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October 2016 Features 8 Taking it to the Streets 10 Raising awareness on domestic abuse 12 Champion Survivor: Willie Sue Poplar 14 The Black and White Truth 17 Reaching Out: Support Groups 20 Cancer Research Rundown 24 Cancer, Nutrition and Exercise
Departments 4 Editor’s Letter 6 Memfit: Leslie Harrison 7 The Skinny on Healthy Halloween Treats 13 Memfit: Nicole Harrison 22 Memfit: Carolee Carlin 26 Recipe: Sweet and Salty Snack for Fall
photo by Jason R. Terrell
Beating breast cancer 14 Women work together to raise breast cancer awareness and encourage one another to get mammograms and stay healthy.
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HOLLI WEATHERINGTON Good Health Editor
hen I set out to assign stories for this year’s PINK issue, I knew we would be sharing survivor stories and research updates, infographics and resources. As the stories came in and we talked to more and more experts, a common theme recurred — there is a very large disparity between the mortality rates of black women with breast cancer and white women with breast cancer. This year, we wanted to shine a light on that issue and delve into the concerns and efforts of those who are working to shift that paradigm. On our cover we feature Gwendolyn Brown, founder of Carin’ and Sharin’ support group, which provides an educational and compassionate forum for black women to tackle the issues the come with breast cancer, and share their stories. Brown is featured in two of our pieces which highlight the barriers that black communities face in dealing with this disease. Her efforts, along with others that are featured this month, work to not just be present in medical centers, but operate as a consistent presence in areas lacking access to medical screenings. The mortality statistics are alarming here in Memphis, beyond even the worst national statistics, but there is hope. Memphis is home to many grass roots movements aimed at helping black women get into a new habit of regular cancer screening, and with help from the greater medical community, they are making an impact. In this PINK issue, you’ll find additional coverage on the vital research happening here and some of the programs available to all Mid-South women. Share in four different survivor stories from women of varying ages, including one from an amazing soul named Willie Sue Poplar, a 41-year survivor who continues to inspire women with her story and her compassion. October is another awareness month that we chose to spotlight: Domestic Violence Awareness. Hear from experts in the Mid-South on how domestic violence can happen, what signs to look for and resources to get or give help. Let’s also not forget that Halloween will soon be upon and us now that fall is in full swing. We offer some delicious fall treats to hit your sweet and salty tooth, while packing your palate with intense flavor and nutrition. We’d love to hear from you, so email any comments or story ideas you have to my email address, listed in the masthead. As always, follow us on social media. Here’s to a happy autumn, and to good health,
Editor Holli Weatherington holli.weatherington@ commercialappeal.com 901-529-6513 Good Health Memphis magazine is a healthy lifestyle publication from The Commercial Appeal. Good Health is published monthly, with distribution in the newspaper as well as in strategic rack locations. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright 2016.
Contributors Erinn Figg Emily Adams Keplinger Lance Wiedower Designer Jasmine Hunter
Photographers Troy Glasgow Jason R. Terrell, cover art
Niche Executive Editor David Boyd (david.boyd@commercialappeal.com) For information on advertising, contact Amy Mills at 901529-2213 or amy.mills@commercialappeal.com.
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SUPPORTING THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER MC-1259086
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#memfit living
Leslie Harrison 45 Administrative Assistant
SPORT: I walk and work out at the gym regularly. SUPPORT: God. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
WHY I EXERCISE: I have always exercised to enhance my life and increase my life expectancy.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS TYPE OF WORKOUT? I choose to work out at Church Health Wellness because I work at Church Health and they encourage and support staff to take charge of living a healthy lifestyle.
ROLE MODEL: I have a workout partner, Sherri Davis, with whom I exercise with each week at Wellness. We encourage each other by staying active and eating healthier.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: I have worked at Church Health and been a member of Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church for more than 23 years.
FITNESS GOAL: To beat breast cancer. FIT TIP: I would encourage everyone to incorporate some type of movement into their life and make it a lifestyle.
NEXT UP: To live life to the fullest and be the best I can. MY CANCER STORY: In December 2015, I went to have a routine mammogram. After that I was called back in to have a follow-up mammogram and biopsy. I was told if I had not heard from my doctor within a week or so, to call back for my results. On Feb. 12, I called Methodist Diagnostic. The nurse said she was sorry to have to tell me my diagnosis was positive for breast cancer. I was numb, confused and in disbelief, but I knew I could not stay that way. I called my primary physician and told him what I was told. The office gave me a referral to West Cancer Center. The plan was to start with eight treatments of chemo, once every two weeks, under the great care of Dr. Lee Schwartzberg. I was asked by family and friends what could they do. Well, I didn’t need any help,
Photo by Troy Glasgow
so I thought. My cousin, Vanessa Knowles, a 14-year survivor said she would be there when chemo started. She was there with me every step of the way. Vanessa began volunteering at West, and I realized it was great to have support and company each visit. I knew about Carin’ and Sharin’ and the wonderful work they do for cancer patients as a support group through my work at Church Health. I never fathomed I would be a member of the group. Being a member, I am able to learn and take part in wonderful benefits available to cancer patients. On July 25, I had my breast cancer surgery. Next I will have radiation. So I am living with breast cancer. I exercise and try to eat healthy. I believe because of this I am able to endure, and I will conquer this disease.
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The Skinny on Healthy Halloween Treats by Holli Weatherington
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ell, here we are in October 2016, and that means we are gearing up for parties and holiday festivities, the first of which is Halloween. In keeping with good health, and enjoying life to its fullest, we’ve compiled a few healthier treat ideas to make your Halloween just as fun, without all the extra sugar and fat.
CHOCOLATE DIPPED CLEMENTINES
Instead of candy corns or prepackaged candy bars, try these for a sweet fix. You just need a box of clementines, some dark chocolate bars or dark chocolate chips (60-70 percent cocoa, to still have some sweetness) sea salt and crushed nuts, like pistachios or almonds. l Tear open the clementines and separate into wedges. Melt chocolate, then simply dip one half of the clementine wedge into the chocolate and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. l Immediately sprinkle with a few grains of salt (optional) before the chocolate sets, and your other toppings like mixed nuts or sprinkles.
ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS
While you’re carving your Jacko-Lantern, you can be roasting those seeds (instead of chunking them) for a wonderfully healthy snack to enjoy after you create your masterpiece. l Scoop out seeds. Pick out the excess chunks of pumpkin “guts” from the seeds. Use a strainer to rinse off as much excess flesh and pulp as possible. l Place seeds in water and hand swirl and scrub them, then leave for five minutes. Pumpkin seeds should float to top and the rest of pumpkin remnants should fall to
the bottom. Fish out seeds with a slotted spoon; place on paper towels; pat dry. l Set oven on 300 degrees
and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray. l Per half cup of seeds, toss in a bowl with about a teaspoon of olive oil (or any healthy oil you prefer). l Next, add your favorite spices, and be adventurous. Go beyond salt and pepper. Try a variety of spices to make different blends like cayenne and brown sugar, pizza, ranch or cinnamon roll. l Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring two to three times during cooking. You’ll know they’re ready when they begin to brown. Keep an eye on them so they don’t get too dark. Have a happy and healthy Halloween!
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Taking it to the Streets Mammogram screenings available for more women by Emily Adams Keplinger photo by Troy Glasgow
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o increase the likelihood that more women will get a mammogram, Baptist hospital has dedicated a new role for its mobile mammography unit — setting more events in medically underserved areas of Memphis. While Baptist has been offering mammograms via its mobile unit for almost 30 years, including in underserved areas, the hospital will be increasing (or amping up) its presence in some parts of town. Targeted areas are those where lack of insurance, lack of informational resources, higher poverty rates, and a general lack of hope of recovery have been barriers for women to access lifesaving breast health education, as well as annual screening mammograms. “For these very reasons, black women in Memphis are more than twice as likely to die from breast cancer as white women,” said Venecia Harris, the mammography disparity coordinator recently hired by Baptist. “And breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among black women.” Georgetta Carr is one of those women. In 2013, following her third consecutive year of getting mammograms screening from the Baptist mobile mammography unit, she found herself facing “abnormal” results. “I had my first mammogram screening in 2011, just after I started working for Medtronic,” Carr said. “They made it convenient for employees to have a mammogram by
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Shawnna Williams, from left, Venecia Harris and Lyn Sperling operate the Baptist mobile mammography unit, which meets women who are unable to visit Baptist Memorial Hospital for a screening.
arranging for the Baptist mobile unit to be on site every six months.” Carr’s first two mammograms were negative. It was during her third year of screening that a small mass was detected, and she was referred for further testing. Carr and her doctor decided upon an aggressive treatment approach; chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and radiation. She now has a mammogram every six months, just to stay on top of things. In December, she will be a three-year survivor. “My situation serves to highlight the importance of getting annual
mammograms,” Carr said. “The mass found in me was so small that, had it not been for having my first two sets of films for comparison, it might have gone undetected for a while longer.” Carr’s message is simple — get a mammogram. Taking the mobile unit to where people are, rather than waiting on them to come to the hospital for a screening, makes it easier for women to get a mammogram every year. The goal is two-fold, Harris said: to increase survival rates of women
diagnosed with breast cancer, and to give women a primary contact person to help coordinate breast health care. “The mobile mammography unit will be set up in a variety of locations ranging from civic centers, community centers, churches and businesses to the parking lots of grocery stores, to provide area women with a convenient way to get a mammogram,” Harris said. Lyn Sperling has been driving the Baptist mobile mammography unit for 13 years and said the number of new patients using the mo-
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bile unit has increased every year. mograms screenings that we do to “Women really appreciate that perform diagnostic mammograms,” we come to their workplaces and Williams said. “We shoot the same that they didn’t have to miss work,” four pictures — the only difference Sperling said. “The No. 1 is that the diagnostic films are thing I hear women read on the same day by a say as they leave radiologist, and if there CONTACT: their screening are any contraindiThe Baptist mobile appointment is cations additional mammography unit operates that the expe- business hours, generally six days tests are ordered rience was a a week. Appointments are required, on the same day, positive one — and can be made by calling 901-226- too.” fast, easy and 0830. The unit is currently scheduled “We all have convenient.” busy lives; marfor ZIP codes 38106, 38109, 38111, 38115, 38116, 38118, 38127 and Shaw n na riage, children, 38128. For more information, or Williams, a rawork, family acto find a public event near diological techtivities, etc., but you, call 901-226-0830. nician for Baptist we have to have a for over 17 years, balance in our lives — said she knows some and that includes taking of the women she sees on care of our personal health,” the mobile unit would not have Carr said. “And when we are given come to the hospital for the same a ‘nugget,’ like the mobile mamscreening. mography unit, we should take “We use the same equipment advantage of it. I feel like it saved and technique to perform mam- my life.”
Lyn Sperling Baptist Mobile Mammography Unit coordinator/driver l How long have you held this po-
sition? 13 years. Helping and serving people is important to me. This isn’t just a job; it is a valuable service. l Have you seen a difference in
women’s perceptions about getting a mammogram? There are still a lot of people who are fearful about getting a mammogram. However, over the years our service has grown, so I think the education we are doing is helping women understand the importance of getting a mammogram. l How do you think the mobile
unit raises the overall collective health of women in our community? There isn’t a day that I go on the mobile that someone doesn’t say to me, “I’m glad you came, because I don’t know if I would get this done if you didn’t.” We make it convenient
for women who are working to get this done without even leaving work. Even though they have insurance, they don’t always take the time needed to come to our center. l What is the biggest impact you
see? The lives saved because of the mobile. Early detection is the key to survival of breast cancer. I don’t have the statistics, but I know there have been a lot of cancers found on our unit. They could have been one of those who said “I wouldn’t get it done if you hadn’t come.” That is what gives me the strength to keep on doing this even when I think I want to quit. l What advice would you give to women in regard to mammograms? More than 95 percent survive breast cancer if it is detected early.
