Doctors, breast cancer survivors and caregivers provided advice and resources to community members seeking advice on how to reduce the risk of or fight breast cancer.
The Power Over Breast Cancer event took place on Saturday
Held Saturday at Springhill Baptist Church in southeast Gainesville, about 100 people attended the Power Over Breast Cancer rally hosted by the UF Health Cancer Center Community Partnership Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative (CDRC).
“I’m overwhelmed by the turnout and love seeing people sharing resources and supporting each other — that’s what it’s all about,” said Carolyn Tucker, Ph.D., CDRC director. “They have given us knowledge that allows us to truly fight against breast cancer. »
Event hosted by UF Health Cancer Center and East Gainesville Churches
The CDRC is made up of eight east Gainesville churches – Springhill, DaySpring and Faith Baptist Churches, Greater Bethel AME Church, Showers of Blessings Harvest Center, Passage Family Church and Upper Room and Williams Churches Temple of God in Christ.
Doctors talk about treatment options and prevention strategies
Dr. Lisa R. Spiguel spoke about new treatment options for breast cancer patients and Dr. Adeline M. Deladisma spoke about breast cancer prevention strategies.
Spiguel, an associate professor in the division of oncology in the UF Department of Surgery, is section chief of breast surgery and clinical director of the UF Breast Health Center.
She said risk factors for breast cancer are genetics, family history, dense breasts, age, low physical activity, alcohol, obesity and taking hormones, Spiguel said .
Breast cancer is estimated to affect 300,590 women in the United States in 2023, with approximately 22,670 new cases of female breast cancer in the state of Florida, Spiguel said.
“My job is to eliminate the cancer and not have it get to the lymph nodes,” Spiguel said.
Deladisma, an assistant professor of surgery at UF and a board-certified surgeon at UF Health Jacksonville, spoke about the need for women to get mammograms, as experts recommend.
“Early detection saves lives,” said Deladisma, who is also a medical intern for the UF Health Department of Surgery. “Have a way of taking care of yourself before taking care of others. »
According to Deladisma, breast cancer is an abnormal growth of abnormal ductal or lobular cells in the breast.
“The most important thing to adopt as a community is to have a wellness mindset,” Deladisma said.
Free mammograms:Free mammograms will be provided to women in East Gainesville
Breakout sessions feature testimonials
The event also included breakout sessions for women diagnosed with breast cancer, women at risk for breast cancer, family members and friends of women with breast cancer, husbands and other men living with women with breast cancer.
Gwendolyn Saffo was a four-year breast cancer survivor and also had two sisters diagnosed with the disease. One sister passed away and the other sister is a 10 year cancer survivor.
“I still wonder if it will come back,” Saffo said.
She said she’s sharing her experience in hopes of inspiring other women to get a mammogram and stay encouraged if they receive a diagnosis.
“I wrote about my breast cancer journey every day on Facebook for 31 days,” Saffo said. “I talked to 17 of my lineage sisters (in her sorority – Delta Sigma Theta) about getting checked out and helping each other. Three of them were diagnosed with breast cancer and they thanked me for telling them to get checked. »
