Breast Cancer Awareness Patch Program
Program Age Levels: Cadette (Grades 6-8); Senior (Grades 9-10); Ambassadors (Grades 11-12); Adults (Beyond grade 12).
Purpose: To equip Girl Scouts with information about breast health and breast cancer and enable them to share learned information with at least three women in their lives.
Next scheduled session: See schedule below
Each session is limited to a maximum of 15 participants and must have a minimum of 7 participants. Additional sessions may be added if demand is very high.
Requirements: Complete each of the first five activities and select one additional activity from those listed.
About this Program
The Aspirus Women’s Health Breast Center, in collaboration with the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center, offers area Girl Scouts the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge about breast cancer risks, detection, treatment, and healthy lifestyles.
How to Participate
To inquire about specific program components, please call the Aspirus Women’s Health Outreach Coordinator at 715.847.2192. You may also simply register for an upcoming session by calling the Aspirus Information Center at 715.847.2380 or toll free at 800.847.4707.
The program contains activities that will be completed both as groups and individually. The group session is described in Program Activity No. 1 below, which is a required first step.
Each attendee will receive an informational letter upon registration and a full participation kit when attending the Breast Center session.
Each participant will be charged a program fee of $7. Fees may be paid through the Aspirus Information Center with a credit card at the time of registration or the evening of the event by a check made payable to Aspirus Women’s Health.
Program Dates
|
Day Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday |
Date Jan. 26, 2010 March 16, 2010 May 4, 2010 Sept. 28, 2010 |
Start Time 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. |
End Time 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. |
Program Activities
You must complete all six components of the program to earn your Breast Cancer Awareness patch. All scouts will complete the first five activities while working toward this patch. The final component is a free choice activity you will elect from the list.
1. Tour the Aspirus Women’s Health Breast Center
Here you will meet with Center staff and a breast cancer survivor, who will help you learn about mammography and its importance in detection. You will see the equipment, learn how mammography works, learn about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and learn the steps for breast self-examination by watching a video and using our model prostheses. Complete Section I in your “I Am Aware” learning pack. This activity must be completed first.
2. Learn the risk factors for breast cancer
Explore the role of family history and lifestyle influences. Complete a resources search to uncover statistics about women and breast cancer. Complete Section II in the “I Am Aware” learning pack.
3. Complete a family medical history
This is for the Scout’s information only and is not shared with the troop or Leader. Investigate your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents health. Look for connections between similar diseases or conditions. Ask about any history of cancers, particularly breast. Research healthy habits that may help you avoid identified health issues. Complete Section III in the “I Am Aware” learning pack and seal in the provided envelope, if you wish.
4. Learn about the best ways to help someone who is diagnosed with cancer
Read through the provided resources and talk to physicians, counselors, survivors, and others to develop a plan for how you would help someone you know who is touched by cancer. Additional resources may include the Internet, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and other cancer service organizations. Complete Section IV in your “I Am Aware” learning pack.
5. Share your knowledge
Select at least three important women in your life and education them with your new knowledge. Distribute the information kits provided in your learning pack to each woman and talk about your discoveries. Be creative – host a “pink” party for your special women (have pink punch, pink cookies or cake, wear pink accessories), meet over pink ice cream or shakes, wrap their packet in pink and deliver it as a gift from you to them – have fun! Complete section V in your “I Am Aware” learning pack.
Choose one of the following free-choice activities to complete your patch requirements:
1. Design and create two “I Am Aware” beaded bracelets, one to keep and one to give to a woman who is important in your life
If you choose this option, your bead kit will be given to you when you come for your Breast Center tour. Take a picture of your creations and paste it in Section VI of your “I Am Aware” learning pack. Give your gift bracelet to your selected woman along with the card provided. Bracelets serve as reminders to both of you to keep your commitments to breast health and cancer awareness.
2. Design and create two mastectomy comfort pillows
If you choose this option, your pillow kit will be given to you when you come for your Breast Center tour.
These pillows are used to provide comfort for the ride home following a patient’s mastectomy. You will also include a handcrafted note of support stating, “Made for you in care by (your first name), Girl Scout Troop (fill in your troop number)”. Take a picture of your creations and paste them in Section VI of your “I Am Aware” learning pack, then return your pillows to Aspirus Women’s Health.
Call the Aspirus Women's Health Outreach Coordinator at 715.847.2192 to arrange for a drop off date and time. You can feel great knowing that you have helped make a breast cancer patient feel more comfortable and cared for!
3. Write an essay (maximum of 500 words) about what you have learned through your patch journey and how you plan to use that knowledge for yourself and others
Print or make a copy of your essay for Section VI of your “I Am Aware” learning pack. Submit your essay to the AWoH Outreach Coordinator within 30 days of completing exercises 1-5. Each quarter, Aspirus Women’s Health will select a winning essay for publication on our website and display in our reception area!