Living Life Healthy Women's Forum
Pictured-L to R: Angie Ulsaker, KRH Marketing Director, Bridget Keast, PA-C,
Damon Benson, CEO, Gina Crawford, ARNP and Dr. Rebecca Stough
Kingfisher Regional Hospital hosted a women’s health forum, Saturday, October 25 at the First Baptist Church in Kingfisher. 79 women from across the county attended the forum which featured speakers, Bridget Keast, PA-C, Krablin Medical Clinic, Gina Crawford, ARNP, Okarche Medical Clinic and, Rebecca Stough, MD, clinical director of Breast MRI of Oklahoma. Smith N’ Nokes, a comedy team from Cherokee provided the entertainment, and box lunches were prepared by the KRH dietary department. Several county health representatives were on hand as well with informational booths. “October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this is the perfect time to address women’s health issues to live a healthier life to Kingfisher Regional Hospital’s community,” stated Angie Ulsaker, marketing director for the hospital.
Keast spoke on cervical cancer and the importance of annual pap smears for early detection. Keast said, “the human papilloma virus or HPV is the biggest cause of cervical cancer.” She also said that there are over 250 different types of the virus, but just two of them cause 70% of the cancer.
There are new vaccines that have been developed by a couple of pharmaceutical companies. These vaccines are designed for girls ages 9 – 26. They are typically given in 3 different doses.
Keast advised that you should have annual pap smears beginning within three years of becoming sexually active or if you’re not active by the age of 21. Keast, a breast cancer survivor commented that there have been more than 11,000 diagnosed cases this past year with 3,870 of those resulting in death. Cervical cancer once was one of the most causes of death in women, but due to the fact of early detection, it is now in decline by 75% since 1955.
The forum’s featured speaker, Dr. Stough, clinical director of Breast MRI of Oklahoma, and Mercy Women’s Center spoke on breast care. She also said that breast cancers are also on the decline due to early detection and the decrease of hormonal replacement therapy. She emphasized the necessity of annual mammograms for women over 40 years of age. Stough advised that all of our “home” physicians are experienced and knowledgeable about women’s health issues and can take care of our needs here at home, and if you need to see a specialist, your “home” physician will certainly recommend and assist you in seeing the right specialist for your best care. She also said that KRH is qualified to assist you in maintaining your breast health care with mammograms as well as other diagnostics.
Stough stated, “if we find a cancer when it is one-half inch or smaller, the cure rate is 95%. I’ve seen more advanced cancers this year than in the last 10 years because women are not getting their yearly mammograms. For high risk patients, drugs are available that can reduce their risk by 50%.” She also advised “that patients whose risk of developing breast cancer is evaluated at greater than 20% or if their radiologist has seen something questionable on the x-ray an MRI should be administered.” The MRI is used to diagnose the precise point of cancer or it can be used also to reduce the need for multiple surgeries if there is more than one area in the breast or it can find unexpected cancers in the other breast that the mammogram could not properly diagnose. “This allows the cancers to be removed at the same time.
Gina Crawford, ARNP, from Okarche Medical clinic introduced both Keast and Stough to the podium, as well as entertaining questions from the attendees.
“We were extremely pleased with the response we received. We plan on having this event again next year!” stated Ulsaker.
Smith N'Nokes entertain as "Ma & Miss Lottie".
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Kingfisher Regional Hospital | 1000 Kingfisher Regional Hospital Drive – P.O. Box 59 | Kingfisher, OK 73750 | (405) 375-3141
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