Pink Aroostook, a county-wide breast health program designed for support, advocacy, education and awareness of breast health issues in northern Maine, has been sustained over the past three years through the generous donations and fund-raising efforts of numerous individuals, corporations and groups from throughout Aroostook. The program is currently funded, in part, by a grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation with additional funding from the Jefferson Cary Foundation and the Cary Medical Center Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Bethany Zell, Pink Aroostook coordinator, explains that the Pink Aroostook program addresses educational needs, especially understanding the risk of breast cancer and the importance of screening, breast cancer recovery issues, and the availability of services and financial support in Maine for the people of Aroostook County.
“We help by providing information about breast cancer screening and breast health and wellness to women in Aroostook County, connecting people diagnosed with breast cancer to educational, financial and emotional resources and educating Aroostook county women on lifestyle choices that increase their risk of breast cancer. By distributing literature about breast cancer risk, breast self-awareness, breast exams and mammograms at community events and outreach activities and offering an e-newsletter to the people of northern Maine, we accomplish this goal,” she said.
“We also provide Pink Aroostook ‘Survivor Bags’ to individuals diagnosed with breast cancer,” Zell continued. “The “Survivor Bags” include resource books, items of comfort for treatment, wellness and advocacy items. We facilitate a Breast Cancer Support Group in the Chan Center of Cary Medical Center, the first Thursday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m., and all breast cancer patients and survivors are invited to attend.”
When additional funding is available through Pink Aroostook, there is a limited patient care fund to assist with immediate financial need for people in active treatment to offset the cost of transportation to and from treatments, or other costs associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. Thanks to collaborations with organizations such as the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society and the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, Pink Aroostook is also able to help connect people diagnosed with breast cancer to local and national resources which may be able to provide financial and emotional support.
Pink Aroostook currently has four trained Reach to Recovery volunteers in its support group and Zell is also the Aroostook County coordinator for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program. This program connects newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with breast cancer survivors who are trained as Reach to Recovery volunteers for one-on-one support and encouragement.
The Pink Aroostook program also aims to make more women aware of the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program. Funding from this program makes it possible to offer free mammograms and pap smears for women who qualify with the hope of increasing early detection of breast cancer for women in Maine.
On a national level, through corporate membership with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), Pink Aroostook seeks to help eradicate breast cancer by focusing the administration, U.S. Congress, research institutions and consumer advocates on breast cancer, Zell added. NBCC encourages all those concerned about this disease to become advocates for action and change. The NBCC informs, trains and directs patients and others in effective advocacy efforts.
The Caribou Pink Aroostook Coordinator has been actively involved with the NBCC and annually attends an advocate leadership summit in Washington, D.C. where staff members provide the latest information and research to the advocate leaders in preparation for the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s annual Lobby Day on Capitol Hill where supporters meet with Maine’s congressional leaders to discuss the breast cancer agenda.
For more information about Pink Aroostook or to get involved, please email or call Bethany Zell at: bzell@carymed.org or 207-551-4284.