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Raising awareness on domestic abuse
ph di WHERE TO GET HELP: th tiv YWCA of Greater Memphis: or Through the YWCA Domestic Sa Violence Crisis Hotline, Cl advocates are available to assist ab clients with emergency shelter, wh crisis counseling, domestic violence prevention information, or Ma safety planning and social service referrals. YWCA 24-Hour ca
by Erinn Figg
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lthough every October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the issue affects lives here every day, all year and often with deadly consequences. Last year, Tennessee ranked sixth in the nation for the number of women killed by men, with more than 60 percent of those deaths being domestic violencerelated, according to an annual report from the Violence Policy Center, a national education organization. Additionally, more than 400 people were arrested for domestic violence in Shelby County each month, and one in four women and one in nine men were victims of domestic abuse. However, domestic violence statistics are hard to pin down because many cases go unreported. For each reported domestic violence case, there is at least one unreported case. “This is everywhere. It’s not just a certain zip code or a certain age group or an ethnic group. There is no one definer at all,” said Deborah Clubb, executive director of Memphis Area Women’s Council. “It’s happening in every congregation, in every temple, in every zip code, every profession. And we just don’t see it counted in all of the public crime numbers because it’s not put there by everybody.” Clubb coordinates the Memphis Says NO MORE campaign, an offshoot of the national NO MORE campaign aimed at raising awareness and changing behaviors around sexual assault and domestic violence. The campaign website — memphissaysnomore.
ge to ho sto
Crisis Hotline: 901-725-4277; memphisywca.org
ar ou Family Safety Center: be Places the core services of 10 ba of its 31 partner agencies in one th place, allowing the center to an navigate Memphis and Shelby County families who are caught de po up in the trauma of domestic Od violence through the many l
“If you don’t love yourself, you will allow other people to mistreat you.” - Marquiepta Odom, YWCA Greater Memphis com — includes printable palm cards with resource information, a map of local resources, public service announcements from celebrities and local community leaders and a pledge to join the movement. Domestic violence has no simple solution, and Clubb says we need to look at it from a number of angles, including holding more men accountable. “Nothing we’re doing is going to stop these guys until there’s some kind of enormous community demand that we won’t tolerate it.
The criminal justice system can’t do it. No number of campaigns by themselves are going to do it. Men of good character have got to really pitch in here. They know the guys doing this stuff, and they’ve got to make it stop,” Clubb said. “Women have been trying for 30 or 40 years and we’ve come a long way. We’ve at least got some services for those who have been hurt, some ways to help people escape it, but in terms of making men stop, which is really where the focus needs to be, all this attention on ‘Why didn’t she leave?’ and ‘What can we do to help her
services available to them. Family Safety Center’s 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 901-222-4400, familysafetycenter.org
th Th or l pa Exchange Club Family Center: inc Works to break the cycle of en family violence and child abuse. du At the Family Center, children wh can find a safe haven and
parents can learn new behaviors that enable them to take better care of their children. Exchange Club 24-Hour Hotline: 901-2762200, exchangeclub.net l
Memphis Says NO MORE: Hear empowering messages, access local resources and find tools to help others. Visit memphissaysnomore.com.
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get out of there?’ needs to change to ‘Why is he beating on her and how are we going to get him to stop?’” At the YWCA Greater Memphis, associate executive program director Marquiepta Odom battles the issue from the other perspective, partnering with other key organizations such as the Family Safety Center and The Exchange Club Family Center to keep abused women and children safe, whether in the YWCA shelter or through various resources. Many of the victims, however, are caught up in a cycle, Odom said. “One of the things we often see are people who come back to our shelter two, three, four times because they have either gone back to that original partner or they come across someone new and end up being abused again, despite the counseling and support groups we provide for them,” Odom said. “Most of the time, finances are the reason some of them go back. They may not have finished school or they don’t have a job, so their partner was their sole source of income. So they’ll go back and endure whatever they were enduring just to be able to continue whatever lifestyle they had.”
The YWCA has a social worker on-site to help abused victims develop plans to overcome obstacles such as employment, mental health and housing. With help from the Family Safety Center, victims also can receive an order of protection, which allows law enforcement to arrest the abuser without a warrant. But often the journey out of abuse begins inside, Odom said. “For so many ladies who come through our shelter, they’ve been called ugly, you’re too this, you’re too that, you’re too dark, you’re too light, your hair’s too short, you’ll never be anything — and those women allow these things to define them. And then those beliefs translate to ‘I’m helpless, I know I can never do better and everything I did is what I deserve.’ I was once that person,” said Odom, a survivor of domestic abuse herself. “If you don’t love yourself, you will allow other people to mistreat you. We have group leaders who come in and talk with people, help them understand how valuable they are. There’s greatness in each and every one of us and we have to tap in and find those gifts and those talents and nurture those things.”
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS EVENTS: l Oct. 20: “Violence at Home. Victims at Work. Employers Confront Do-
mestic Violence” conference at Baptist Memphis Education and Conference Center, 6027 Walnut Grove Road; 8 a.m. to noon; registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and lunch included. Organized by Memphis Area Women’s Council and hosted by Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. Fee $50. Register at memphiswomen.org. l Oct. 27: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. Men in high heels will walk alongside
women and families in support of victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information and to register and see the 2016 route, visit memphiswomen.org. Source: Memphis Area Women’s Council
SIGNS OF ABUSE:
You may be a victim of domestic abuse if your partner displays any of the following behaviors: l l l l l l l l l l l
Hurts you physically Belittles or humiliates you, alone or in front of others Threatens to seriously harm you Threatens or harms your children or pets Isolates you from family or friends Tells you he/she can’t live without you Acts jealous or possessive Constantly checks on your whereabouts Forces you to have sex Breaks things or throws things at you Blames his/her harmful actions on you
For a more complete list, visit familysafetycenter.org/domestic-violence
Local “No More” campaign seen on buses and billboards in town.
