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By Blake Boles 
 
NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (October 21st, 2016) — According to the nonprofit organization BreastCancer.org, “about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.” And ccording to the American Cancer Society, “Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 75. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about 1 in 100.” So the efforts of the VA to educate the populace on the dangers of breast and ovarian cancers with a Breast and Ovarian Cancer Summit are certainly welcome and timely. 
 
The well attended event, held in the North Las Vegas VA Hospital, was led by the VA’s Women Veterans Health Program Manager, Jenni Childers. Booths set up in Auditorium Lobby, which included different displays by multiple veteran service organization like the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, VFW, WVON, Soldier Angels, and so forth. Some tables had The VA had a table with replicated breasts with cancer tumors, cysts and other types of conditions. Music filled the auditorium, where a cancer survivor recounted her horrific experience with the disease. Later, in a town hall style meeting, Dr. Faulkner-LaBrecque talked about healthcare, early detection, and took audience questions. A dedication of a Healing Tree allowed guests the opportunity to decorate the white tree with personal notes on how cancer has affected their lives; a pink ornament signified breast cancer, or teal for ovarian cancer. Many women adorned the tree with both. Name of the survivors –or the ones they lost– were inscribed on the ornament. 
 
Childers wanted everyone to know what services within Women’s Health Center has to offer, which include Comprehensive Primary Care,  
Gender Specific Care, Gynecology, Urology, Social Work services, Mental Health services, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) counseling, a PACT Pharmacist, Tele-health services, and Maternity Care. It should be noted that a women veteran’s primary care provider will refer them to Non-VA Care, and they will be assigned an obstetrician provider in the community. Women’s Health Services are also offered in the 4 Primary Care Clinics (Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast). Each site of care has at least one Women’s Health Designated Provider (WHDP). 
 
Women Veterans also have the option to request a change in providers. Those who wish to be assigned to a Women’s Health Designated Provider, should contact the Women’s Health Center at (702) 791-9000 x14358. 
 
With so many being affected by the twin scourges of breast and ovarian cancer, the VA’s efforts to bring about awareness can only promote the wellness of Nevada’s women veterans.