GCF BULLETIN

Seminar Draws Community Interest

GCF Chairman John L. Lewis, Jr., MD, and SGO President David Gershenson, MD, introduced GCF's first community seminar titled Cancer Prevention for Women: Healthy Lifestyles. The American Cancer Society and American Association of Retired Persons partnered with GCF in this highly successful, first time event.

The seminar, which was attended by more than 40 people from the Phoenix community, was designed for individuals of all ages and focused on cancer prevention and early detection.

Participants learned about screening guidelines, healthy lifestyles and how to access the health care systems. The seminar emphasized the prevention and early detection of breast, lung, colon and gynecologic cancers.

"I have always believed in the importance of motivating women to take charge of their own lives through knowledge about early detection and cancer prevention," said Mardy Sears, Program Director for the American Cancer Society. "The variety of speakers and the opportunity for interaction made it (the seminar) one of the best programs I have ever been to. GCF can count on us again, as sponsors," she commented.

The guest speakers were incredibly informative and dynamic. Audience participation was encouraged and created an environment more like an interactive discussion than a lecture.

Carolyn Runowicz, MD told the audience "I am here to discuss with you what it is that you need, so that you can go out and get it." She provided a list to the attendees, of the three most important things to remember, "You must have mammograms annually after age forty. Breast self-exams are imperative. And, finally, while you cannot control your genes, you can control everything else. Build a healthy lifestyle, starting with fruit and vegetables and exercise daily."

"It is crystal clear-- smoking is addictive," according to Robert Young, MD. "Lung cancer, which is predominately caused by smoking, is the most common cause of pre-mature morbidity in the U.S." Related to colon cancer, he noted that those people most likely to get colon cancer have diets consisting of a lot of red meat and that are high in fat, and low in fiber. Therefore, to guard against colon cancer, red meat intake should be limited, and diets should be low in fat and high in fiber.

According to Beth Karlan, MD, "In the next five years approximately 75,000 women will die from ovarian cancer." She encouraged audience members to actively seek medical care at the earliest symptoms and know their risk factors, as early detection is absolutely crucial.

"Cervical cancer is the most preventable cancer in women," Thomas Rocereto, MD told the women in the audience. He suggested that "If (today) every woman went out and had a pap smear the rate of cervical cancer would increase at first. After about two years most of those cases would be taken care of, and by the third year there would likely be a 95% decrease in cervical cancer."

Explaining that "uterine cancer is the most common cancer in the pelvis," William Creasman, MD stressed the importance of early detection noting that "Approximately 4-5,000 women die each year from uterine cancer, which can be cured with early diagnosis."

After each 20 minute lecture, a question and answer time allowed audience members to learn more about areas of specific interest. The program was concluded with a panel of Arizona experts. The panelists were asked to answer a variety of questions and concerns voiced by the audience members and their colleagues in the room.

This first-time community seminar was a great success. It provided women with an opportunity to gain information and share concerns and ask questions of experts in the field, in a comfortable, interactive environment, designed for learning. GCF will continue to support this type of "free" community seminar.

GCF gratefully acknowledges Centecor, Inc for supporting this seminar.