Victory in awareness

Mission Hospital Laguna Beach recently hosted a Think Pink Power Luncheon, where it offered a small group of employees from the Montage Resort & Spa a mammogram, breast health education and an opportunity to bond with female co-workers.

The event concluded a series of lunches held throughout February and March to employer groups 40 or older throughout Orange County, as part of the Hospital’s “Think Pink” campaign, which aims to spread awareness about breast cancer.

‘We know that rates of women who get mammograms are declining,” said Colleen Reinhart, director of communications at Mission. “We put together this dynamic approach to [encourage] women to get them through an aggressive campaign.”

Through TV commercials, outdoor ads, live, interactive billboards and luncheons with the theme “Just Do It for Them,” the campaign sought to spread the word about the dangers of women not having breast exams or mammograms, and persuade them to be mindful of their breast health, if not for them, then for the people they love.

Although breast cancer is not exclusive to women, Reinhart said, statistics show that women are often so busy caring for their families that they neglect their own health.

Guests were divided into two groups during the event, one of which had lunch and a breast health seminar while the other had mammograms, and then the groups switched.

A PowerPoint and video presentation taught the women how to conduct a self breast exam, the risk factors of breast cancer, why early detection is important, general breast cancer statistics, and preventative measures they can take to avoid getting the life-threatening disease.

Many of the 55 guests from all of the luncheons combined admitted to not having a mammogram, Reinhart said.

“Just getting these women here was a success in itself,” she said. “What’s greater is that most of these women vowed to spread awareness to their loved ones.”

Laura Aviles, a 40-year-old employee at Montage Resort & Spa, said she was grateful for the event.

“My husband and I have four kids. I wouldn’t want him to take care of our four kids by himself. If I don’t [have mammograms], I would never know. But if I do and something is wrong, I’ll catch it quickly.”

Laguna resident and employee Beverly Farrier said she wants to make her children feel secure knowing that she’s taking care of her health, and to set an example for other women.

“We have tests available to detect early, so take advantage of it,” she said.

She and Jan Brown, a registered nurse who administered the mammograms, agreed that the event was a fun way to learn and have tests.

“This is as close as you can get to making a mammogram fun,” Brown said. “There’s also strength in numbers. Mammograms are an easy thing to put off, but if you can do it together, you’re making it a social experience.”

For information, visit www.doitforthem.org.