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Champion Survivor: Willie Sue Poplar Sharing her story, helping others share theirs by Holli Weatherington photo by Jason R. Terrell
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illie Sue Poplar is no stranger to facing health challenges, yet she faces them with grace, humility and gratitude for a life well lived. Poplar, 78, is from Grand Junction, Tennessee. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 41 years ago, in October 1975. She may not remember the day, but she’ll never forget the month. “I found a lump and went to the doctor right away,” she said. “I was really blessed. I didn’t have to do any kind of treatments.” Poplar has a family history of cancer. Her parents, grandparents and even great grandparents had some form of cancer. Even though it was 1975 when she found her lump, and many of her peers and even some family members advised her to simply ignore it or gave ideas on what they thought it could be, she took matters into her own hands. “My mother had cancer and I was going to get it checked out,” Poplar said. Fortunately, it was a localized tumor. “I told the doctors that if I had cancer, I wanted the breast removed. It was the size of the marble. I didn’t know about a lumpectomy. A lot of the stuff they do now, they didn’t do back then. I was hoping it wouldn’t come back.” And … it didn’t. That experience shaped Poplar, who made sure to instill a value in her two children for healthly living and going for regular cancer screenings.
Willie Sue Poplar is a 41-year breast cancer survivor. She loves to color, macrame and Bible study.
Poplar joined the Carin’ and Sharin’ support group shortly after it was formed in 1989, and has been a member ever since. “I go because [the group] has a lot to offer, even if I can’t remember a lot of the stuff,” she said with a giggle. “My favorite thing is seeing the people and knowing how everybody is doing. We keep a sick list and I call some of them on the phone, just to talk to them and see how they are feeling and ask if they need anything.” Her biggest passion is being there for others. Since she moved
to Memphis a few years ago, she has made instant friends with a 91-year-old woman who goes to her church. “One day I carried her home and she got hooked,” Poplar said. “She says I’m her best friend. We go to church and Bible study together, and breakfast.” “I think it’s a gift from God, what I do. I love people and I love to help people and be there for them,” she said. “I don’t keep it to myself. I put everybody else in front. I always let them know that the Lord is there.”
For Poplar, every day is a gift and she feels blessed to be alive. She said it’s very important for people to be open and honest with themselves about their health, and if they’re having a hard time, they should talk to others. “In the black community, people don’t discuss these kinds of things,” she said. “I believe in talking about things and getting out in the open. I feel better. I don’t like to keep it bottled up. More women need to get tested and be more open with themselves. Talk about it. Do something about it.”
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#memfit positivity
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Nicole Harrison 27 Work Comp Coordinator
SPORT: Chasing around my toddler SUPPORT: My daughter, Lexi, and my husband, Mike. WHY I EXERCISE: To stay in shape and to help myself heal and get back to normal activities.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS TYPE OF WORKOUT? Because I am raising a toddler, I include exercises that my daughter, Lexi, can do with me, such as walking in the park and dance sessions in my living room.
ROLE MODEL: Kimberly McGee Raley (she lost her battle to cancer in December 2015). Kim was such a strong and loving person. I hope to at least become half of the woman that she was.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: I beat breast cancer! FITNESS GOAL: Be able to lift my daughter without any pain.
FIT TIP: If you are like me and have a hectic life, exercise in the comfort of your own home.
NEXT UP: Watching my daughter grow up and start kindergarten next year.
MY CANCER STORY: I did a self-breast exam and found a lump in my left breast in December 2014. I had a mammogram done and then a biopsy a week later. The next day, my results were back and it was breast cancer. I was terrified and cried all day with my family. My only thought was, “Why me and why now?” I had a fiancé and a 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter who needed me — I could not lose my life now. After meeting with my surgeon and oncologist, chemo started. I was triple negative and my cancer was very aggressive so we had to start treatment immediately. I completed 16 rounds of chemo and four surgeries over the next year. I was genetically tested for the gene and my results were positive for the BRCA1. With this knowledge, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction in July 2015, a full hysterectomy in August 2015 and had my final reconstruction
Photo by Troy Glasgow
surgery in November 2015. I was given the clear in August that I was officially in remission. I was ecstatic! I could not have beaten this without the support system that I had. Staying positive was a big part of my recovery, and without that — my family, friends and everyone at the West Cancer Center — I do not think I could have done it. Now I am happily married, and my daughter Lexi just turned 4 years old. I am happy and living my life as I should be at 27 years old.
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The Black and White Truth
Tackling breast cancer mortality rates
by Erinn Figg
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n Memphis, black women are dying of breast cancer at an alarming rate — so alarming, in fact, that this deadly aspect of our city is a key focal point for national studies and a crucial issue for the local medical community. In 2014, the Sinai Urban Health Institute in Chicago and the Avon Foundation for Women published the latest updates in their ongoing breast cancer research, which analyzes racial disparity in breast cancer mortality trends within the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. According to this research, on a nationwide scale, black women with breast cancer are 40 percent more likely than white women to die with the disease. However, in Memphis, that statistic is 111 percent, surpassing cities like Los Angeles, where the disparity is 70 percent. To put it more simply, AfricanAmerican women in Memphis are twice as likely to die of breast cancer than Caucasian women. And because disparity rates differ so much among various cities, we can’t blame the problem on biological differences between races. So why the extreme racial gap in breast cancer survival? Experts point to a number of possible factors, including economic barriers, a cultural distrust of the medical establishment, late-stage detection and a lack of accurate information, among others. To get to the real heart of the matter however, it helps to ask the people in the trenches, working tirelessly to save lives and find solu-
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tho wa ro th tio sm th no PHOTO BY JASON R. TERRELL law Gwendolyn Brown in the Sandy Patterson WINGS Resource Library at West Cancer Center. Located co on the third floor, the library provides a place of comfort, reflection and support for patients and carequ givers at the new West Cancer Center location. ab Education and Support Services the me (UHESS) ha Brown, an oncology social an worker, founded her Carin’ and Sharin’ Breast Cancer Education ab and Support Group in 1989, long be-yo fore all the racial disparity studies an made national headlines. A visionen ary in that respect, she saw the many issues surrounding the rising ke - Gwendolyn Brown breast cancer mortality rate among fro underserved, inner-city African- ing statistics: tions. American women in the Mid-South. of Meet just a few of the many Her group was the first such group me people who are utilizing grassroots l Gwendolyn Brown, founder of for this population in Tennessee no efforts, innovative approaches, pas- Carin’ and Sharin’ Breast Cancer and has grown from an initial four off Education and Support Group; sion and purpose to make signifiwomen to about 70, depending on fam hu cant changes in our racial disparity founder and CEO of Urban Health the time of year.
