From left, Macon County Health Department Director Jim Bruckner, Angel Medical CEO Tim Hubbs and cancer survivor Teresa Mallonee held a press conference on Tuesday announcing the new educational program series, Ladies Night Out.

By D. Linsey Wisdom
News Editor

“I am 47 years old, and I am not at high-risk,” said Teresa Mallonee addressing a room full of health professionals on Thursday, July 23. “I am the face of breast cancer.”

Mallonee was speaking at a press conference promoting Ladies Night Out, a collaborative effort between Macon County Public Health Department and Angel Medical Center to educate women on the importance of preventative health screenings.

Thirteen months after her last exam, Mallonee utilized the new digital mammography equipment at Angel Medical Center. It was a routine exam, until her doctor told her he had found something.

Mallonee isn’t alone in her fight. In fact, in Macon County about 40 individuals will face a similar experience each year.

“Cancer doesn’t care what your income is, or whether or not you are insured,” she said.

For her, the cancer was found early, so early it was classified as stage “0” although it had already spread to more than one location.

“If I hadn’t had the digital mammography, had I not done this, it likely would not have been found,” she said.

With early detection, she was given a 98 percent survival rate and was able to seek treatment immediately.

“Someone told me that they have never had a mammogram because they had heard it was just too ‘painful.’ A mammogram isn’t painful; it’s uncomfortable. Being told you have breast cancer is painful,” Mallonee said.

Statistically speaking, according to the North Carolina Cancer registry, 41 residents in Macon County will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the next year. Seven with breast cancer will not survive.

Collectively, in a one year time period, there will be 265 new diagnoses of cancer in the county and 114 residents will lose the battle. Macon County shows a higher incidence of colon cancer diagnosis and mortality rate than both the Western region and the state.

The Macon County Health Department and Angel Medical Center are working together to ensure that number decreases.

“We will always have people diagnosed,” said Jim Bruckner, health department director. “But we really want to see that mortality rate reach zero.”

Early detection is the key, said Bruckner, for breast cancer and many other health issues. To that end, medical professionals are working together to help the underinsured and uninsured get proper preventative care.

Shown above are two images taken with both digital (left) and film mammography. The digital image is much clearer and more detailed, making detection of any abnormality more apparent.

“We know there are lots of reasons people don’t get preventative care and diagnostic care that they need,” said Angel Medical Chief Executive Officer Tim Hubbs.

He said that, too often, people assume it is primarily the unemployed and immigrant population that is underinsured.

“But it’s the self-employed. It’s the full-time employee working at a job where there is no health insurance offered. It is the guy working three parttime jobs to support his family. It’s the person who even has health insurance, but can’t afford the deductible,” Hubbs said.

Organizers of the Ladies Night Out program will focus heavily on breast cancer and may even offer a free mammogram at each of the sessions. However, the programming will have a broader reach than just breast cancer. The programs will follow the National Health Observances monthly focus encompassing healthy diets, flu prevention, heart disease and even men’s health issues.

“Men aren’t as likely as women to go out and seek preventative health care,” Bruckner said. One aim of the program is to give men’s health information to women who can bring the information home to their partners. The program will educate others on the importance of health screenings like cholestoral, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The program has options for expanding in the future to reach into the farther ends of the county like Nantahala and Highlands. But as the program is just starting up and as funding is still being sought, for now, Angel Medical Center will be the only location.

“If we find out there is someone else in the county who has a real need, we would do what we can to reach out to them,” Hubbs said.

Bruckner said he has seen the program in operation in other counties and there may be future opportunity to even provide childcare.

Mammogram screenings are a primary focus because of the North Carolina Cancer Registry statistics. Also, the health department has participated in a state program, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP), that helps fund preventative screenings.

At least three women in Macon County discovered they had cancer through this program and were able to seek early treatment.

Bruckner explained that the program has a set dollar amount that funds the screening. If further diagnostic treatment is needed, an uninsured individual would automatically be eligible for Medicaid, closing that funding gap between screening and diagnostic.

Donyelle Vosi, RTRM is a member of the radiology team at Angel Medical Center who are trained in the administration of the new Hologic digital mammography unit.

Right now, a very nominal fee is paid to the hospital, Bruckner said.

Donations to the program are accepted: $200 funds one free mammogram and $100 will fund program materials for a Ladies Night Out program.

“This is a way we can help,” Hubbs said. “I think this program will make a difference.”

Hubbs said another quality care measure the health department and Angel Medical are seeking is an grant from Duke Endowment that would fund a “nurse navigator.” This position would help individuals who received a negative screening to navigate through the system, identifying the next step in the process.

The Ladies Night Out programs are set to start in October and will take place the fourth Tuesday of each month.

To find out more information, sponsor a screening or a program, contact Jennifer Hollifield at (828) 349-2439.

Upcoming Topics for Ladies Night Out

October 27 – Breast, Cervical Cancer Awareness
November 24 – Influenza Prevention (Flu shots may be available)
December TBA – Healthy Holiday Eating
January 26 – Achieve New Year’s Resolutions
February 23 – Heart Disease Prevention
March 23 – Colorectal Cancer
April 27 – Physical Activity
May 25 – Melanoma/Skin Cancer or Blood Pressure
June 22 – Men’s Health

Cancer facts for Macon County During 2009:

265

Macon County residents will hear, “You have cancer.”

114

Macon County residents will lose their lives to cancer.

Top five Cancer Death Causes of
Macon County Residents 2001-05

1) Lung Cancer, 126
2) Colorectal Cancer, 48
3) Breast Cancer, 33
4) Prostrate Cancer, 28
5) Pancreatic Cancer, 27

To find out more information, sponsor a screening or a program, contact Jennifer Hollifield at (828) 349-2439.