2012 in Review...

Around this time last year I found out I had cervical adenocarcinoma in situ and a lot has happened since then. I have fully recovered and the NCCC Southern Illinois Chapter has grown and provided so much awareness in the region and beyond.

In the last year we held a self-defense fundraiser, two Mind-Body Connection Yoga Sampler & Educational events, attended two health conferences, one for women and one for teens and hosted a Girls Night Out Event. Our goal through all of our efforts was to raise awareness and money for the cause. We did not hit our goal of $5,000, but we had fun trying & met many wonderful people along the way. As of today, we raised over $1,500, not too bad! Some of that funding was used to support our efforts by paying fees for exhibits, operating costs and building our inventory, which will in turn help us raise more money for the cause.

If you would like to help us raise money for the cause, click on the secure link below & make a donation today!

Support our Chapter

We have quite a few events planned for 2013, including a 5K Fundraiser. If you would like to get involved, donate your time or efforts, please contact us, we are always looking for fellow fighters & supporters.

Thank you to all of our supporters over the last year,,especially, Arsenal Martial Arts, LLC, First Southern Bank Carbondale & Mainstreet T's.

Keep Talking about Teal!

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January 1st - Change Your Profile and/or Cover Photo to a Teal/Cervical Cancer Awareness Picture & ask your friends to like our page www.facebook.com/talkaboutteal.

 

Business owners: change your marquee to “Talk about Teal” to help spread the word. (We have some great pictures on our wall or check out www.facebook.com/tealsthedeal.com!)

 

 

January 7^th – Ask your employer if you can set up a can to raise money for NCCC Southern Illinois to support our mission or ask your co-workers to donate to our mission online via http://www.razoo.com/story/Support-The-Nccc-Southern-Illinois-Chapter

 

 January 8th - Wear Teal to work day! Please post a picture and TAG us “Talk about Teal” and "Teal's The Deal" in them!

 

January 12th - Teal 5 Ladies! Decorate their front door, their car, their cubicle, their office. ANYTHING! To encourage them to schedule their yearly exam! Take a picture and upload it, and Tag "Teal's The Deal!"

 

 January 14th - Please post what color your underwear is, Pink, Teal, Black, White or NONE!

 

January 18th - Get a TEAL Mani/Pedi at California Nails (Carbondale, IL). Everyone women loves a manicure and pedicure. Might as well paint then TEAL! Take a picture and tag “Talk about Teal” and “Teals the Deal”

 

January 19^th from 3-5 pm - Join the ladies of NCCC Southern Illinois at One O One Yoga (Carbondale, IL) for a free Yoga Sampler taught by local yoga instructors. Cervical Cancer Awareness items will be for sale at this event.

 

 January 26^th - Paint the SKY TEAL!!! Gather your group together and send TEAL Balloons into the SKY!

 

January 28th - Get your family and friends to donate to your favorite charity that supports Gynecologic Cancers. (You can also donate to TealsTheDeal.org/Donate)

 

January 31^st- “Teal” (post a cervical cancer awareness photo to their timeline) 5 Facebook friends to remind them to schedule their well-check and ask them to “LIKE” our page www.facebook.com/talkaboutteal. (You can also email friends and ask them to visit our Blog at www.talkabouteal.blogspot.com or follow us on Twitter @TalkAboutTeal

 

Let's PAINT Facebook & The WORLD TEAL!!!!

 

www.talkaboutteal.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/talkaboutteal

Twitter: @talkaboutteal

Zero Symptoms, Endless Pain

What has zero symptoms, but the ability to cause you and your loved ones endless pain?
If you said HPV (Human Papillomavirus) you're right!

FACT: HPV is NOT Gential Warts!
FACT: There are more than 100 different strains (or types) of HPV, and approximately 40 of those are sexually transmitted and affect the genitals.
FACT: You can contract HPV without having intercourse!
FACT: 10% of virgins have HPV!
FACT: High risk strains of HPV can cause cancer (cervical, oral etc.)

The FACTS are scary.
What surprises you the most? Leave your comments below.

Watch Dr. Oz tomorrow, October 11, 2012
HPV Chat With Dr. Oz
Thurs, Oct 11, 5:30 – 6 pm EDT
HuffPost Live

NCCC Chapter Leaders Sandy Fisher (New Jersey) and Michelle Appel Prigo (New York) will be guests on the show!

Preview the Show!

Don't know much about HPV?
Visit these websites: www.nccc-online.org, http://www.ashastd.org/, http://www.sharecare.com/topic/hpv

Test your knowledge with this quiz: HPV QUIZ

So really, What surprises you the most?
Please leave your comments below.

It's time to register for our 2012 Fundraiser!

We have so much planned for the women of Southern Illinois. Join us for one session to learn how to protect yourself from a physical attack, and stay healthy!

We will also have a raffle for a number of great items, please comment below if you would like to donate or assist with the raffle.

Every woman who registers for the event will receive a free event t-shirt and a super cute canvas bag!

Download the Event Flyer & Registration Form today!

Have questions? Contact Chapter Leader, Franciene Sabens (fsabens@nccc-online.org).

Be a Warrior, know your Risk, and join us November 10, 2012 to support a great cause!


