Epsilon Mu Omega Chapter P.O. Box 1352 Youngstown, Ohio Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. From the Basileus. Annie Constant

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1 EMO VINELINE VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 OCTOBER, 2011 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. From the Basileus UPCOMING Meetings EXECUTIVE MEETING Friday, November 4, 2011 Denny s on Belmont 6:30pm CHAPTER MEETING Saturday November 12, 2011 Youngstown Public Library Newport Library 3730 Market St 10:30am Hostess Soror Dorothy Davis Inside this issue: EMO info/ Calen- 2 Birthdays 3 Go-Green 4 Think Pink 5 The Doctor Says... 6/7 Testimonies 8 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Greeting Sorors, I am sure that all of us will appreciate this issue of the newsletter. My sister went in last year for her yearly mammogram and a small lump was found and it was cancer. She is fine now but it gave the family a scare. It is very important that we have our yearly mammogram and to do your monthly self exam. Cluster is over and I want to thank all of EMO sorors for your hard work. Sorors please think about becoming an officer in EMO. We will have several positions opening up for the next election. Sorors please try to attend chapter meetings. If you can't attend it is in the By-Laws that you notify the hostess or call me. It is October and time to start thinking about paying our yearly dues. I will discuss this more at the next meeting. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and this great weather. Your Basileus, Annie Constant Breast Cancer table 9 Ribbon 10

2 EMO Vineline Official Newsletter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Epsilon Mu Omega Chapter P.O. Box 1352 Youngstown, Ohio Annie Constant, Basileus Phone: (330) (Home) (330) (Cell) Website: Epsilon Mu Omega s Calendar October 1 Chapter Meeting 8 Cluster (Yo., OH) AKA Bus Trip November 4 Executive Meeting 12 Chapter Meeting December 2 Executive Meeting 10 Chapter Meeting

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4 PAGE 4 EMO VINELINE Go-Green with a Splash of Pink Sorors are encouraged to visit the following links to learn what is happening on the local, regional and national level Sorors can also register and order documents on the Regional and National websites

5 T he Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one of cancer death in Hispanic women and the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/ Alaska Native women. While hearing the alarming news that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, fear comes into play; however, some suggest these tips to get you through the difficult time. 1. Keep a good attitude and remember that cancer is not a death sentence. 2. Talk with your physician. Ask questions and take notes during appointments. Find out everything you can about the kind of cancer you have and the treatment options for it. 3. Have a friend or family member accompany you to appoints to provide support. They may ask questions you might not think of. 4. Keep a sense of humor throughout treatment. Remember there will be good days and bad days. 5. Pray, pray, pray. Prayer works! As Black women, we are less likely to discuss the subject or get examined by physicians (according to Mary Bencivenga of Penn State Univ. College of Medicine). Black women should be mindful that: 1. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S. 2. Every women is at risk for breast cancer. 3. Between 1989 to 1993, breast cancer death rates declined 6% for white women, but there has not been a similar decrease for black women. 4. Black women with breast cancer are more than twice as likely to die from the disease than white women because they are diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease. 5. Only 66% of black women survive their breast cancer five years (80% for white). 6. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES! 1. Breast Cancer Awareness SOURCES: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention The Witness Project

6 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 PAGE 6 The Doctor Says Do you know someone with breast cancer or have you ever been diagnosed with this disease yourself? The rate of breast cancer is increasing and strikes up to 12% of women in the United States. In fact, the rate of breast cancer has dramatically increased in women before the age of 50 by 30% over the last thirty years. Thirty to forty of every 100,000 women in the United States will die of breast cancer. So I bet anyone you ask definitely knows of someone who has the diagnosis or who has died from the disease. The rate of breast cancer is affected by many factors including environment, diet, lifestyle and genetics. It is interesting that if women from other countries with a lower incidence of breast cancer move to the United States, their breast cancer risk increases. Wow. There definitely is something in the air or drinking water as they say. This fact supports the research that 80% of breast cancers are caused more by environmental factors than your genes. Breast self-examinations and mammograms are important screening mechanisms for breast cancer but PREVENTION is even more important. Your best defense is to take control of your health and thus your LIFE by reducing your risk factors. How can you reduce your risk and prevent Breast Cancer? 1. Decrease Alcohol Consumption 2. Improve Your Diet 3. Add Anti-oxidants and Vitamins to your Diet 4. Increase Physical Activity 5. Lose or Control Your Weight 6. Breast Feeding better than Bottle Feeding 7. Consider Discontinuing Hormone Therapy (eg. Birth Control) 8. Avoid Environmental Pollution 9. Decrease of Control your Stress Levels 10. Know your Family History

7 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 PAGE 7 So what should you be doing NOW? First, review the above preventions and put them into ACTION. It doesn t help you if you don t act on this knowledge. Next, make sure you are performing your monthly breast self-examinations. It s not only important to check your breasts regularly, but to become familiar with them. Some women have fibrocystic breasts, like myself. So feeling some lumps or denseness is normal. You have to become familiar with YOU your own breasts and know what is normal and what is not. Remember, do not do breast self-exams while you are on your menstrual cycle because this is the time when your breasts are naturally more tender and may feel different. And of course, get a screening mammogram starting at the age of 40 and even earlier if you have a strong family history of breast cancer. My mother-in-law is undergoing treatment for a recently diagnosed breast cancer and she encouraged me to get my first one. I must admit, it was a bit scary, but I did last week. I am happy to say my mammogram was normal. In summary, PREVENTION is key and Screening supports that ACTION. Improve or eliminate your risk factors. Become best friends with your breasts and feel them regularly (including under your arms). If you feel an unusual or new lump, make a doctor s appointment ASAP. Support the fight to end Breast Cancer and the women you know who are fighting the battle! Dr. Tonia Farmer

8 In August of 2005 I went for my yearly visit with Dr. Huang, my gynecologist, he found a small lump in my right breast. He sent me to St. Elizabeth Hospital for a mammogram. It was a small lump and could not be biopsied. It had to be removed to be tested Dr. Smith. He scheduled the surgery for the last part of October. This was also the year that we hosted cluster and I did a very short presentation on breast cancer awareness at our October 8, 2005 cluster at YSU. At the end of that presentation I explained the need for all Sorors to do self-breast exam monthly and to see your doctor yearly for a breast exam. It was because of these two procedures that my small lump was found. I was lucky my lump was very small and that it was not cancer. SORORS PLEASE take the time to do monthly self-breast exams and a yearly doctor breast exam because the sooner you find it the better your chance of survival. Love, Dorothy December, 2010 Soror Deanna Yarboro had her annual mammogram and the results were negative; however, 3 months later as she was performing a self examination she felt a lump on the base of her breast. It was determined that the lump had to be removed surgically to be tested. Once removed, the test confirmed that the lump was malignant; however, it was only contained to that lump and the doctor was able to remove the entire lump. Therefore, Soror Deanna only had to undergo radiation and not chemotherapy. As a diabetic for over 40 years, a stroke victim, heart issues, and removal of her right leg below the knee, Soror Deanna has kept high spirits and has a positive outlook on life. SORORS, PLEASE take the time do monthly self examinations as well as eat and live healthy.

9 Epsilon Mu Omega Chapter P.O. Box 1352 Youngstown, Ohio Epsilon Mu Omega and Delta Delta Chapters Breast Cancer Awareness Table October 28, 2011

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