by Brother Love
“I’ve Got The Power” was the theme for the 5th Annual “Sisters Night Out” (SNO) celebration held September 24, at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Jefferson St. It was a wonderful autumn evening to present an event of vital life saving information that was conveyed in a loving, courageous, beautiful manner. There was a magical feeling to this sisterhood that transcended race and creed. Sisters joined together tackling a common nemesis called Breast Cancer, by getting the word out about breast cancer screening by mammograms, breast self examination and communicating with family in regard to the health history of the family.
“Sisters Night Out,” chairperson Linda Manns a R.N., MSN and Community Health Faith/Parish Nurse at Loudon Avenue Christian Church opened the program getting straight to the point of Breast Cancer Prevention, breast self exams, doctors visits and mammograms. Manns gave statistics that show the breast cancer mortality rate for African American women as being higher than their Caucasian counterparts due to poor prognosis and various other factors. Average age for diagnosis in African American women is 57 years compared with 62 years in Caucasian women. Manns said the risk can be minimized by early screening. When cancer is found in the early stages, women have a 98% chance of survival. The point of mammograms is they find cancer too small to feel by touch. The Affordable Care Act mandates free breast cancer exams and counseling.
“Every Woman’s Life” is a program of Carilion Clinic Breast Care that is federally funded through Virginia Dept. of Health and provides preventative services free of charge. You must meet their qualifications which can be found on the Carilion Clinic website.
Five years ago through dialog with the American Cancer Society, SNO emerged and is still going strong and growing, spreading the word about preventative methods of avoiding breast cancer.
Breast cancer was not the only subject of the evening. An event called “Save the Date” scheduled for June 4, 2016 will promote prostate screening at New Horizon Healthcare on Melrose Ave. sponsored by Loudon Avenue Christian Church (LACC).
SNO MC was Joy Sutton, marketing communication manager for Lewis Gale Regional Health Systems. She took to the stage and declared “I’ve Got the Power” and congratulated the organization for the increased attendance. After delivering the invocation Dr. William Lee, pastor LACC, spoke humorously about Save the Date. “You don’t have to be just a husband to be screened, it can be boyfriends or the man living upstairs while you live downstairs, send him over.”
Roanoke vocalist extraordinaire and local legend Jane Powell was the special guest. She was sassy and humorous telling a funny story about growing up always seeing her parents argue. She said they argued so much, she didn’t know if they liked one another until the day her father was diagnosed with cancer and the mother was nice to him all of a sudden asking him “what would you like for dinner, when it used to be you take what I fix fool.” She said it took cancer to see her parents really loved one another. “I told ya’ll that because when negative things happen, positive always follows,” she added and then sang two wonderful songs, Stand by Me and Try a Little Tenderness.
In an upbeat tone, Keynote speaker Freda Bryan started her address saying, “Otis Redding wrote Try a Little Tenderness because he understood breast cancer self exams…you got to hold ‘em and squeeze ‘em.” Bryan has a distinguished 22 year career in the U.S. Navy. She is the first African American woman Air Traffic Controller to be promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. She addressed the General Assembly for the Cancer Coalition of Virginia and was instrumental in the passage of a bill that represents Women with Cancer in the Commonwealth.
Bryan gave a most revealing testamony of becoming a strong advocate for cancer prevention when she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002. She had 2 operations before having a mastectomy and the removal of 13 lymph nodes of which 6 of them where cancerous. She said “as air traffic controller, I commanded a lot of power but when I contracted cancer I felt powerless.” After several recurrences of the disease and a grim prognosis, it was her faith, a strong constitution and her determination to follow the right doctor’s orders that pulled her through.
“Find out your family’s health history on both sides,” she reccomended and emphasized being the “kind of patient that thoroughly questions the doctor in reference to your health.”
Takiyah (Tee) Barlow delivered an inspirational talk on the importance of health and exercise (mind, body, spirit and soul). She got everyone at the affair exercising and really enjoying their participation. Tee said there are 7 ways to empower yourself to achieve full health potential: meditate; consume healthy fruits, vegetables and water; move your body, start slow and build up; release emotional toxins; grow positive relationships and start laughing.Laughter is good for your health.
Toward the end of the event, there was a touching testimony from program organizer Linda Manns’ daughter, Temeca Manns, who is a recent breast cancer survivor. Her testimony involved the love of her mother, her amazing boyfriend who is a real life symbolic knight in shining armor, a true example of a person helping someone heal by way of true love. At one point, Tameca explained that she loved her boyfriend so much she offered to let him go due to the strain her condition would place on the newly formed relationship. But her fiance’s love proved to be true and he set the record straight by proposing to her and they are soon to marry. Tameca has been cancer free and a survivor for 3 months.
The last speaker of the night was Dr. Karanita Ojomo who devised a method for communicating to battle cancer called “Texting for Health” TFYH. Her presentation centered around “text talk” as: TTSS=Time to Stop Smoking; STG=Save the Girl; GTM=Get Your Man (For Prostate Testing); SMH=Save Your Hooters; SBE=Self Breast Exam and EWL= Every Woman’s Life.
The main message from Sisters Night Out was early screening by mammograms; self breast examination and educating yourself and family on health history. The event was made possible with funding received from healthcare sponsors: Lewis Gale Medical Center, Myriad Genetics, Loudon Avenue Christian Church, Faith Health Ministries, American Cancer Society and New Horizons Healthcare.
A most delightful spread of heavy hors d’oeuvres was served by Peggy Fleming and Company. Additionally many prizes and gifts were presented to participants of this well-attended and most meaningful affair.
