Breast Health Program ‘Pink Aroostook’ Helps Cancer Patients

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’d really like to bring as much awareness as I possibly can to the cause. Cancer is a huge problem in the state of Maine. It seems as though someone that I know is diagnosed with the deadly disease almost daily. People in our great state receive often devastating news and wonder where to turn.

Pink Aroostook is a Breast Health Program here in northern Maine. The program is designed for support, advocacy, education and awareness of breast health issues.

Beginning in 2011, the “Pink Aroostook” project was funded through a one-year grant awarded to Cary Medical Center from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.   Bethany Zell, Project Coordinator for the program, says goals have focused on promoting breast health education and connecting women to local and national resources that may be able to assist with transportation, financial and emotional support as they undergo breast cancer treatment.

Establishing a local breast cancer support group here in Aroostook County was a goal of the “Pink Aroostook” project.     The “Pink Aroostook” support group meets the first and third Thursday of every month from 5 – 7 p.m., in the Cary Medical Center Chan Center.  Breast cancer patients and survivors are invited to attend.

Zell said, “We want women in Aroostook County to know that we are here and available if they need us. The ladies in my support group are incredible women, and we’re so excited about being able to provide ‘Reach to Recovery’ support right here at home.”

If you’d like further information about Pink Aroostook and the Breast Cancer Support Group, you can call Pink Aroostook Coordinator, Bethany Zell at 551-4284, or email her at: bzell@carymed.org.