Paint Nevada Pink

October 3, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breast Cancer Newly Diagnosed Orientation Class
Renown Health Roseview Tower, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Reno
A one-hour weekly class for patients and their families to receive education and learn about support resources from a nurse navigator, social worker and surgical nurses.

October 3, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Breast Cancer Support Group
Carson Valley Medical Center, 3rd Floor, 897 Ironwood Dr., Minden

October 6, 5:30 p.m.
Power of PINK Fashion Show
The District at Green Valley Ranch, Henderson
Celebrate the courage and triumph of local breast cancer survivors who will share their personal stories and walk the runway styled by Chico's, Brighton and Bloom. Raffle drawing will benefit the Engelstad Foundation R.E.D. Rose Program which provides breast health screening services to uninsured and vulnerable women.

October 7
Pink Match at las Vegas Ballpark with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
The Las Vegas Lights FC will play against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on a night celebrating breast cancer awareness. Commemorative pink jerseys will be worn!

October 8, 9-11 a.m.
Fashion Show Las Vegas Pink Bag Celebration
The Engelstad R.E.D. Rose program invites breast cancer survivors a guest to the exclusive Pink Bag Celebration at Fashion Show Las Vegas. Join us in the Great Hall and start the day with a morning wellness activity, followed by light brunch and refreshments compliments of Fashion Show Las Vegas and Ambrosia Cafe. Each patient and survivor will receive a special self-care gift bag courtesy of the United Breast Cancer Foundation and their guests will receive a complimentary Fashion Show Las Vegas gift bag to enjoy. Registration required.

October 8
Pink Ribbon Sunday at New Life Christian Center, Las Vegas, 11 a.m.
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Breath of Life Family Worship Center, Las Vegas, 2:30 p.m.

October 9, 8 p.m.
Mondays Dark to benefit Las Vegas Breast Cancer Warriors, fundraiser event
The Space, 3460 Cavaretta Ct, Las Vegas

October 10, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breast Cancer Newly Diagnosed Orientation Class
Renown Health Roseview Tower, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Reno
A one-hour weekly class for patients and their families to receive education and learn about support resources from a nurse navigator, social worker and surgical nurses.

October 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Anthem's Mammorama Extravaganza
Pearson Community Center, 1625 W Carey Ave, North Las Vegas
This festival-style event features breast cancer screenings, food, music, educational resources, activities, games, immunizations and more.

October 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Community Ambulance's Pull For A Cure, a fundraiser for American Cancer Society where teams will compete to pull an ambulance
New York-New York Brooklyn Bridge, 3790 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas

October 15, 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
Mammogram Party! with Engelstad Foundation R.E.D. Rose Program, Nevada Cancer Coalition and Pueblo Medical Imaging. This event provides free mammograms, information, refreshments, a mediation room, and transportation if needed, for women of color who are behind on getting their mammogram. Spaces are limited. Call 702-620-7858 to reserve a spot.  
Las Vegas

October 15
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian, Las Vegas, 10 a.m.
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Progressive Pilgrims Fellowship, Las Vegas, 11 a.m.

October 17, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breast Cancer Newly Diagnosed Orientation Class
Renown Health Roseview Tower, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Reno
A one-hour weekly class for patients and their families to receive education and learn about support resources from a nurse navigator, social worker and surgical nurses.

October 17, 6-7:30 p.m.
Breast Cancer Support Group
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, SE Henderson Treatment Center, 505 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 130, Henderson

October 20
Coffee for a Cure to benefit Community Health Alliance and breast cancer screening, at all Reno/Sparks Human Bean locations.

October 20, 3:30-5 p.m.
Think Pink Bake Sale at Mountain Lakes Estates Senior Independent Living. Proceeds to benefit NCC's Cancer Assistance Fund.

October 21
Paint Nevada Pink Party with Washoe County School District
Reno

October 21
UNLV Football vs. Colorado State Breast Cancer Awareness and Homecoming Game

October 22
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Power House Church of God in Christ, Las Vegas, 11 a.m.
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Harvest of Faith Ministry (with guests from Breath of Life), Las Vegas, 11 a.m.

October 22, 7-10 a.m.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, a fundraiser for American Cancer Society
Red Rock Casino, 11-11 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas

October 24, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breast Cancer Newly Diagnosed Orientation Class
Renown Health Roseview Tower, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Reno
A one-hour weekly class for patients and their families to receive education and learn about support resources from a nurse navigator, social worker and surgical nurses.

October 28
Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk Where You Are, a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen Foundation

October 29
Pink Ribbon Sunday at Bread of Life Ministries of His Glory, Las Vegas, 11 a.m.

