robin Perry-Smith, MHA is the Program Manager for the Harrisburg Community Cancer Network at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. Dr. Eugene J. Lengerich, V.M.D., M.S. is director of the Community Sciences and Health Outcomes Core, which supports the Harrisburg Community Cancer Network.
