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Eastern Kentucky Counties Raise Cancer Screening
Awareness
By
Katie
Pratt
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Oct. 31, 2007) - The University of Kentucky
Cooperative Extension Service in nine Eastern Kentucky counties
joined forces to raise awareness for breast and cervical cancer
screenings with a project called Team Up.
Team Up began in 2003 as a national project identified by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Cancer Institute’s
Cancer Information Service, Centers for Disease Control and the
American Cancer Society, said Debbie Murray, associate director
of Health Education through Extension Leadership. In Kentucky,
partners also included the Kentucky Cancer Program, the Women’s
Screening Program of the Kentucky Department of Public Health,
Medicare and Medicaid.
Chuck Stamper, east regional program and development coordinator
for extension, said the counties also worked closely with Tami
Kedler, partnership program manager of the National Cancer
Institute’s Cancer Information Service for the Mid-South Region.
The project focused on the cancer burden in the South.
“A large number of women in the South were never screened;
therefore, cancer mortality rates were higher,” Murray said.
Family and consumer sciences agents from Breathitt, Elliott,
Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin, Powell and Wolfe
counties worked with local volunteers, churches and their
communities to present information on the benefits of regular
cancer screenings. The counties also partnered with county
health departments, regional hospitals, local cancer coalitions
and Kentucky State University.
Breast and cervical cancers have two of the highest cancer
mortality rates in Kentucky, Stamper said. The counties were
chosen because they have some of the highest breast and cervical
cancer mortality rates in the state. These counties also had
some of the lowest screening rates in the state and nation, he
said.
According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry, breast cancer was one
of the top two types of cancer that were diagnosed in each
county between 2000 and 2004. It was also one of the top two
types of cancer with the highest mortality rates in each county
for the same time period.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services reported
Kentucky ranks second in the nation in mortality rates for
cervical cancer.
Through donations from various federal, state and local
partners, Team Up received about $45,000 for the project. This
funding went toward television and radio advertising and the
purchase of resources. Since each county received little
operational money, extension agents came up with creative, low
cost ways to increase awareness for cancer screenings.
“It’s amazing what they can do,” Murray said. “It’s one of the
reasons they’ve been able to increase screening rates in the
area.”
Each county presented the topic through various formats, based
on the most effective way to reach their audience. Murray said
agents chose from a list of possible ways they could connect
with their communities.
“Some agents even branched out and got information and resources
about male breast cancer and colon cancer,” Stamper said.
Floyd County created a DVD to increase screening rates. Theresa
Scott, Floyd County family and consumer sciences extension
agent, said the movie was designed to reach the community
through the more than 100 churches and nonprofits in Floyd
County. It featured local cancer survivors and doctors who
discussed their experiences with cancer and emphasized early
detection is crucial in battling the disease. The movie also
featured a local songwriter who wrote a song as a tribute to his
sister who died from cancer in 2005.
Scott said five area health care facilities partnered and made
financial contributions to the production of the DVD. A local
production company produced it at a discounted cost.
“Floyd County’s Team Up efforts resulted in the development of a
successful cancer coalition, and it was one of the most
successful partnerships I’ve ever seen,” Scott said.
Another unique effort was in Magoffin County, which had several
activities that culminated with an annual Pink Ribbon Ladies
Luncheon before Mother’s Day, said Brooke Jenkins, Magoffin
County family and consumer sciences extension agent.
“A lot of the leaders in the community raised awareness leading
up to the event,” Jenkins said. “We also had a media campaign.”
The Magoffin County extension office also hosted a Pretty in
Pink Lock In, a sleepover for teenagers that focused on women’s
health education.
Jenkins said that through a contract with a local hospital, a
mobile mammography unit visited Magoffin County. A mobile
mammography unit also provided services in Wolfe County.
Pam Dooley, Powell County’s family and consumer sciences
extension agent, said Powell County distributed information
about cancer screenings at various club meetings and on the
radio. The county was also able to insert information about
screenings in bank envelopes at some of the local banks. By
providing information about the project during the county’s
Praise Celebration, Team Up reached about 2,500 people.
Dooley said the county’s goal was to educate the public, not
only about the importance of cancer screenings, but to let them
know there is hope for the uninsured. Just because a person
doesn’t have health insurance doesn’t mean screenings aren’t
possible, Dooley said.
Because health departments receive funding to cover expenses of
those without insurance, “We encouraged uninsured patients to go
to the health department first because if they get diagnosed by
a doctor, the health department can’t help them financially,”
she said.
The program has produced results. Stamper said most of the data
he has received from the counties has shown an increase in
screenings.
“The majority of the counties didn’t have cancer coalitions
before the program was started,” Stamper said. “Now, cancer
coalitions exist in every county.”
Murray said each county will continue to raise awareness for
breast and cervical cancer screenings. The nine counties will
also be given the opportunity to receive a $5,000 grant from
Health Education through Extension Leadership.
“These mini grants are available so the counties can continue
their intervention in the community and keep the momentum going
to strengthen the local cancer coalitions,” she said.
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Contact: Brooke Jenkins, 606-349-3216
Pam Dooley, 606-663-6405
Chuck Stamper, 859-257-9511 ext. 237
Debbie Murray, 859-527-8900
Theresa Scott, 606-886-2668
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