Area women offered a chance to win a health makeover

Submitted by
TBBHC

ABC has the “Extreme Makeover”, NBC has the “Biggest Loser” and now women in Northwestern Ontario will be offered their chance to have a makeover. The “Women’s Health Makeover” will include a visit with a massage therapist, a consultation with a dietitian or nutritionist, a consultation with a personal trainer or fitness consultant and a hair and cosmetic makeover.
The makeover is being offered as part of the promotion of a special women’s publication, titled ‘reNeW Northwest’, being produced by the Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition. The magazine-style publication will not be available until the fall, but now is the time to get women in the area involved.
“The idea of a makeover is something that many women dream about. They know they want to make some changes, but they need a little help to jump start that process,” says Rhonda Usenik, Public Health Nurse, Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “reNeW is not just about changing things on the outside. It is about looking good, feeling good and improving your health from the inside out. This fits with the features of the makeover we are offering. In addition to our contest winner, we expect that all the women who read reNeW will be able to jump start their own inside-out makeover.”
Made possible through funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) - Ontario Chapter, this 24 page full-colour magazine-style publication will include articles about nutrition, fitness, emotional well-being, breast health, and cancer prevention. The focus will be on issues important to women in Northwestern Ontario and will feature women from across the region. To encourage Northwestern Ontario women to participate in providing photo content, the group is running the makeover contest. Women can enter by providing their photo and a story of why the makeover is needed.
Regional women interested in entering the health makeover contest can pick up entry forms at health units across the region or online at www.BreastHealthNW.ca. The winner will be featured in the publication. The contest is open to all women aged 18 and up from Marathon to the Manitoba border.
The Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition promotes breast health awareness and the sharing of accurate, appropriate breast health/breast cancer information among all women and health care providers in the region. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian women, accounting for an estimated 30% of all cancer cases. One in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer at some point during her lifetime.
Formed in 1993, the Coalition represents a broad spectrum of services including health promotion, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and support. Coalition membership includes: Thunder Bay Breast Cancer Support Group, The Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Breast Screening Program, Pic River First Nation Health Centre, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, TBRHSC Regional Cancer Care, Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services, and Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Partnership.
The publication is made possible with funding from the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) - Community Health Promotion Grant. The Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition has been previously funded by CBCF to develop the highly successful website www.BreastSelfExam.ca and companion pamphlet, ‘How to Check Your Own Breasts for Health’.

Women’s Breast Health Magazine
Project Overview

The Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition will produce a magazine-style breast health publication for women in Northwestern Ontario. Content will focus on primary prevention to reduce breast cancer risk. The magazine-style publication will be readable, attractive and entertaining with content of interest to women in the region. The goal of this project is to educate women about breast health and increase awareness of the importance of the early detection of breast cancer in an innovative manner.

A feature article for the magazine will be a “Women’s Health Makeover”. Women from the region will be invited to enter a contest to receive a makeover which will be included in the magazine. In keeping with the overall messages of the magazine, the makeover is not just about changing the outside appearance. It is about looking good, feeling good and improving one’s health from the inside out. The makeover will include a visit with a massage therapist, a consultation with a dietitian, a consultation with a personal trainer or fitness consultant and a hair and cosmetic makeover.

In order to give the magazine a uniquely northern look, photos of northern women and photos from the region will complement the magazine. Women in the region will be encouraged to submit their photos for inclusion in the magazine.

Twenty-five thousand copies of the magazine will be distributed throughout Northwestern Ontario in health care venues, hair salons, libraries, etc. tThe magazine will also be posted on the Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition website, www.BreastHealthNW.ca.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Ontario women, both in the general population and in First Nation female population, accounting for an estimated 30% of all cancer cases. One in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer at some point during her lifetime. The incidence of breast cancer in our region is increasing with Kenora District having the highest incidence at 21.9%, Thunder Bay District at 14.2% and Rainy River at 10.8%.

The Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition works collaboratively with other groups to address breast health and breast cancer issues Representing a number of member agencies, Coalition members have worked collaboratively with the premise that this approach allows its’ member agencies to accomplish projects that any one agency could not. The Coalition carries out innovative projects of value to the women of Northwestern Ontario and strives to produce meaningful and practical resources which fulfill this mission.
Coalition member agencies include: Thunder Bay Breast Cancer Support Group, The Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Breast Screening Program, Pic River First Nation Health Centre, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, TBRHSC Regional Cancer Care, Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services, and Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Partnership.

The magazine’s publication is made possible with funding from the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) - Community Health Promotion Grant. The Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition has been previously funded by CBCF - Ontario Chapter to develop the highly successful website, www.BreastSelfExam.ca and companion pamphlet, ‘How to Check Your Own Breasts for Health’.

For more information contact:

Kathy Thompson
Project Coordinator
Ph: 807-683-6990
E-mail: KathyThompson@tbaytel.net

Profile of Breast Health Coalition Members

Thunder Bay & District Breast Cancer Support Group has functioned as a support network with a membership of 90 women during the past ten years. Via monthly meetings and a monthly newsletter information is provided to our membership. On a local level we participate in all breast health issues. We are also allied with provincial and national breast cancer initiatives and research projects.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers, whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. Thanks to our volunteers and staff, and the generosity of our donor, the Canadian Cancer Society is leading the way in the fight against cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society funds research on all types of cancer; offers comprehensive and credible information on cancer, treatment and risk reduction; provides support for people living with cancer, family members and friends.

Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Partnership (OBCIEP) is a coalition of organizations working together to improve access to information and support for women and their families affected by breast cancer. OBCIEP’s strategic direction is set by a Coalition of Stakeholders consisting of 36 cancer and breast cancer organizations across Ontario and over 70 Corresponding Members who are grassroots and breast cancer survivor-directed groups.

Ontario Breast Screening Program has a mobile van which offers clinical breast examinations and mammography to women age 50 and over. It serves the Northwestern region from the Manitoba border east to Chapleau and Wawa. This is a free service to which women can refer themselves. Diagnostic mammography services are also provided to other women upon referral from their family physicians. This program is overseen by the Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre and is part of the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

Pic River First Nation Health Centre
The Pic River First Nation Health Program focuses on health promotion and prevention strategies to assist community members to achieve holistic health and well-being. The Health Programs consist of Community Health Nursing, Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Home & Community Care, Medical Transportation, Non-Insured Health Benefits and Aboriginal Head Start. The Pic River Health Program became a member of the Thunder Bay Breast Health Coalition in 2004.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit is a non-profit agency funded by the municipal and provincial governments. They promote health through prevention. Programs and services to meet public health goals are delivered. Breast health falls under the cancers in the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines (Dec. ‘97). The main office is in Thunder Bay, branch offices in Geraldton, Manitouwadge, Marathon, Nipigon and Schreiber.

TBRHSC Regional Cancer Care is the Cancer Centre for people in Northwestern Ontario. It offers treatment, information and support to women with breast cancer. There is a library of cancer resources. The Department of Supportive Care Services offers both individual and group counseling for patients and their family members. Clinical trials are underway on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services provides timely access to information, compassionate support, facilitator training, and psychosocial education to people with breast cancer, their families and friends, and healthcare professionals across Canada.