When: Friday | April 8th @ 7:05pm (doors open @ 6:00pm)

Where: Carlson Center

Since 1985 the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska (BCDC) has delivered potentially life-saving technology and education to communities that would otherwise have little or no access to advanced breast-cancer screening.  Our goals have been to make quality screening more convenient, increase outreach to under-served communities, and to reduce the disparities in care due to access.  In order to continue to meet our goals, BCDC has brought Mobile Digital Technology to Fairbanks!  This new 33 foot Freightliner coach equipped with the latest in digital full-field mammography technology provides the same state-of-the-art mammography offered by BCDC at our clinic, throughout Fairbanks, the City of North Pole, villages along the roadway, and areas accessible through the barge system.

It’s that time of the year again to file Permanent Fund Dividend. We are so blessed to have a PFD program. Last year through the “Pick.Click.Give “ program The Breast Cancer Detection Center (BCDC) received $3950 dollars from folks like you who chose to donate to BCDC to help pay for mammograms for women who otherwise would not have access to them. That total paid for 12 screening exams! Thank You! That was not bad for our first year! We are counting on you again this year to help us provide the gift of Early Detection to these women throughout Alaska.

By giving through Pick.Click.Give you join others to become an important force in bettering our communities and our state.

When you file, search for us by choosing Region: Statewide, or your local Judicial District, then search for Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska. Click and follow the instructions to make a donation. Don’t forget to uncheck the opt-in box so that we can thank you for your gift and credit your community/Region.

Thanks again, and let your loved ones know that our mammography screening services are here in Fairbanks, and our mobile machines go throughout the state of Alaska because of caring Alaskans such as yourself.

Happy Holidays and have a great 2011!

Odette Butler
Executive Director
Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska

The Fairbanks community is used to seeing the health fair in April. So why was Alaska Health Fair Rural Coordinator Phyllis Tugman-Alexander offering one to Thrivalaska staff members in the middle of the winter? According to Tugman-Alexander, “A workplace health fair is an excellent way to encourage an organization’s employees to improve lifestyle choices by getting health screenings.” At Thrivalaska, staff believe in healthy families and thriving children. What better way to show families the importance of good health through health screenings, then by example. When Thrivalaska staff members came to work early Friday morning, they were through the six health screening stations by their bagel and fruit break at 9am and on to the rest of their workday.

Between the reception area on one end of the hallway and the child care classrooms on the other end the stations were manned by 6 professionals and 8 volunteers. Thrivalaska staff could meet with a naturopathic doctor, two registered nurses, one master of public health and two certified phlebotomists to draw blood for later lab testing of cholesterol, anemia, kidney, heart, liver and muscle function, white and red blood cell count, thyroid screen, prostrate screen, vitamin D screen, and Diabetes or glucose screen. A nice bonus was a Mary Kay booth offering hand cream.

Cindy Mace from the Breast Cancer Detection Center drew staff to her table by having them spin a big pink Vegas-style numbered wheel called the “boob trivia” game. While participants played the game, Mace explained the importance of getting mammograms for early detection of breast cancer. Mace pointed out there is more time to do something through early detection then waiting until a lump was felt in their breast.

Mary Westcott, a micro biologist helped with vision testing. She noticed that some of the younger people were wearing outdated prescription glasses, but those over forty were getting regular eye exams. She was able to point out the advantages of eye exams and getting their eye glass prescription changed when needed.

The exit interview was done by Dr. Mary Minor, the naturopathic doctor. Thrivalaska gave her the teacher supply room for privacy and just below the paint jars and coloring paper Dr. Minor sat calmly at the table and walked the staff member through their health status.

Her message was easy to follow, do critical thinking, use good sense and make manageable lifestyle changes. Dr. Minor said, “As health care expenses get higher, health fairs are a good way to get free information that could help guide decisions for health-related issues.”

Thrivalaska has been emphasizing good nutrition in their child care and family programs for over 35 years. A health fair that promotes the importance of a healthy lifestyle is in line with their mission.
Helpful informational handouts could be reviewed with family members at home as well as with the Thrivalaska families in the Head Start Birth to Five, thread, School Age and Summer Food Programs throughout the year.

The health fair was a good start to Thrivalaska staff’s day and as simple as a walk down their hallway. The screenings provided the incentive to make healthy lifestyle changes that would make every day a better day.

Sign-Up

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and the day went as smooth as we could hope for. There was an amazing lineup for the live hat auction with honored guest, Dee Dee Jonrowe kicking things off with a hat she wore during the 2002 Iditarod. The bidding was fierce, and the wool hat ultimately sold for $1000. In a pleasant and unexpected gesture, the winning bidder returned the hat to Dee Dee, leaving the proceeds to benefit BCDC. There were over 100 silent auction items and everyone went home happy with their steal for the day.

As always much effort went into making this the most organized event and we do hope you were pleased. We do have an opportunity for you to give us feedback about the event and if you are a regular attendee I am sure you know by now we do take these very seriously. I believe they have helped improve our event tremendously. I have also had questions like: Can this be an evening event? Can you move to a bigger venue? Can I get tickets two years in advance? I don’t know the answers to all of these questions but I do know we want to know what you think?
Please visit our website at bcdcofalaska.org and give us feedback on the post Gala survey, we really do appreciate it.

Again, thank you. It is only through your help and that of friends like you that the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska can continue to provide our mammography services to this community as well as other communities throughout Alaska. We look forward to your continued support in the future.

This will be the third year that BCDC leads Fairbanks in the Paint the Town Pink Contest. Not only is this event a lot of fun, it helps to bring Breast Cancer Awareness to local customers and it helps to show Fairbanks support for local breast cancer awareness. It is a win- win for all because that it also helps businesses who participate bring in more customers and if they are selling breast cancer inventory IT SELLS! The way the contest works is that businesses adorn their shops with PINK items and things that help get the message out that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in what ever fashion that invokes you to portray it. Some shops focus on supporting our local breast cancer survivors, Some shops sell awareness materials, some just go PINK.  Stores will be judged on several factors to include:

• How it relates to the Paint the town Pink theme.
• Does it support breast cancer survivors?
• Does it raise awareness of breast cancer?
• What is the level of difficulty?
• Does it invoke a feeling of inspiration, warmth, love and support?

To Participate shops and businesses are encouraged decorate their places by October 18, 2010 and call us out for judging. We will be out all month judging and entries must stay up for the entire month.  The winners will take away the winning plaque fromFairbanks Clinic who were our winners last year! Your picture will also be posted on our website as Paint the Town Pink Winners 2010 So come join us in the fun and let us show that Fairbanks

Support.

Think Pink in October!

Pictured here from left to right: Julie Esdale ,Alexa Green, Odette Butler, Siri Slater and Lisa Morrow.

On May 20-23, 2010 The Fairbanks Women’s Hockey Association held their Second Annual Karen Lewandoski Memorial Hockey Tournament. This year, ten teams (over 150 players) participated in the three day co-ed tournament.

Entry fees collected from the registration of the event went towards the cost of having the event and the rest was donated to the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska. In addition, the Officials that refereed the games all three days and the score keepers all donated their fees for service to the cause. BCDC is thankful for the $5000 they donated to help pay for mammograms for women who would not otherwise be able to pay for them. Way to go FWHA!