“The people who really need to go and take these tests are not going to come to us. We need to use any way we can to go out there and find them.”
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The first hearing device that revolves around you.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY WEST CANCER CENTER
Zaquishia “Keesha� Green, left, helps participants at a Sister Pact event. Green works as a coordinator at West Cancer Center and a breast cancer awareness advocate.
“When I formed this group, I thought there’s got to be a different way than just putting people in a room and letting them talk. The thing that was missing was education,� she said. “These women are smart women, but a lot of basic things about this disease, they do not know. So I’ve brought doctors, RELL lawyers, police officers, anyone you d could possibly imagine in to answer equestions. Questions like ‘What about the chemotherapy — what’s the difference between treatments?’ ‘Why does one woman have to get her breast removed and the other does not?’ Questions about insurance, disability benefits, be-you name it, I’ve had people in to s answer them.� - Brown said that in her experience, fear is a primary factor in ng keeping African-American women ng from getting breast cancer screenings or seeking treatment — fear th. of how they’ll pay for resulting p medical expenses if they’re diagnosed, how they’ll find time to take r off work, how they’ll care for their families, whether they’ll lose a husband or significant other if they
have to lose a breast. To that point, Brown strives to make her group entertaining and fun, often giving away prizes and making sure there’s lots of laughter. She hopes word-of-mouth and encouragement from friends will draw in new members who may be at risk. “There are women out there that are so scared they will not make a move,� Brown said. “Those are the ones that are not necessarily going to use free mammograms and those types of services. The people who really need to go and take these tests are not going to come to us. We need to use any way we can to go out there and find them.� l Zaquishia “Keesha� Green,
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community outcome and relations coordinator at West Cancer Center Like Brown, Green is a breast cancer awareness advocate who’s out in the community, actively trying to break down barriers and empower women to take control of their own health. West Cancer Center partners with Methodist Le Bonheur
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Healthcare’s Congregational Health Network, a collaboration among Methodist hospitals, Mid-South congregations and community health organizations, with the ultimate goal of improving patient experiences through relationships within their faith communities. Green works with community case workers, or “navigators,” along with liaisons at area churches to build bridges and educate the congregations on health services available to them. “Because of that partnership, we’re able to be in a number of churches within the city and surrounding areas, providing access to the screening services that we have,” Green said. “Screening and diagnostic services are provided by Susan G. Komen. There have also been grant funds provided by Cigna and Avon to address the disparity in our city.” Green also hosts educational seminars throughout the community to help dispel common breast cancer myths (“If they find breast cancer and they do surgery, will that make it spread all over my body?” “Will I get breast cancer if I stand too close to the microwave?”). At those seminars, attendees can fill out an intake form and walk away that day with a screening appointment and even transportation assistance if necessary. Building trust is key to her success in these efforts, Green said, and the grassroots partnerships help her establish it. “They need the information, but trust is a barrier,” she said. “They need to know that we’re trustworthy, we’re there for them, we’re not here just for our own agenda and motives and we’re not Thanksgiving/Christmas people that are here just once a year. We’re very present in the community and we’re not going anywhere.”
A FEW STATISTICS: African-American women in Memphis are twice as likely to die of breast cancer than Caucasian women. l
In 2016, an estimated 30,700 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among African-American women. l
Nationwide, an estimated 6,300 deaths from breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2016. l
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African-American women. l
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ISAAC SINGLETON PHOTOGRAPHY
Veronyca Washington is a project director at Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium, which is a collective of organizations committed to fighting breast cancer. l Veronyca Washington,
project director, Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium Washington oversees the newly- formed Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium (MBCC), a 31-member collective of organizations committed to the fight against Shelby County breast cancer inequalities and funded by biotech company Genentech and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. This year, MBCC re-launched a revamped version of its Sister Pact initiative, a community education program that encourages women to make a pact with a friend to get a mammogram screening, another barrier to overcoming racial disparities in Memphis breast cancer mortalities. “Some of the barriers include a lack of conversation about and prioritization of breast health in African-American communities, a lack of hope once diagnosed, fi-
nancial concerns and no accountability to get mammograms,” Washington said. “So the Sister Pact campaign really speaks to accountability and then helping women navigate that system if they are diagnosed, whether it be knowing the financial assistance programs that are available to finding support groups that are out there.” The redesigned Sister Pact website includes a complete list of those resources, including a map so users can find assistance closest to their homes. Transportation assistance also is available. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
• Carin’ and Sharin’ — carinsharin. org or call the HotPinkLine at 901-4849624 • West Cancer Center — westcancercenter.org • Sister Pact — sisterpact.com or call 844-SIS-PACT (844-747-7228)
In the U.S., breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among African-American women, surpassed only by lung cancer. l
From 2005-2011, the overall five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer in African American women was 80 percent, compared to 91 percent for white women. This difference can be attributed to both later-stage at diagnosis and poorer stagespecific survival among AfricanAmerican women. l
Later-stage diagnoses in African-American women have been largely attributed to less frequent and longer intervals between mammograms, and lack of timely follow-up of suspicious results. l
Starting at age 40, talk to your health care provider about the breast cancer screening plan that’s best for you. Source: American Cancer Society
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Reaching Out: Support Groups Finding social outlets for cancer survivors by Erinn Figg
