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Starting the program was Michele Lehrer, health chairperson for the Capitol Area Chapter of Hadassah and the mother of an Avon High student. She brought the free program to the high school for the first time last year after contacting teacher Bonnie Tyler, who has been at the school for 33 years and will be retiring in June. She teaches 11th and 12th Grade health as well as physical education. She said the feedback she received from the students was very positive.
Next, the students heard from Lori Littman, a Rocky Hill resident, a breast cancer survivor, and mother of four. She told the students her story of how a routine mammogram at age 35 detected what the radiologist was 99 percent sure were calcifications. He suggested that she check it out just to be sure.
After removing some tissue to send to the lab, again she was told that there wasn't anything to be concerned about. When the lab results came back and it showed pre-cancer, she was shocked. There was no family history of breast cancer. She had more tissue removed using a procedure called a needle biopsy and a tumor was discovered. It was then that she was told she had breast cancer and that a mastectomy was needed.
Her first thoughts were, "Was I going to die, and how would my children cope without me?" She had her breast removed and required chemotherapy. As her hair started falling out, she decided to have a head shaving party with family and friends. Afterwards, her 3-year -old niece said, "Aunt Lori, you look as good as Michael Jordan."
"If it weren't for my family doctor saying that it wouldn't hurt for me to get a baseline mammogram, I may not have lived to see my 40th birthday," Littman said.
She approached such a hard time in her life with a tremendous attitude and a good sense of humor. She said, "I put myself in God's hands to be there every step of the way."
It took about a year with the surgeries, the treatments and the return of her hair. However, the effects of being a cancer patient still lingered on. Every year when she has a mammogram, she panics.
Littman says she believes she is now "more at peace with the world." She takes the time to enjoy the little things in life and to spend time with people that are important to her.
She said, "I try not to take things for granted, but live each day as it comes."
At age 40, Littman is planning her 5th year anniversary party celebrating being a cancer survivor. Some "perks" of being a breast cancer survivor have been attending a reception for survivors at the White House and meeting President and Mrs. Bush this past June. She has recently been re-elected to the Rocky Hill Board of Education for her fourth term and is vice chairperson of the Republican Town Committee.
Littman is co-chairperson for the Relay for Life, a 24-hour event where teams raise money and celebrate life for cancer survivors. One of the relays this year is being held in Rocky Hill on May 17 and 18. Those wishing more information on participating or organizing a relay in their own town can call Littman at 563-8491.
She also volunteers her time as a Reach to Recovery Volunteer, speaking with recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and sharing her experiences with them.
Next, Paul Fredricks, a testicular cancer survivor and Bethel resident, spoke to the seniors. He told his story of how, at age 28, a doctor discovered a tumor in his testicle and his only symptom was sore nipples. His cancer had spread to his kidneys through the lymph system. He had three months of chemotherapy, for five days straight, three hours a day. The hardest part for him was not being able to hold his newborn child.
Fredricks stressed the importance of early detection being the key to being a very curable cancer. He said, "Had I known to look for it sooner, I may have skipped out on having to have chemo."
The target age for testicular cancer is in between the ages of 18 and 35, even if a man has no family history of cancer. Each year, 8,000 cases of testicular cancer are reported.
Next, Dr. Kristen A. Zarfos spoke. She is an assistant professor with the Department of Surgery at the University of Connecticut Health Center. She has lectured widely in the area for the American Cancer Society and has been featured on TV and radio and testified before a U.S. Congressional Committee.
She told the students that they are the "future generation to face challenges. If you are armed with the tools and facts to take care of yourself, you will be in a better position to go out into the world, go to college and made wise decisions for yourself."
Zarfos showed the students a slide presentation and spoke about the anatomy and physiology of the breast. One in 8 women will develop breast cancer - 2,500 in Connecticut alone.
Risk factors are increased age, family history, personal history, first period before age 12, first birth after age 30 or no children, late menopause (after 50) and obesity. Prevention through diet and exercise is the key.
