Cherokee Women's Health Specialists

Debunking Common Mammogram Myths

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BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC

Most women know that mammograms are a part of getting older. They seem to be one more thing to add to growing annual to-do lists. According to the American Cancer Society, women have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. Knowing the facts and debunking the stigmas around mammograms can save lives.

Myth: I don’t have a family history of breast cancer or any lumps, so I don’t need an annual mammogram. The truth: Unfortunately, more than 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history. Risk for breast cancer increases as you age, so it is recommended for all women to start annual mammograms at age 40. If there is a family history, your doctor will advise you when to begin. Early detection is key. According to the American Cancer Society, early-stage breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of 99%. Later-stage cancer has a survival rate of 27%. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mammograms can detect traces of breast cancer up to three years before it can be felt. Myth: Mammograms give off unsafe levels of radiation. The truth: Mammograms are safe. Getting a mammogram is similar to getting an X-ray; an extremely low level of radiation is used. Also, mammography is highly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, the Mammography Quality and Standards Act and other governing organizations. Myth: Getting a mammogram is painful. The truth: Mammograms are uncomfortable, but they are not painful. The compression involved usually is described as temporary discomfort. These few moments of unpleasantness are worth knowing you are cancer-free, or are catching it early. Myth: Mammograms are inaccurate. The truth: Like most things, mammograms are not 100% accurate, but they are the best tool to catch breast cancer early. Mammograms have about 80% accuracy in detecting cancer, when it is present. Getting regular screenings increases accuracy. Myth: Mammograms are expensive. The truth: Annual screening mammograms are covered by most insurers, because they are classified as preventative care. The CDC also provides resources for low-income, uninsured and underinsured women to receive screenings.

Now that you’re equipped with the facts, don’t hesitate to take your mom, daughter, sister or friend to get a mammogram.

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2 Woodstock Buildings AmongPreservation Winners

Six historic property owners in Cherokee County — including two in Woodstock — were recognized for their outstanding work in historic preservation recently, during the annual Historic Preservation Awards Banquet.

Awards are given by History Cherokee to encourage and educate the community about the benefits of protecting the county’s unique history. Properties are judged by the attention given to preserving historic features and maintaining the integrity of initial design.

The entrance hall of the Grogan house. The 2021 Winners • Bakner Manufacturing Building, Canton

Built circa late-1930s/early-1940s, the two-story structure formerly housed the Cherokee Poultry Chick Hatchery, B&T Feeds and B&L Feed Co. Current owner Matthew Wagner renovated the structure for his own company, Bakner Manufacturing, which produces gloves utilized in poultry processing. Interior features of the structure include the original windows, wood floors and freight elevator. The upper level of the building features a unique barrel vault ceiling, rarely seen in an industrial building of this size.

• Grogan House, Woodstock

Reputedly built by Charles James Grogan around 1917, the wood frame house features a stone foundation and wood porches dating to the 1930s. The interior of the home contains original wide pine-plank flooring, chair rails and a chimney with “penciling” paint still visible. The current owner, Patrick Hurley, purchased the property in 2017, and has added vintage wallpaper over board-and-batten wood walls, and has refurbished an original clawfoot bathtub in one of the bathrooms.

The pine-plank flooring in the Granger building, now the home of Made Mercantile, is one of the original features.

• Granger Building, Woodstock

Built in 1914 as Chandler’s Funeral Service, the Granger building features the original Mesker iron works façade, solid brick walls, pine-plank flooring and upper-level ceiling rafters. The upper level features two different original brick walls, as well as the ghost line of the original staircase. The upper level of the building was utilized as casket storage for Chandler’s, but current owners Les Granger and the Granger family lease the space as a makers market to local vendors and artisans.

• The Mill at Etowah, Canton

Current owners Penn Hodge and Grant Schmeelk’s vision for creating the Mill on Etowah development included retaining as many original features as possible, while adding updated elements, such as an entertainment area and exterior restrooms as a means to attract people to the multipurpose venue. Built in 1900, the structure originally was Canton Cotton Mill #1, which operated until 1981. Today, the brick structure with a smoke stack retains its original sized windows, doorways and custom-made transoms, along with maple flooring, ceiling beams and wood columns.

