The purpose of Wythe County Breast Cancer Coalition is to provide "Ladies’ Night Out, as an educational program to improve resources. The project stresses the role of healthy lifestyle behaviors in the prevention and improve knowledge of breast cancer, screening guidelines, and community management of chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Target participation is projected to reach 400 plus women
Benefits to be provided by the program:
· Provide information about mammograms and other breast screening methods and the most current screening recommendations.
· Provide information regarding symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment.
· Encourage women to have regular, age-appropriate breast cancer screenings.
· Discuss issues related to high breast cancer mortality rates in African American women.
· Educate women about resources in our community that provide breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services, including programs serving uninsured or underserved women and how to access these services.
· Provide information about support services available in our community.
· Encourage adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent breast cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases.
· Encourage bone density exams, cardiovascular screenings and other services as appropriate.
All women are at risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the second leading type of cancer diagnosed among women in Virginia and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Of all cancers diagnosed in Virginia, one in three will be breast cancer.
"Ladies’ Night Out" is provided as a free service to women in Wythe and Bland Counties, as well as surrounding communities.