She told the students to integrate monthly breast self-exams into their daily routine. There is a 99 percent survival rate if the cancer is detected early and is localized. Some preventative steps to take are a yearly mammogram after age 40, yearly clinical breast exams, and self-exams on the last day of your period. If under 40, a monthly self-exam and clinical exam by a health care professional every three years is necessary.
Last to speak was Dr. Scott Matson, resident of the Department of Urology at the University of Connecticut Health Center. He covered testicular cancer and self-exam. He told that there are 5,500 cases yearly and there is a 90 percent survivorship if detected early.
Symptoms may include a lump in the testicle, usually painless. He stressed to the students that, "during this next phase of your life you will be away from your family at college. It is important to take responsibility and take care of yourself. Don't ignore problems and don't wait. Discuss them with your parents and seek out health professionals at your college."
After the general lecture, the female students viewed an informative video in one room about breast self-exams, and the male students watched a video in another room about testicular self-exams. Both videos were very informative and elicited some good questions from the students.
All students received information about cancer and other teen issues to take home and share with their families.
Ashley McLellan, a senior said, "This program was so beneficial and I am so happy they had the assembly because cancer is such a big issue. To have two survivors tell their story gave us a real-life example of - wow, this could be us. When we saw the video of how to do a breast self-exam, I really never know exactly what to do so it helped us learn exactly how to do it. It emphasized the fact that we need to take the time to do a self-exam and some of the signs to look for. I hope more schools will run this program."
One senior boy said, "I never even knew that this type of cancer existed or that it was an issue for me at my age. I never knew how to do a self-exam, but now I know and will do it regularly."
Jonathan Zimmerman, a senior and teacher's assistant for Bonnie Tyler, helps her with self-defense and CPR classes. He also works for Canton Ambulance and as a volunteer police cadet for Avon. As a cadet he can ride with an officer when they go out on a call, sit in dispatch, and answer 911 calls. He wants to go into criminal justice and probably start as a police officer and hopefully go federal when he is old enough. He said that the cancer program, "was excellent and should be continued." Both his grandparents have died from cancer.
Jeff McDermott, a senior who runs cross country and track, said, "I thought it was very informative and it taught us what we needed to know and informed us about things we didn't know." He already knew that testicular cancer was an issue because his mom had breast cancer last year and is a survivor.
Renee Rasmussen, a senior who works at a day care center and loves children said, "I thought the program was informative and will help many people later in life. My grandmother and best friend's mom have both recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope this program will help raise awareness so the cancer can be caught early. It gave me hope to hear a survivor tell her story and I am hopeful my grandmother and friend's mom will both be survivors too."
Facts on breast cancer:
More women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer every year than with any other cancer except skin cancer. This year, 192,000 women will be diagnosed and 40,000 women will die of the disease. Many of these lives could be saved by early diagnosis. Most women who get breast cancer have no family history of the disease or other risk factors. It can occur at any age, but becomes more common as a woman gets older. THE BEST DEFENSE IS EARLY DETECTION.
Facts about testicular cancer:
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in men ages 20 to 35. Yet, because it accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers in men, many people have never heard of this type of cancer. It is of special concern to young men since it can occur anytime after age 15. It is less common in middle-aged and older men. White men are four times more likely to develop it than black men. At greater risk are those whose testicles have not descended into the scrotum and those whose testicles descended after age 6. Testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers, ESPECIALLY IF DETECTED AND TREATED PROMPTLY.
Facts about Hadassah:
With over 375,000 members, Hadassah, is both the largest women's and Zionist membership organization in the United States. Chapters of Hadassah International have been established in thirty countries worldwide. Hadassah supports two hospitals in Israel, vocational training programs, youth villages and camps, and educational programs in the United States and Israel.
For more information, contact Hadassah's Teen and Adult Breast Health Awareness Programs at (212) 303-8094 or the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.