• Old Sixes Schoolhouse, Sixes Community

Present day owners Steve Rich and Nathan Rich, of Construction Management Services, purchased the property in February. The first project of saving the historic structure included safely stabilizing the building, while maintaining and respecting its historic integrity. The structure was built in 1876, and served as a school for the Sixes community until it closed in 1950. The building features original heart pine flooring, wood walls, ceilings and an arched doorway between the two main rooms. • Wofford-Watkins House, Ball Ground

This house was added to the Cherokee County Historical Society’s Sites Worth Saving list in 2016. Property owners Lee and Brittani Lusk are no strangers to saving history, having rehabilitated multiple properties. The house originally was built circa 1910-1920, and now is in operation as a restaurant, Lora Mae’s. The structure features original shiplap and plaster, heart pine flooring, as well as the original exterior siding, windows and doors.

The Granger building was constructed in 1914.

HELLO

GHOST TOURS SCHOOL FESTIVALS

Canton Historic Haunts

Take a trip back in time through downtown Canton, and learn about its history and haunts on a two-hour guided walking tour that begins and ends at the gazebo. The family-friendly tours can be booked through the fall, and are sure to captivate and surprise you. Visit https://cantonhaunts.com for more information.

Acworth Ghost Tours

Stroll down sidewalks in historic Acworth while listening to your tour guides tell stories based on documented sightings, firsthand experiences, research and history. Tours are every Friday and Saturday evening (weather permitting) in the month of October. Visit www.jimmagus.com or call 770-653-0756 for more information.

Ghosts of Marietta

Join the residents that chose to never leave on a guided tour of a past that is deep in tradition, history and quality of life. Tour guides will excite you with tales of departed spirits and mysterious residents as you walk through Marietta’s historic streets, and, if you’re lucky, you will experience them, as well. Visit www.mariettaghosts.com to book a tour, Fridays through Sundays year-round.

Roswell Ghost Tour

Follow experienced paranormal investigators on a 2.5-hour walking tour, operating year-round. Learn about paranormal phenomena experienced by residents, businesses and tour-goers on a hunt for haunts. View the tour schedule at http://roswellghosttour.com.

Dahlonega Walking Tours

Dive into the rich and fascinating history of Dahlonega with the Historic Ghost Tour, a 1.5-mile guided tour with approximately 15 stops. Or, for ages 21 and older, Grapes and Ghosts Wine Tour takes guests on a .6-mile guided tour. Sample local wines while listening to stories about the town’s history, as well as haunted tales from each shop. Check the calendar for tour dates. www.dahlonegawalkingtours.com/facilities. All events are outdoors. Dates and times are subject to change. Oct. 9

Carmel Elementary, 1-4 p.m. 2275 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock. 770-704-1184.

Oct. 15

Avery Elementary, 6-8 p.m. 6391 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton. 770-704-1343.

Ball Ground Elementary STEM Academy,

6-8 p.m. 321 Valley St., Ball Ground. 770-721-5900.

R.M. Moore Elementary STEM Academy,

6-8 p.m. 1375 Puckett Road, Waleska. 770-704-1212. Free Home Elementary, 6-9 p.m. 12525 Cumming Highway, Canton. 770-721-5960.

Oak Grove Elementary STEAM Academy

Movie Night, 6 p.m. 6118 Woodstock Road No. 1727, Acworth. 770-721-8550.

Oct. 16

Liberty Elementary, 6-8 p.m. 10500 Bells Ferry Road, Canton. 770-704-1300.

Oct. 22

Clark Creek Elementary STEM Academy

Movie Night, 6 p.m. 3219 Hunt Road, Acworth. 770-721-5800.

Oct. 23

Clayton Elementary, 4-6 p.m. 221 Upper Burris Road, Canton. 770-721-5860

Oct. 29

Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy,

6-8 p.m. 1965 Hickory Road, Canton. 770-704-1420. Knox Elementary STEM Academy, 6-8 p.m. 151 Riverbend Way No. 1818, Canton. 770-704-1265.

Oct. 23

The Great Pumpkin Fest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cherokee Veterans Park, will be fun for all ages, with bounce houses and games, craft vendors, food trucks, face painting, a hayride, helicopter rides and more. Bring your own pumpkin to launch from a trebuchet, and don’t forget to wear your costume and trick or treat with the vendors. Contact bbjohnson@ cherokeega.com for more details. Cherokee Presbyterian Church’s festival is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with a hayride, bounce house, free food, and highland games for the kids. 1498 Johnson Brady Rd.

