Newspaper Page Text
The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 15
HEALTH NEWS AND FEATURES
Johnson Attended International
Breast Cancer Research Meeting
Mrs. Elaine Johnson, a
breast cancer survivor of 22
years, was once again select
ed by the United States Army
Medical Research and
Material Command to attend
its Department of Defense
Breast Cancer Research
Meeting in Baltimore, MD.
The "Era of Hope" interna
tional meeting convened
June 25-28, 2008, and
included more than 1900 per
sons from throughout the
United States and other
countries around the world.
Johnson has been attending
this all-expense-paid meeting
since 2000 which brings
together scientists, physi
cians, breast cancer sur
vivors, consumers, advocates
and the general public to
share ideas, look at the
progress that has been made,
and identify new directions
in breast cancer research and
its prevention. Among some
of the topics discussed in the
conference workshops were
Genetics and Breast Cancer;
Breast Density and Risk;
Health Disparities; Exploring
Women's Decision-Making
About Breast Cancer
Elaine Johnson
Cancer Survivor
Treatment; Life Style and
Nutrition; and Breast Cancer
in African Women Studies.
Johnson, who has
served as a Consumer
Reviewer in 200 and 2002, is
one of the primary organizers
and a past president of
Sisters Network, Inc.,
Savannah Chapter. Sisters
Network is a Breast Cancer
support organization for
African American women
survivors of the disease.
Johnson also serves as a
"Reach to Recovery
Volunteer" for the American
Cancer Society.
Elaine Johnson is pas
sionate about reaching out
and giving hope and support
to other breast cancer
patients and survivors.
According to Johnson,
"Hope is the torch that leads
us." She reminds us that each
year in the month of October,
Breast Cancer Awareness is
promoted nationwide. "Our
awareness is raised as we
look at the journey of this
disease," she says. She also
wants to spread the word that
"...there is help out there."
Breast Cancer Research is
alive and going strong, and
Mrs. Elaine Johnson wants
others to join her a valiant
fight against a disease that
claims the lives of so many
of our dear loved ones each
year. She is about helping all
of us become educated in the
prevention of Breast Cancer,
but also serving as a Sister of
support.
For further information
about Sisters Network, Inc.,
please contact Mrs. Johnson
through the Memorial Health
University's Curtis/Elizabeth
Anderson Cancer Institute at
912-350-8000.
Chatham County Health Department
Set to Administer Flu Shots
No one likes being sick
and having the flu is one of
the worst kinds of sick. So
how can you protect your
self? Get a flu shot. The
Chatham County Health
Department will begin
administering flu shots on
Wednesday, October 1, and
no appointment is necessary.
“We want to make it as
convenient as possible for
Chatham County residents to
protect themselves from the
flu,” said Cathy Schmid,
Chatham County Health
Department nurse manager.
“Every year, flu kills about
36,000 people in the United
States. It's very important to
get vaccinated to protect
yourself and those around
you.”
Influenza (flu) is a high
ly infectious virus that causes
high fever, muscle aches,
fatigue, and coughing. The
best way to prevent getting
the flu is to get a flu vaccina
tion every year. The flu shot
is especially important for
people who are at high risk
for flu complications, includ
ing :
• Children ages 6 months
to five years
• Pregnant women
• Those 50 and older
• People of any age with
certain chronic medical con
ditions
• People who live in
nursing homes and other
long-term care facilities
• People who live with or
work with those at high risk
for flu complications
See Flu Shots, page 16
An historic Opportunity for the Total Community
THE
2008 Festival Theme: LIVE GREEN Save the
A Friends of Sweet Auburn multi-faceted festival featuring —
free Live Entertainment, a Car & Bike Show, Artist Market, Kids
Fantastic Fun Zone, Live Green Expo, Health & Fitness Fair, the latest
in Business and Technology and Food and merchandise vendors,
For general festival information, sponsorships and vending
opportunities -call Diana Johnson at (912) 927-8425
See our website at www.thcbigshowsavannah.com
Fri - Sun Oct. 31- Nov. 2, 2008
* From Marlin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, and Gwinnett St. north
How to Win Against Cancer
by Carolyn Guilford,
Certified Nutrition
Consultant
Cancerous cells are
constantly being created in
our bodies. It's an ongoing
process that has gone on for
decades. But, the immune
system is designed to seek
out and destroy cancer cells.
Cancer has probably
been around for as long as
mankind, but only in the sec
ond half of the 20th century
has the number of cancer
cases grown to epidemic
numbers. Causing this sud
den increase are the exces
sive amounts of toxins and
pollutants we are exposed to
everyday, high stress
lifestyles, poor quality
foods, pesticides, irradiated
imported foods, and now
more genetically engineered,
Carolyn Guilford
pathogens, electromagnetic
stress, all over tax the
immune system, and dozens
of things that just weren’t
here 100 years ago.
All these weaken the
immune system, and alter the
internal environment in the
body to an environment that
promotes the growth of can
cer.
Cancer is not a mysteri
ous disease that suddenly
attacks out of the blue. It has
definite causes that we can
correct, if the body has
enough time, and if we take
action to change the internal
environment to one that cre
ates health, not illness. We
can attack cancerous cells
and tumors by exploiting
their weaknesses.
Cancer tumors begin
when more cancerous cells
are created than an over
worked, depleted immune
system can destroy.
Constant exposure to
tens of thousands of man
made chemicals from birth
forward, chlorinated and
fluoridated water, electro-
See Cancer, page 16
Rejuvenate Your Spirit by Journeying
East to the Sistah Summit Retreat
Legacy Entertainment
in association with
Dreamwide Inc., will host its
semi-annual women’s retreat,
The Sistah Summit, to re
energize the spirits and minds
of women of color throughout
the nation. On Wednesday,
November 5, attendees will
start their 5-day quest by
spending two days exploring
the historical jewel of
Savannah, GA. In the
“nation’s most beautiful city,”
attendees will recapture the
memories that matter most
while immersing themselves
in an assortment of story
telling, dance and cultural
activities. On Friday,
November 7, attendees will
travel to tranquil Daufuskie
Island, SC for the remaining
three days to unwind and
restore balance.
The Summit’s empow
erment workshops and stimu
lating activities are designed
to encourage and inspire
women to take time for spiri
tual renewal, fellowship and
personal and professional
development. In an intimate
setting, attendees will have an
opportunity to
engage with leaders in busi
ness, health, social activism
and personal topics. Special
sessions will be led by inspi
rational speaker, Rev. Dr.
Renita Weems, motivational
speaker, Iyanla Vanzant and
world-renowned author, Terry
McMillan. These women
warriors will share their per
sonal stories of loss and tri
umph, sorrow and happiness
and beckon busy women to
stop and take time out for
themselves. Plus, Weems will
See Sistah Summit, page 16
Jason Schara, B.F.A., video/film, 2004,“The Longest Night,” short film