PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Portsmouth Health Department, in partnership with Sentara Health, hosted a breast cancer awareness rally on Thursday encouraging Portsmouth residents to seek early screening and detection.
"Today is the day that we're having our pink rally," said Avanti-Allen Benson, the population health manager at the Portsmouth Health Department. "So we're trying to get information out about breast cancer, women's health, and health in general in regards to resources that are available."
This pink rally event was highlighted by a survivors' walk, inspired by those who have battled breast cancer and won. It was also an opportunity for attendees to be educated on self exams, while also allowing them to take part in on-site mammograms.
"We really encourage women to go ahead and bite the bullet, make the appointment, get the mammogram done," said Amy Paulson, a leadership team member with Healthy Portsmouth.
"Cancer is about finding it early so it can be treated with a less invasive treatment, and the chances and probabilities [of survival] are really high when finding it in early stages, around 97%," said Keren Tjaras, Community Health Educator for Cancer Services Network at Sentara Health. "Then if you find it later on, it drops down to 35%."
This event was also a celebration of the new Portsmouth Women's Imaging Center, scheduled to open in 2025. Portsmouth has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in Hampton Roads. Once the Imaging Center opens, Portsmouth residents will no longer have to travel to neighboring cities for mammograms and other methods of detection.
"It's huge," said Paulson. "The fact that women have to drive out of the city, and people think it's not that far but it is. Having the built facility means that we'll have so many more opportunities on a bus line for people to be able to get their mammograms done."
"What we want to do is ensure that we're linking the community to the resources that they need," said Allen-Benson.
Paulson says one of the biggest myths is that you should wait to get checked out once you feel a lump, but she said by then you may have waited too long.
More information can be found at the Portsmouth Health Department's Facebook page.