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urvivor Allee Webb’s breast cancer story began in 2014 with a barrage of tests, accompanied by extreme frustration and exhaustion. “I was really sick with all different kinds of symptoms, and we had a hard time pinpointing what was going on,” said Webb,
a technical recruiter at Austin Allen Professional Recruiting. “There were days when I just couldn’t hold my head up at work.” A 3-D mammogram finally revealed the source of her problems — a small lump on her chest wall. A lumpectomy proved it to be Stage 1 triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC),
an aggressive form of the cancer that’s less likely to be found on a regular mammogram. “I was just stunned. I looked at the doctor and said, ‘Are you talking to me?’” Webb said. “The very next thing out of my mouth was ‘What can I do with this?’ If I have to have cancer, then it’s going to be for something. I’m going to make something positive out
of this.” She began treatment, and she also began attending the Women With Wings support group at West Cancer Center. The group meets at several of the facility’s locations and is open to all women who have been touched by cancer. “We hold one another up, we lift each other up, we love on
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each other, we hold each other accountable: Did you go to your appointment? Are you eating what you’re supposed to be eating?” Webb said. “That group has really given me empowerment and a drive to go out there and reach people that don’t know about support groups, that might not have anyone to talk to, that really don’t know how to put words about it together yet.” After finishing chemo and radiation in mid-2015, Webb was diagnosed as cancer-free. Then in May, the cancer was back, only this time at Stage 2 and 10 times larger. This time, before starting chemotherapy, Webb asked her hairstylist to shave her hair into a mohawk and dye it pink. “I needed to warrior up, and I needed to be bold, and I needed to do something that was going to make me positive, so every day when I looked in the mirror, I could say, ‘I’m going to fight this. I’m going to win,’” she said. “But I also did it so I could talk about my cancer to anybody and everybody who would listen, and believe me there were a lot of questions.” Strangers who normally wouldn’t approach Webb would ask her about her haircut, which would then start a dialogue about cancer. “I was able to give my testimony and witness to them about being strong or just be there to listen to their own stories, all because of a silly haircut. The support group empowered me to have that voice,” she said. Gwendolyn Brown, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Urban Health Education and Support Services Foundation, started her group, Carin’ and Sharin’, in 1989. It was the first support group in the state for socioeconomically disadvantaged African-American women in the Memphis area. “I started it from zero. I would
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“I needed to warrior up, and I needed to be bold, and I needed to do something that was going to make me positive, so every day when I looked in the mirror, I could say, ‘I’m going to fight this. I’m going to win.’” - Allee Webb, cancer survivor get a little money here and a little money there and ask grocery stores for donations so I could have a little bit of food for these women when they met. That’s how I got the ladies to want to come,” said Brown, who has a background in social work and has worked with cancer patients in a number of capacities. Brown said the culture is different: many African-American women don’t want to talk about their cancer. “They’d say, ‘Group?
Really? No. I’m not going to go and sit down and hear somebody talk about what happened to them or tell them about that kind of stuff.’ Black women didn’t want to be sitting and talking about that.’” Ultimately though, her group grew from a few women who often got their chemotherapy treatments together to dozens of women who started attending for the camaraderie and, most important, the support.
“We have ladies in the group who will pick up somebody else in the group that needs to go to the doctor. We’ve got other people in the group that when somebody’s in the hospital, they’re going to go to the hospital and check on them, they’re going to call them,” Brown said. Humor is her chosen form of breast cancer education, sometimes through skits her team members perform. It creates word-of-mouth, she said, which in
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turn attracts more members. “We’ll get new women in there and everything they’ve feared is going to be mentioned, but it will be in a funny way,” she said. “You want to get their attention and let them know that there are options. You want to let them know that not everybody is going to have breast cancer when they go in for that test. You want to let them know that it’s easier to find it when it’s a little teeny thing in there and you don’t always have to lose your breast. Things like that, they don’t know.” Webb agrees that, despite some of cancer’s harsh realities, a support group isn’t a “woe is me” session. “I think going to the support group and sharing with other women and hearing their stories helps you understand that, yeah, things are different, but it doesn’t have to be horrific,” said Webb,
who just finished her second round of chemotherapy treatments, followed by a bilateral mastectomy last month. “After we get through the bad feelings from the treatments, life will go on — and we can make it a positive, energetic life. It’s just a different norm now.”
REACH TO RECOVERY
Support groups aren’t for everyone. That’s why the American Cancer Society also offers its Reach to Recovery program, which pairs a newlydiagnosed breast cancer patient with a local, trained volunteer breast cancer survivor, who will meet with a new patient in person, by phone or even via email to offer support, answer questions or just listen. “I think it’s encouraging for people who are going through it to have that opportunity to talk to people who have also been through it and survived,” said Claire Barnett, a Memphis breast cancer survivor and a Reach to Recovery volunteer since 2003. Barnett also participated in the program when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Barnett said the ACS tries to match partners based on age, gender and types of cancer treatments to allow for a stronger connection. The relationship can consist of just one or two meetings or something more frequent. For more information or to be paired with a Reach to Recovery partner, visit cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: • West Cancer Center Support Groups: Visit westcancercenter.org/newpatients/support-services/supportgroups for a list of the center’s various support groups. • Carin’ and Sharin’: Visit carinsharin. org or call the group’s HotPinkLine at 901-484-9624 for times and locations of group meetings. • The American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is available 24 hours to answer cancer-related questions, including directing patients to support groups and clinical trials in their area. Visit cancer.org/myacs/midsouth/ or call 1-800-227-2345 .
