67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in PA

All four Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals will be welcoming the 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in PA exhibit. It will be available to view in DuBois, St. Marys, Brookville, Clearfield and Philipsburg. Shown is Kristen Snoke of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition setting up one of the display panels.

An amazing opportunity for women is coming to the Penn Highlands Healthcare region.

“The exhibit features ‘real women’ from all 67 counties in PA,” Lisa Housler, director of Imaging Services and PACS administrator at Penn Highlands Elk, said. “These women are our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. They live and fight their battles with cancer here in our communities. These are the faces of women with strength and hope, celebrating their lives.”

Quotes from the survivors with the photos share how breast cancer has touched their lives, and their message reflects the impact breast cancer can have on families and communities across our commonwealth.

“This traveling work of art will leave men and women with a reminder of the physical and emotional journey a breast cancer patient takes along with their family and friends,” Laura Adams, director of Hahne Regional Cancer Center and Nathaniel D. Yingling Cancer Center along with Penn Highlands DuBois Breast Care Services, MRI, and Diabetes and Nutrition Wellness Center, said. “This moving exhibit will showcase a reflection of a woman’s perspective on her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

“The women featured in our photo exhibit show the true face of breast cancer in Pennsylvania,” Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, said. “The exhibit also highlights the importance of early detection. We are excited to bring that message to everyone that Penn Highlands Healthcare serves, as we celebrate the life, courage, hope and dignity of women and families facing breast cancer in Pennsylvania.”

This exhibit has been put together by the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Since 1994, more than 131 communities have hosted the exhibit which encourages women to learn about and practice early detection through yearly mammograms, monthly breast self-exams and annual clinical exams.

“We are hoping this event personalizes breast cancer by showcasing survivor stories from friends and neighbors. Screening mammograms are essential and save lives every day,” Karl Nichols, director of Diagnostic Imaging at Penn Highlands Brookville, said.

The exhibit has a three-part mission. It is to educate and inspire people to take personal and political action, to empower and alleviate fear, and to motivate women into action to help find a cure.

Pennsylvania has the fifth highest rate of breast cancer in the United States with approximately 11,000 women in Pennsylvania diagnosed each year with breast cancer, according to the coalition and the state Department of Health.

Breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer deaths in Pennsylvania in women between the ages of 25-54, and three of four cases of breast cancer arise in women with no known risk factors.

“When given a cancer diagnosis, whether it is breast cancer or another form, for the majority of patients and their families it is a life-changing moment. There is a human side of cancer that may often be overlooked as one is going through testing, treatment and recovery,” Lori Rancik, RN and case manager of the Women’s Health Center of Penn Highlands Healthcare, said.

“However, in this human side, there are lives that are changing and challenged to move forward physically, emotionally and spiritually as a person who has (or has had) cancer. Exhibits such as this provide cancer patients and their families with the opportunity to meet others who have faced this human side of cancer. And, in this, gain additional hope, strength and encouragement in their personal journeys,” she said.

To open the display to the communities, Penn Highlands Healthcare will host events at each location. Then, the displays will remain up for several days for those who wish to visit.

“We are excited to showcase this exhibit at both the Nathaniel D. Yingling Cancer Center and the Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building. Both sites are very important to the community in terms of cancer care and outpatient diagnostic services, including life-saving mammograms,” Audra Sidelinger Director, Outpatient Diagnostic Services, Penn Highlands Clearfield, said.

The locations and times of Penn Highlands Healthcare kick-off events and display dates are as follows. All events will end with refreshments and time to enjoy the exhibit.

DuBois Wednesday, June 1, at PH DuBois West atrium from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This will be combined with the 2016 Women’s Health Series, “Love Yourself – When Cancer Strikes” program. Speakers will include John Sutika, president of PH DuBois; Dr. Kelley Smith, general surgeon with Penn Highlands Healthcare; Sharon Gelnette, survivor; Janice Maloney, survivor; Kristen Snoke of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition; and Joanne Grossi, regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region III. Rev. Kevin Bockus of the PH DuBois Pastoral Care Department will give the invocation.

As part of the “Love Yourself” program, a previously-announced event of the Spirit of Women series, various cancer-related groups will have information. Participants include Adagio Health Services, Hahne Regional Cancer Center, PH DuBois Breast Care Services, the American Cancer Society’s Look Good/Feel Better program, The Heart Center of PH DuBois, The Breast Cancer Support Group and Healing Touch with Leslie Bloom of Grampian.

“Combining this program with the unveiling of the exhibit, we will provide cancer patients and their families the opportunity to meet the entire team that provides care to cancer patients and their loved ones from diagnosis and beyond. It is my hope that in adding this with the 67 counties exhibit, everyone attending will witness the impact and affect this human side of cancer brings and, in this, gain additional hope, strength and encouragement in every personal journey,” Rancik said.

The photo display will remain up until Wednesday, June 8.

St. Marys Thursday, June 9, at PH Elk, the doors will open to tours of the Women’s Imaging Department at 5 p.m. and the art will be displayed in Education Center. At 5:30 p.m., visitors will hear messages from Rose Campbell, president of PH Elk; Dr. Sam Deloia, PH Elk radiologist; and special guest, state Rep. Matt Gabler. Connie Garrigan of Cameron County, a breast cancer survivor who is featured in the display photos, will be recognized.

And during this time, PH Elk will also acknowledge and remember the contributions of the late Paulette Schreiber. Schreiber was a nurse practitioner in St. Marys for many years and a champion for women’s health.

This display will remain up until Monday, June 13.

Brookville Tuesday, June 14, at PH Brookville, the exhibit kick-off event starts at 4 p.m. in the Private Dining Room on the first floor of the hospital.

This is the first time this exhibit will be in Jefferson County. Those who attend may recognize MegaRock radio personality, Sharon Stewart, a breast cancer survivor. Stewart will be a guest speaker at this event along with Julie Peer, president of PH Brookville, Dr. Ioanna Kanellitsas, obstetrics/gynecologist with Penn Highlands Healthcare; Kristen Snoke and Stacey Jones, both of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition; and Ruth Modzelewski of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This display will remain up until Monday, June 20.

Clearfield At 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, the exhibit opening event kicks off in the Nathaniel D. Yingling Cancer Center, Clearfield.

Medical Oncologist Dr. Mafou Fu and Hospital President Gary Macioce will provide remarks, and local resident Kristin Duttry will share her experiences with breast cancer. Ruth Modzelewski of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will also speak.

The Penn Highlands Clearfield mammography team will be on hand to speak with those attending about diagnostic services.

The display will remain up until Thursday, June 23.

Philipsburg

Thursday, June 23, the event starts at 4 p.m. in the Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building, 271 Railroad St., Philipsburg. Among the speakers will be Macioce, Dr. Robert Steward, general surgeon, and Dr. Richard Williams, radiologist.

The MVCMB mammography team will be on hand to speak with those attending about diagnostic services provided at the site.

The display will remain until the following week.

RSVP To RSVP or for more information about any of these events, please contact Rancik at 371-9666 or via e-mail at lbrancik@phheatlhcare.org.

Note: This week is Women’s Health Week. Penn Highlands Healthcare encourages all women to take focus on their health needs because so often, they are the caregivers to their families and often care for themselves last. If you haven’t given your own health a lot of thought, take some time to go to https://phh.spirithealth.com.