Fundraiser Flyer
Registration Form 2012

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Please remember to tell the woman or women in your life to get their annual exam and/or mammogram.

As we make our way through October please take note of all of the awareness activities going on in your community.

What are they?
Who's sponsoring them?
How can we create a similar event to raise cervical cancer awareness?

Please leave your comments below to help us generate ideas for our Talk about Teal Campaign.

Also, please take a look at our Events page to learn more about our upcoming Mind-Body Connection (yoga sampler and women's health awareness educational event) and our Self-Defense Fundraiser.

Be a Warrior, know your Risk, and thank you for your support.

Cervical Cancer-the Stigma vs. the Reality

Our first Educational Event, hosting an exhibit table at the Southern Illinois Women's Health Conference, was an amazing opportunity to get the word out about our mission.

Over 100 women stopped at our exhibit to chat and share their experiences, and over 500 women attend the event annually. We will be sure to attend this well organized event again next year, and encourage all Southern Illinois women to register to attend, you will not be disappointed. 

While the event was an amazing opportunity to meet women, share information and further our mission, it was also an eye opener. 

Some women literally walked past our table judging with their eyes and their minds. Here are some comments women actually said to us today: 

"I don't have to worry about that!" 
"I just had my pap so I'm safe." 
"I had a hysterectomy so I don't have to worry about that anymore." 

The misconceptions are out there, without a doubt, and those who are uneducated about their risk have the greatest risk for DYING from the disease period. 

Please refer your friends and family to www.NCCC-online.org. 
Refer young people in your life to www.iwannaknow.org. 
Take the pledge to prevent cervical cancer at www.cervicalcancercampaign.org. 

You're at risk for HPV, the virus found in over 90% of all incidence of cervical cancers after any sexual skin-to-skin contact even if you don’t go “all the way"!

Check out the resources above. What surprises YOU about the risks associated with HPV or cervical cancer? Comment below to help us better understand how to help women and young girls who do not believe they are at risk. 

 "Be a Warrior, know your Risk."

How does Illinois 'Measure Up?'

This month (August 2012) the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network assessed each state's efforts towards reducing cancer incidence and death.

So how do you think Illinois measured up regarding Cervical Cancer Screening?

This year marks the 10th year the ACS CAN has published the "How do You Measure Up Report". According to the report, "[t]he goal of every state should be to achieve "green" in each policy area delineated in the report. By implementing the solutions set forth in this report, state legislators have a unique opportunity to take a stand and fight back against cancer. "

Illinois Stats regarding State Appropriations for Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program

According to the report, Illinois achieved GREEN status, "[Illinois] appropriation for [breast & cervical cancer screening programs] are 100% or more than the CDC award"! Bravo Illinois, with reservations. The report does indicate that Illinois is doing well in this area, but at the same time Illinois has reduced funding and implemented waiting lists or other means of limiting access to early detection programs; the funding in 2012 was less than 2011.

The report goes on to remind us all that over 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, this does not include the over 500,000 that will be diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions. "Pap tests detect precancerous lesions that can be treated before they become cervical cancer, resulting in a nearly 100 percent survival rate."

When is the last time you had a pap test?

According to the report, "[w]hen detected at an early stage, cervical cancer has a five-year survival rate of 91 percent. However, when cervical cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, survival rates plummet to 16 percent."

 

New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

The report also outlines the new screening guidelines...

The American Cancer Society released new cervical cancer screening guidelines for average risk women in March 2012. The guidelines recommend average-risk women aged 21-65 be screened using the following methods and frequencies:

• Women age 21-29 should receive a Pap test every three years (liquid or conventional).
• Women age 30-65 should receive co-testing with the HPV test and the Pap test every five years (preferred), or every three years with the Pap test alone.
• Women over the age of 65 who have had normal results should discontinue screening.

What are your thoughts on the new guidelines?

Please comment below.

 

I am personally opposed to the new guidelines. To be honest with you, they scare me to death! If my doctor's office would not have detected my cancer during my last visit, I may not have made it to the next visit, and if I did, I would have been knocking on death's door without a doubt.

 

Prior to my diagnosis in March 2012 with Stage 0 Cervical Adenocarcinoma, I had never had an abnormal pap. I elected to do the HPV test when I turned 30, the results were negative! According to my health history I was NOT at risk for cervical cancer, but guess what, I got it! Within one year of my last appointment all of this happened. I am married (7 years), I have a 2 year old son...fast forward five years, that cancer would have been Stage 3 or 4---VERY SCARY!

 

Please tell your friends and loved ones about the programs available in Illinois; knowing this information just might save their life.

 

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offers free mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap tests to eligible women. Even if a woman has already been diagnosed with cancer, she may receive free treatment if she qualifies. The program has been providing breast and cervical cancer screenings to the women of Illinois since 1995.

For additional information, call the Women’s Health-Line toll free at: 888-522-1282 (800-547-0466 TTY)

535 W. Jefferson St., First Floor, Springfield, IL 62761-0001 217-524-6088, Fax 217-557-3326Women's Health-Line: Toll-free: 888-522-1282 TTY: 800-547-0466 Be a Warrior, know your Risk!