Oct. 27

Hiking Scavenger Hunt: Halloween is at Lewis Park in Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Wear your costumes, and have flashlights ready. Cost is $10 per participant. All ages are welcome; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration ends 5 p.m. Oct. 25. Email cafussell@cherokeega.com.

Oct. 29

Canton Fifth Friday, a Halloween costume block party featuring No Sweat, is 6-9 p.m. in downtown Canton. Shops and restaurants will be open late, and there will be food and beverage vendors along Main Street. www.cantonga.gov. HollowSteam and Fall Festival is set for 4-10 p.m. at the Rock Barn in Canton. There will be pumpkin carving, a costume contest, a haunted maze and more. Visit www.wayneevents.com/ event-details/hollowsteam-fall-festival for tickets.

Oct. 30

Halloween Trail of Tricks and Treats will be 4-9 p.m. at Rubes Creek Trail, across from Fire Station 14 in Woodstock. There will be activities for all ages. Bring flashlights and collect treats from vendors along the 1.4-mile trail. If you’re interested in having a jack-o’-lantern displayed along the trail, view the pumpkin carving contest flyer at https://bit. ly/3DhIRcR. BEATS Gallop and Go 5K begins at 8 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Woodstock. Family-friendly costumes are welcome. Participants can register at active.com. Later, families can visit the barn at Mariposa Farms in Canton (75 Red Gate Trail) for the Fall Family Festival, 2-5 p.m. Kids will be able to trick-or-treat with costumed horses and enjoy games, a bounce house, pumpkin painting and face painting. Event sponsors, companies or families can contact bethany@ beats-inc.org for more information.

Oct. 31

Fall FAM Fest will be at Grow Church Woodstock Campus, 2510 E. Cherokee Drive, 11:15 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the 11:15 a.m. worship service, followed by lunch and the festival. Activities include a costume contest, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, bingo and ax throwing. https://bit.ly/3sN4RHQ.

OUTSIDE CHEROKEE

Through Nov. 1

Pumpkin Fest includes unlimited access to the corn maze, hay ride, petting zoo, pig races and more at Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for ages 2-12. https://pettitcreekfarms.com/pumpkin-fest-2. Oct. 9

Fun Family Fall Festival at Sweet Dreams Farm in Ball Ground features hands-on horse experiences and fall activities, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. To get free tickets visit www.sweet-dreams-farm.org. Oct. 9-10

Marietta Cobb Museum of Art presents Chalktoberfest 2021, a chalk and beer festival on Marietta Square. Free and open to the public, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. https://www.chalktoberfest.com. Oct. 9-10, 16-17

The Georgia Apple Festival is back for its 50th year at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, beginning at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is $5; children 10 and under are free. Visitors can expect more than 300 vendors with handmade items, a parade and an antique car show. www.georgiaapplefestival.org. Oct. 16-17

The Gold Rush Days Festival is held annually in Dahlonega to celebrate the 1828 discovery of gold in the city. More than 200 art and craft exhibitors and vendors will gather around the square and historic district for this two-day festival. https://goldrushdaysfestival.com/gold-rush-days. Weekends in October

Apple Pickin’ Jubilee, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., is at Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay. Pick your own apples, milk a cow (mask required), watch swimming pig races and listen to live bands. Admission is $15. www.hillcrest orchards.net.

10 1. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom, outside of each sleeping area, and on every level of Ways to Fireproof Your Home One thing we love about fall and winter is being warm and the home. Test the alarms at least once a cozy in our homes. However, as month. we transition into colder months, remember that heating equipment 2. Turn off portable heaters before leaving the room or going to bed. is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Oct. 3-9 is Fire 3. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment Prevention Week, and we want (furnaces, fireplaces, stoves or portable to support our first responders by sharing information to keep everyone safe. Here are 10 fire safety space heaters). 4. Keep at least one fire extinguisher on every level of your home. tips to get you through this winter. 5. Only use one heat-producing appliance, such as a coffee maker, toaster or space heater, plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time. 6. Have a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared. 7. When fighting a small fire, such as a grease fire, if you have any doubt, just get out! 8. Stay in the kitchen while using the stove, and keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop. 9. Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn, and always blow them out before leaving the room or going to bed. 10. Never leave a child alone with burning candles. Keep lighters and matches up high and out of a child’s reach, preferably locked in a cabinet.

Did You Know?

The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, mostly involving the stove.

Half of home-heating fires are reported in December, January and February.

Approximately three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

More than one-third of candle fires start in the bedroom.