MAKING STRIDES
For those who wish to offer support to breast cancer patients and survivors, the American Cancer Society’s 16th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be Oct. 23, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. There is no cost to register and parking is free. Anyone can start a team, join a team or walk as an individual. For more information, visit makingstrides.acsevents.org or call 901729-3586.
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Cancer Research Rundown
Improvements made in triple negative breast cancer and genomic testing
by Erinn Figg
T
hanks to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, West Cancer Center, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and other leading medical facilities throughout Memphis and the world, new developments in breast cancer research are in the works as we speak. Here are a few of them: l New approaches to treating triple-negative breast cancer Dr. Zhaohui “Sunny” Wu at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is working on modulating the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-KB), a protein complex, to enhance the efficacy of traditional cancer treatments in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. NF-KB plays a key role in regulating the body’s immune response and activating it when it’s stimulated by stressors. However, to this effect, when it’s stimulated by a stressor such as chemotherapy, NF-KB may actually react by defending the cancer cells from that treatment in patients with TNBC. “If this protein is defending the cancer cell from being killed by the treatment, then we need to find out why and to suppress its function,” Wu said. “This way, the cancer cell may be more sensitive to the treatment we’ve developed and it will also prevent the future growth of the cancer.” The study focuses on TNBC because that form of breast cancer doesn’t have the three typical
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receptors (estrogen, progesterone and HER2) that traditional treatment methods target. So initially, TNBC responds to treatment such as chemotherapy, but then develops resistance, causing the cancer to metastasize aggressively. Researchers want to know why. About 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancers in the United States are TNBC, but studies show it occurs more often in African-American women (among which the rate is about 40 percent). Memphis has a population that allows Wu to eventually work hand-in-hand with local oncologists once his studies move out of the lab and
into patient trials. His work is being funded by the American Cancer Society. “They’ve funded a major part of our breast cancer research, especially as we study how the TNBC metastasis is regulated, with hopes to develop a new treatment for this type of cancer,” Wu said. “We believe what we are studying will also have a broader impact on other types of cancer treatments as well.” l TNBC bench-to-bedside
translational research Dr. Gregory Vidal, a medical oncologist and physician scientist at West Cancer Center, and Dr. Gustavo Miranda-Carboni, a
researcher at UTHSC, are also working on solutions for treating TNBC. However, they’re researching a specific biomarker that may cause one of the six subtypes of TNBC. A deeper understanding of this biomarker can lead to more targeted therapies that can “block” the signaling pathway (this one is called Wnt) that drives the spread of that subtype. What’s a signaling pathway? I Googled it for all of us. Think of a road made of proteins that passes signals into a cell. What’s a biomarker? I Googled that, too. A biomarker is a measurable indicator of a particular biological state or condition. Did any of that help?
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To sum it up, all of these doctors, and may others, are doing important, complicated and intense work in their efforts to save lives.) A key highlight of Vidal’s and Miranda-Carboni’s work is the meeting of two great minds in laboratory work and clinical work. This type of collaboration between the two doctors, known as bench-to-bedside, leads to more effective research, Vidal said, as it bridges the gap between the laboratory and the clinic. “Think of me as the clinical part of that collaboration and he [Miranda-Carboni] is the laboratory part,” Vidal said. “So I see patients, I identify the problem, I get blood and tissue from those patients, we take it to the lab, he does the lab work, we write grants together, and then eventually when the therapy is going to go back into the clinic to be tested, we’ll go to my clinic and
with tumors that test negative for the HER2 receptor, the most common form of breast cancer, and found that nearly half of women with Stage 1 or Stage 2 breast cancer tumors who would traditionally receive chemo can avoid it. It evoked mixed responses in medical experts, although most seemed optimistic.
we’ll test patients.” l Genomic testing breakthrough In August, The New England Journal of Medicine published a new study, “Increasing Precision in Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer,” indicating that genomic testing can identify breast cancer patients who can skip chemo-
therapy. The genomic test supposedly can measure the gene activity in tumors, specifically the genes that control the growth and spread of cancer, and can identify patients with a low risk of recurrence and, as such, little need for chemo. The study examined women
Gregory Vidal, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Oncologist and Physician Scientist at West Cancer Center, 7945 Wolf River Blvd., Memphis, TN 38138, 901-683-0055 Zhaohui “Sunny” Wu, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology at UT Health Science Center, 19 S. Manassas, Memphis, TN, 38103, 901-448-2612
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#memfit fun first
Carolee Carlin 48 IT Project Manager
SPORT: Yoga SUPPORT: My sweet husband, Stewart, amazing kids Will (18) and Cat (16), and the fantastic yoga instructors at Pike Yoga.
WHY I EXERCISE: I practice yoga primarily to stay healthy. Yoga is also great for stress relief, it improves my sleep and is helping me retain bone density.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS TYPE OF WORKOUT? I love that yoga relies on both flexibility and strength. Also, the focus on breath and remaining in the moment support my emotional health as well as physical.
ROLE MODEL: Pat McRee, a local author/artist and breast cancer survivor. She inspires me in so many ways. She gave up her career to become a full-time resource to those touched by cancer. She embraces laughter as a healing aid, encourages strong women to accept help and teaches that the fear of taking a chance can be far less painful than the chronic ache of not having tried.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: I am the co-creator of Rock the Ribbon Memphis, a dance-party fundraiser. To date, Rock the Ribbon Memphis has raised over $250,000 for cancer support and research.
FITNESS GOAL: The eight-angle
Photo by Stewart Holmes
pose. I’ve got quite a way to go, but I hope to get there someday.
FAVORITE GEAR: Not surprisingly, my favorite pieces of equipment are my Jade Yoga mats.
FIT TIP: Find activities that you enjoy. There are too many choices, and life’s too short to force yourself into a fitness plan that doesn’t bring you joy.
NEXT UP: Race for the Cure on Oct. 29. I’m not a runner, but I can jog/walk a mean 5K.
