Cancer
from page A6
oping breast cancer, and their risk for
prostate cancer is about three times
that of the average male. In addition,
the risk for other cancers may be
increased slightly.
If a mutation is identified,
what can I do to reduce my
cancer risk?
Knowing that you are at risk for
certain cancers allows you to choose
ways to reduce those cancer risks.
This might include very close medical
surveillance, chemoprevention with
drugs such as Tamoxifen, or prophy
lactic surgery (removal of breast undor
ovaries).
Will insurance cover the
cost of testing?
Most insurance companies now
cover the cost of testing. In some
cases, coverage may be at KM)'/} while
other companies may require a co-pay.
The genetic counselor and the testing
laboratory will work with you to deter
mine your insurance coverage.
Medicare covers l(X)'7r of testing in
patients who meet Medicare guide
lines. Although Medicaid does not
cover testing, certain patients may
qualify for free testing in some cases.
What about genetic discrimina
tion?
When genetic testing first became
available, many people had concerns
about genetic discrimination: however,
there are laws to protect against this,
including H1PAA and other state laws.
These laws typically apply to people
insured in group plans.
What should I do if I decide
to consider testing?
If you are interested in pursuing
genetic testing, or if you would like to
talk with a counselor, ask your doctor
for a referral. Remember, knowing
your family history has important
implications for your own cancer
rusks. Knowing these risks allows
you to take steps to reduce cancer risk.
- Contribution b\ (ndl Hurt. RSK ,
M iEd I PC
Do you need further inforination or
have questions or comments tiwut this
article? Please call toll -free 1-877-530
IS24. Or, for more information thoul
the Maya A ngelou Center for Health
Equity, please visit our >t eh site:
? http:f/\i'Ww .wakehealth eikti M AC HE .
Taylor
from fHifii' A I
community around the topics of
health and education.
Taylor, the founder of the
National Cares Mentoring
Movement, is the spokesperson for
the Feeding Dreams campaign,
which has a goal of honoring 1.000
people across the nation. Radio
Personality Steve Harvey serves as
the initiative's media partner.
Taylor said she's had many invita
tions to serve as a spokesperson in
the past, but she afwavs turned
them down.
"This is the first time I've said
yes to a corporation because I love
what the Feeding Dreams program
stands for." she declared. "It's the
core of what we want in our own
hearts and minds and certainly in
our communities."
Taylor shared a bevy of dismal
statistics regarding African
American health and education and
urged those present to take an
active role in turning those num
bers around through mentoring.
"We're not asking anything
extraordinary of you." Taylor
remarked. "We're asking that you
become a mentor, that's all. Give
one hour a week to encourage a
child and say. 'Baby, you can do
it"'
Dr. Pamela Dock ery-Ho ward, a
faculty member at Winston East
Pediatrics, was honored with the
Dr. Pamela Dockery -Howard
poses with lier husband,
Alvi ii Ho w ard.
Feeding Dreams Outstanding Mom
Recognition during the luncheon.
Dockery-Howafd, a native of
Raeford. was the first in her imme
diate family to graduate from high
school. Though she didn't
encounter an African American
physician until she was in college.
Dockery -How ard reported that she
had dreamed of becoming a doctor
since the age of three, when she
lost her older sister to cancer. The
UNC-Chapel Hill alumna was hon
ored for her dedication to her
patients, her medical students and
her own family.
"I often talk about my patients
as 'my kids.' People think I have
a zillion kids ... and as a mother. I
only want the best for my kids."
she told the audience. "On behalf
Dr. Jacquelyn Jackson
Fleming
of all of the mothers who are giv
ing their lives to their ehildren, 1
humbly accept this award."
SMSi Founding Chair Sandra
Miller Jones said the goal of the
Feeding Dreams luncheons is for
the communities that SMSi visits
during the initiative to continue the
tradition of holding Get Togethers
on their own.
"I'm hoping that in addition to
having the national Get Togethers,
that people will continue to have
dialogue on health and education."
said Miller Jones, one of three
executive partners in the 33 year
old firm. "That's the main thing."
Attendees are also given a vari
ety of sample products, courtesy of
General Mills.
"Our primary business is dis
tributing product samples." Miller
Jones explained, "but we love to do
that in a way that can be of benefit
to the greater community."
Get Together attendees received
information packets on health and
Photos by LayU Farmer
Susan Taylor
( far right)
poses with
L ay fay e 1 1 e
Jones,
Turquoise
Erving, and
Velma Walts.
Seated is
Jones' 91
y e a r ? o I d
mother,
Jimmie Ruth
Jones.
education, authored by Dr. Paul
Cunningham, senior vice chancel
lor for Health Affairs at East
Carolina University's Brody
School of Medicine, and Dr.
Jacquelyn Jackson Fleming, the
former director of the US Office of
Education's Student Achievement
and School Accountability (SASA)
division.
Jackson Fleming, president of
the LifeLearn Associates education
consulting firm, was on hand to
share her insights in person.
Fleming said education indicators
continue to show African American
and Latino students lagging behind
their white counterparts in achieve
ment. and affluent schools outper
forming impoverished ones. She
encouraged those present to search
for innovative solutions to the dis
parities that exist nationwide.
"In order to ensure that we give
each child an opportunity to learn
to their highest potential, we have
to stay the course and be proac
tive," she declared. "As much as
we have done, we have to do more
... we must feed our dreams in
order to make them bigger, better
and brighter."
For more information about the
Feeding Dreams initiative, visit
www.feedingdreams.com . For
more information about the
National Cares Mentoring
Movement. visit
www.caresmentoring.org.
Wachovia is now
Wells Fargo in the Carolinas
Building on the traditions of two historic banks
WELLS
FARGO
Now we iv o-ne team moving K.m w.iui stionget than ever, working with you. This means more bank locations, more ATMs, and more online
capabilities Vow ,ave the same yre.?t customer service youVe come to expect from Wachovia, along with more than 150 years of strength and
stability from Wells i argo. At Wells I argo, we n- with you when you're working toward your financial goals.
Talk with a Wells Fargo banker about what this means for you. Call I-8OO-TO- WELLS (1-800-869-3557),
click wellsfargo.com/wachovia, or visit us today.
Banking ? Investments ? Financial Planning
Business Banking ? Mortgage ? Insurance
Vs>t n*K
NV> tMitfc VhmUMiN'
MA> t4S*? v .l,?
Together we'll go far
' V > v ' ->?' . V . ? ? ? ?