From Vidant Beaufort Hospital

 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month — the month dedicated to educating women about breast cancer by stressing the importance of early detection through regular self-breast exams and mammography. Vidant Beaufort Hospital, local physician practices, Eastern Radiologists as well as local businesses are getting involved in the awareness campaign with a variety of events and free breast cancer screenings.

Friday will mark the sixth-annual Paint the Town Pink Day in Beaufort County. Eastern Radiologists has spearheaded this awareness event and fundraiser for the Shepard Cancer Foundation since its inception in 2009.

“Like in previous years, we are hoping area businesses will get involved and become Pink Partners,” said Tanya Dixon, manager of Eastern Radiologists in Washington. Local businesses can get involved by participating in the store-front decorating contest, allowing employees to wear Paint the Town Pink shirts to work Friday, offering a discount to customers that wear pink or possibly offering a portion of proceeds for that days business to benefit the Paint the Town Pink initiative and the Shepard Cancer Foundation. For example, LaBella Slices and Ices has been a Pink Partner for the past two years. This year they will donate 20 percent of their sales on Friday to the cause and also have a bake sale and a raffle. For those interested in getting involved in Paint the Town Pink, call Tanya Dixon at 252-931-7722 or Pam Shadle at 252-975-4134.

Vidant Beaufort Hospital and local physician practices are hosting a Pink Power Luncheon on Oct. 14, from from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Washington. This year’s Pink Power event will feature Kelly Swanson, a motivational speaker, comedian, award-winning storyteller and the author of “Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale?”. Each participant will enjoy a healthy meal and receive a Pink Power kit. The event is free, but registration is required and space is limited. Register by calling 1-800-472-8500 or visiting www.vidanthealth.com/pinkpower.

Free screenings:

Several physician practices in Beaufort County will be hosting free breast cancer screenings during the month of October. The screening is a clinical breast exam offered in a private setting by a physician or medical provider. Representatives from the Beaufort County Health department will be on hand with information about the breast and cervical cancer control program (BCCCP) and staff from Eastern Radiologists will be at the screenings to schedule mammograms if necessary. The dates, times and locations of the screenings are:

 

Oct. 14 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Vidant Family Medicine-Belhaven

245 Allen St. | Belhaven

 

Oct. 18 | 9 a.m. to noon

Vidant Women’s Care-Washington

1204 Brown St. | Washington

 

Oct. 25 | 9 a.m. to noon

Vidant Family Medicine-Aurora

151 Third St. | Aurora

 

To make an appointment for a screening call 1-800-472-8500 or visit www.vidanthealth.com/events.