MY CANCER STORY: Just after turning 40, I found a lump during a self-
exam. I was diagnosed with Stage 1, triple-positive breast cancer. Although my cancer was found early I was given an aggressive protocol due to the type of tumor, and I underwent 16 months of treatment, which included surgery, chemo, radiation and more chemo. Early on in my journey, a friend told me, “Cancer comes with blessings,” and that has been the case for me. With a new appreciation that time and energy are precious commodities, my priorities have changed for the better. I used to be a “finish the housework before family fun” type of gal, but that is no longer the case.
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Cancer, Nutrition and Exercise
Lifestyle habits can affect cancer occurrence, prevention
by Lance Wiedower
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xercise and good nutrition habits not only are important parts of a healthy lifestyle, but also play a vital role in prevention and the treatment of cancers. The biggest cancer risk factors that can be prevented, for Americans who do not smoke, is body weight, diet and physical activity. The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that about 20 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. are related to body fatness, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition, according to a study from the American Cancer Society. All of these factors typically are within the control of an individual, which means they are preventable conditions. By preventing these unhealthy conditions, it could ultimately help to prevent cancer. Obesity is an enemy of health, and of fighting cancer. Obese people have greater chances of a cancer diagnosis. Even for patients who have been diagnosed, weight reduction is important in the fight as well as prevention of recurrence. Not all cancers are preventable. Genetics and life choices sometimes make certain cancers unavoidable. But proper exercise and nutrition can go a long way in preventing disease processes from even starting. And for people who have been diagnosed, good nutrition and exercise are vital during treatment to bring value to the fight. Anita Vincent is a registered dietitian with a specialty certi-
fication in oncology nutrition. She has been at West Cancer Center for 17 years, where she sees cancer patients at all treatment stages. And no matter the stage, the conversation always points to how to reduce the risks of cancer. “One of the things that a diagnosis of cancer brings is the tendency to pay attention to what they’re doing,” she said. “Some people are interested in making positive changes in their diet. From my patients’ perspective they want to know what should I eat now.” Food-wise, much of the evidence points to the benefits of a plant-based diet while reducing meat intake. Plant-based does not necessarily mean vegetarian, but it is a diet focused upon vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and minimizes or eliminates meat, dairy and eggs and completely eliminates refined sugars, flours, oils and processed foods. Vincent recommends keeping red meat intake to a minimum — about 18 ounces per week. To clarify, being vegetarian does not ensure success. Vincent has had vegetarian cancer patients who she said were some of the least healthy people she’s worked with. Fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and antioxidants that fight cancer, but a diet high in sugar, refined flours and dairy is useless for the body, whether someone has cancer or not. “Bad food brings nothing to the table,” Vincent said. “That’s the biggest problem. I tell people to
look at your plate and what will nourish your body and help you fight this. Sometimes I tell people they might have to put a side of broccoli with their hot dog.” Cancer survivors do have risks of a recurrence, but there are ways to remain cancer free. Exercise is part of the strategy to maintain a healthy weight, but it also strengthens the body, making it less difficult to deal with fatigue that comes from radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The American Cancer Society recommends that once someone is diagnosed with cancer that he or she continue daily activities. If stopped, it’s important to resume as soon as possible. A mix of aerobic and strength training is important. “I try hard to make patients make changes they can stick with,” Vincent said. “I have people add more of the good stuff, leave out some of the bad stuff and get moving more. A little bit of exercise and a little bit of eating the good stuff is an important step.”
A FEW STATISTICS: Seventy-one percent of Americans are obese or overweight. Being overweight or obese likely raises a person’s risk of getting at least 13 types of cancer. l
Fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen, high levels of which have been associated with the risk of breast, endometrial, and some other cancers. l
Obese people often have increased levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in their blood (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance), which may promote the development of certain tumors. l
Obese people often have chronic low-level, or “subacute,” inflammation, which has been associated with increased cancer risk. Source: American Cancer Society
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What should cancer survivors know about hearing loss?
Ask Our Doctors: October is Breast Cancer Month,
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a time for great celebration, inspiration, and support for the many people who have survived cancer, along with their families, friends, and communities, to support those who are still in the fight, and remember those who did not win. It is also a day to promote awareness of the ongoing challenges that cancer survivors face, as well as a time to provide resources so they can continue to enjoy fulfilling lives. If you have experienced cancer and cancer treatment, we encourage you to come by and take our free baseline hearing exam to help determine if you need a comprehensive hearing test by a hearing healthcare professional.
“Certain chemotherapy medications and radiation therapy treatments for certain cancers may damage healthy cochlear hair cells found in the inner ear and result in hearing loss.”
Fortunately, the vast majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. And research shows that people with hearing loss who use hearing aids enjoy a better overall quality of life and are more likely to be optimistic and feel engaged in life.
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Sweet and Salty Snack for Fall SWEET POTATO CHIPS WITH OLIVE TAPENADE Makes 40-50 appetizers
and spray two large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. l Thinly slice sweet potatoes and
Ingredients: l 2 medium sweet potatoes, unpeeled l 1/4 cup olive oil, divided l 1 cup pitted black olives l 3 scallions l 1/4 cup oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes, drained (4-6 pieces) l Nonstick cooking spray l kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
lay out pieces in a single layer on the sheets. Using a silicone brush, coat each slice of sweet potato with olive oil (you’ll use about 1 tablespoon).
Directions: l Preheat oven to 400 degrees
l To prepare the tapenade, place
l Season with salt and pep-
per and bake for 10-12 minutes per side or until golden (keep an eye on them to prevent burning). Remove from oven and set aside to cool. olives, scallions, sun-dried toma-
toes and remaining oil in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and pulse until well combined, but still slightly chunky. l Top each piece of sweet potato
with tapenade and serve. Tip — use a hand-held mandoline to make easy, even slices. Read more at blog.foodnetwork. com/healthyeats Dana Angelo White in 5-Ingredient Recipes
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