EVELYN HOWELL
HERALD STAFF WRITER

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WELDON — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Halifax Community College will host a Breast Cancer Awareness Day “fair” at The Centre.

The event is one of several programs planned to help raise the awareness of breast cancer in the Halifax and Northampton county areas.

The Rural Health Group Health Education Division has  partnered with Halifax Healthlink to sponsor the Awareness Day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8.

The fair will feature exhibits and information about breast cancer focusing on how to detect breast cancer early, the signs and symptoms as well as screening services, treatment options and information about community health education programs.

At the event, women who are 50 and older who do not have insurance, can apply for low or no cost mammograms through the Rural Health Group’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control program.

“Early detection is the key to survivorship,” said Patricia Peele, health education coordinator for Rural Health Group.

“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods — mammography screening and self-examination — and it be done routinely, breast cancer rates would drop much further.”

Halifax Community College President Dr. Ervin Griffin Sr.,  will host an assembly at noon that will include the recognition and testimonials of breast cancer survivors and co-survivors’ (someone who has a spouse or relative who had cancer).

Survivors will talk about how it feels to hear the words, “You have breast cancer” and “How you can help someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Peele said that when cancer happens to one person it happens to the entire family.

Immediately following the assembly, 500 pink and white balloons will be released to  represent a hope for a cure and to honor breast cancer survivors. “We are going to paint the campus pink,” said Peele.

Peele said that one of the reasons why the college was chosen to host this event is to educate younger women about the signs of breast cancer and teach them the importance of self examination and the proper way to do it.

Peele said that of all of the cases of breast cancer, 80 percent  discover the lumps themselves.

Peele said that although more Caucasian women are diagnosed with cancer, African-American women are at a higher risk for death from breast cancer.

Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Fund, and The Carolina Community Network of UNC Chapel Hill are also sponsoring the program.

“We use the resources that we have to make the greatest impact and we are grateful for the support of our local, state, and national partners and if it were not for our sponsors, we would not be able to provide this service,” said Peele.

For more information contact Patricia Peele at (252) 536-5829.