The Upstate Cancer Center will highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an evening devoted to wellness that will offer the latest information on breast health, cancer screening guidelines and the genetics of breast cancer Wednesday, October 2 from 5 to 8:15 pm at OASIS/HealthLink, 633 Route 298, East Syracuse.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free and light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. To register, call 315-464-8668 or go to www.upstate.edu/VIPink

“This evening is dedicated to providing individuals with information related to healthy lifestyles as well as to address key issues related to breast cancer and breast health,” said Ranjna Sharma, MD, medical director of the Breast Cancer Program at the Upstate Cancer Center. “The focus will be on providing useful every day information and exploring topics central to breast health.”

The evening will feature a wellness fair where Upstate experts and community partners will share the latest information on wellness, cancer prevention, screening and breast health. The fairs runs from 5 to 6 pm.

The event features an opening presentation on “Thrivership utilizing CORE 4 fundamentals of Wellness: Good health care begins with self care.” The talk will focus on how the fundamentals of nutrition, physical activity, stress management and spiritual wellness can help you to become the best version of yourself and thrive. This presentation runs from 6 to 6:25 pm. Presenter is Kaushal Nanavati, MD, FAAFP, ABIHM.

Two breakout sessions, from 6:30 to 6:55 pm and 7 to 7:25 pm, will feature three presentations by physicians with the Breast Cancer Program at the Upstate Cancer Center:

• Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines and How to Understand Your Mammogram Report. This session will review current breast cancer screening guidelines and technology used for detection, as well as information and terminology used in reports, including breast density and BI-RADS assessment. Presenter is Katherine Willer, DO.
• Genetics of Hereditary Breast Cancer. This session will provide a brief up-to-date overview of known cancer genes that predispose to hereditary breast cancers and how to test for them. Presenter: Gloria Morris, MD, PhD.
• Breast Cancer High-Risk Management. This session provides an overview of how breast cancer risk is determined and the options for breast cancer screening and prevention. Presenter is Jane Charlamb, MD.

From 7:30 to 8:15 pm. Upstate experts will participate in a panel discussion and answer audience questions.

About Breast Cancer

• About one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• For women in the US, breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
• ­Mammograms have helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the United States by nearly 40% since 1990.