The Bamberg County Disabilities and Special Needs Board located on Highway 78 near Denmark held its first National Breast Cancer Awareness Program on Thursday. The speaker for the occasion was Holly Gwaltney, a Family Nurse Practioner (F.N.P) with the Bamberg Family Practice Center. Nurse Gwaltney, told the group of “Consumers” and visiting quest assembled in the John Matthews Center that a diagnosis of breast cancer is “scary at first” but is 95 percent curable if found early. “Don’t let fear paralyze you,” Gwaltney said, adding that Breast Cancer was a topic that she was “passionate about.”

Gwaltney noted that even though more White women develop breast cancer in their lifetime more Black women are likely to die from the disease for reasons like lack of early detection and treatment. She noted that some preventative steps were maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, stop smoking and limiting alcohol consumption. She noted that because of early detection and other measures, the death rate from Cancer has dropped 30 percent. Some of the treatment programs noted was: Chemo Therapy, Hormonal Therapy, Biological Therapy, Radiation and Surgical Treatments. Gwaltney concluded her presentation by stating the good news is that there are more than 2 million survivors of Breast Cancer. “The odds are with you to have a productive and fruitful life,” she said.

Bamberg County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, Executive Director Dr. Gloria M. James told the group: “Go tell it, shout it and sing what you have learned,” Dr. James said in thanking Nurse Gwaltney for her presentation. “We’re glad, we’re keeping our folks informed,” she added. Dr. James noted that the B.C.D.S.N Board has raised $281.00 for Cancer prevention that will be presented to the Pink Foundation of The Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg and Calhoun County.

It was also noted in the program that The Best Chance Network offers ladies 47-67 Breast Cancer, pelvic exams and mammograms screenings and can be contacted at 1-800-227-2345.