Self-Exams: The Key to Early Detection
By Donna Ochterski, RN

Men and women need to take the time each month to check for early signs of cancer. For women, this means doing a breast self-exam. This should be done to familiarize the woman with her own breast, making it possible for her to recognize changes in the tissue should they occur. Northwest Health Connections now has available a breast model that can be used by caregivers and individuals we care for to practice the correct procedure during a training session. These trainings are available to caregivers and as needed for individuals we care for, either as a group or one-on-one with NWHC training staff. All women over age 20 need to learn this procedure and perform it on a regular basis.

By combining breast self-exams, yearly professional exams, and mammograms over age 40, we as women have a better chance of recognizing a problem early and can begin the necessary treatment and have a better chance of a cure from breast cancer.

Men need to be concerned about cancer of the testicle and examine the testicles monthly from 15 to 40 years of age. When testicular cancer is discovered early, it is highly curable. Not only should staff be doing this for themselves, but individuals we care for who are able should be taught this procedure and decide for themselves if they will do the exam monthly. Northwest Health Connections has purchased a testicle model for people to practice with and learn the correct procedure for testicular examination. These trainings are available to caregivers and as needed for individuals we care for, either as a group or one-on-one with NWHC training staff.

If you are interested in either one of these trainings for your agency, contact Rich at 728-9400 or email to schedule them.


Remember, Yearly Checkups Are Important.

Since August is Cataract Awareness Month and September is both Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we thought this would be a good time to remind everyone how important it is to have regular checkups - medical, dental, and vision.

Ovarian cancer is the cancer with the fifth highest mortality rate among women. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 25,400 new cases and 14,300 deaths from ovarian cancer in 2003. The death rate for this disease has not changed much in the last 50 years. While this disease is rarely curable once it progresses to stage III or higher, it is very curable if caught early enough. The five-year survival rate for women who were diagnosed with stage I ovarian cancer is nearly 90%, but drops to between 15 and 20% for women who weren't diagnosed until stage III or later. This is why it is so important to have a complete checkup every year, possibly more often if you are in a high-risk group. For more details on ovarian cancer, visit www.ovarian.org or the American Cancer Society's website at www.cancer.org.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, with skin cancer coming in at the number one spot. More than 25% of all men diagnosed with cancer each year have prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 220,900 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2003. One of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, but only one in 32 will actually die from the disease. Black men are most susceptible to prostate cancer, although no one has determined why this is. Prostate cancer is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer-related deaths among men. Fortunately, prostate cancer is being detected earlier and the survival rate is going up. (Source: www.cancer.org).

Getting regular checkups and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key to minimizing your risk of getting a serious illness, such as cancer, and even help prevent diseases of the eye, such as cataracts and glaucoma. Why not make your appointment now?
In the Kitchen with Darryl: Strawberry Shortcake
1 loaf (10 oz.) angelfood cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups boiling water
2 cups milk
8 oz. Cool Whip
 2 pkgs. Strawberry Jello
1 pkg. (20 oz.) strawberries
1 pkg. Vanilla Pudding
Arrange cake cubes in a single layer in a 9x13 pan. Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Stir in strawberries. Pour over cake. Gently press down. Refrigerate till set - about 1 hour. In bowl, whisk milk and pudding. Mix for 2 minutes until thick. Spoon over Jello layer. Spread with Cool Whip. Refrigerate.
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