...to schedule a breast cancer screening in the next 12 months or remind a loved one to so.

This pledge is more than a commitment to your health. It’s a simple and powerful statement to those around you that screening for breast cancer is a normal and regular part of life. Anyone can take the pledge and share this information with those in your life who have breasts. Your voice is a force for good in Nevada.

• A pledge to take control of your health.
• A pledge to learn about your personal risks and family history.
• A pledge to your family.
• A pledge to yourself.

After filling out the form, we'll remind you every year on your birthday.

So you took the pledge. What now?

Be an inspiration to your friends and let them know this is an important issue for you and your family. This 'share' is a tool to help your friends understand three important things about their health:

1) Why screening is important.
2) When to start and how often to get screened.
3) Where to get screened.

Goal: Detect a lump before you can feel it.

Screening tests like mammography have been very successful in finding breast cancer at an early stage. The goal of the screening is to find the cancer before it causes symptoms (like a lump that can be felt).

Breast cancers found during mammograms and other screening exams are more likely to be smaller and not spread outside the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are among the most important factors in determining a woman’s prognosis. Early detection tests for breast cancer help save thousands of lives each year, and many more lives can be saved when more women and their doctors use them regularly.

Starting at age 40 anyone at average risk for developing breast cancer should start receiving annual mammograms.

From ages 25 to 39, talk with a health care provider about beginning clinical breast exams and understanding your personal breast health, family history of cancer, and any other risk factors.

More Information:

View the official Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Recommendations from The American Society of Breast Surgeons here. 

Learn more about genetic counseling for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer here.

After talking to your healthcare provider they will give you a referral if it's time for you to get screened. Often, this referral is to a location with names such as "radiology," "diagnostics," or "mammography" in the name. This just means they have the mammogram machine needed to do your screening exam. Sometimes these are separate locations, and sometimes they are in a hospital or specialty clinic. You can also get a mammogram without a doctor's referral if you are age 40-75 and haven't been screened within the past year.

The Mammovan: You can schedule an appointment to get screened in the Mammovan if you don't live near a screening facility and the truck will be traveling to your community. Nevada Health Centers operates the Mammovan — a mobile mammography van that travels to rural areas of our state and those where it can be hard to get to a screening location. You often do not need a referral to get a mammogram here, and if you are over 40 you can get screened. To make an appointment, visit their website or call 877-581-6266.

The Women’s Health Connection (WHC) program provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to low-income women who are uninsured or underinsured. If breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed, Women's Health Connection patients may receive treatment through Medicaid. Click or call Access to Healthcare to learn more at 844-469-4934.

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. The newest technology is a 3D mammogram, which combines multiple breast x-rays to create a 3-dimensional picture of the breast.

• On the day of your mammogram, don’t apply deodorant, antiperspirant, powders, lotions or perfumes on or under your breasts or in your underarms as these can cause white spots on the x-rays.
• You’ll need to remove your top and bra, so wearing a skirt or pants may be easiest. The facility will give you a wrap to wear. You’ll also want to remove any large earrings and pull back longer hair.
• Be sure to tell your technologist if you have any changes or problems with your breasts, if you have implants, or if you are breastfeeding or might be pregnant. Also, let them know if you have trouble standing or holding still alone.
• You and the technologist will be the only ones in the room during the mammogram.
• To get a high-quality picture, your breast must be flattened or compressed. You'll stand in front of the machine, and the technologist will place your breast on the machine. The plastic upper plate is then lowered to compress your breast for about 10 to 15 seconds while the technologist takes an x-ray. The machine may move in an arc if you are getting a 3D mammogram. The technologist will then help you change position so your breast is compressed from side to side before the next x-ray is taken.
• Generally, two views of each breast are taken for a screening mammogram. For some women, such as those with larger breasts or implants, more images may be taken.
• The procedure often takes less than 20 minutes, with actual breast compression lasting only 10-15 seconds for each image.

Adapted from American Cancer Society

You do not need a doctor’s referral to get a mammogram. If you are 40 or older you can schedule a mammogram without a doctor’s referral.

Most people diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history. Only about 10-15% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Those with a family history should talk to their doctor about their risk starting at age 25 and make a plan for when to begin screening.

Most people who get a screening mammogram won’t be diagnosed with cancer. Only about 2 to 4 screening mammograms out of 1,000 lead to a breast cancer diagnosis.

Mammograms use very small doses of radiation and the risk of harm is extremely low. Advances in technology have made mammograms more accurate with lower doses of radiation, making the benefits far outweigh the risks. There is also no danger in compressing the breast during the mammogram, and an existing cancer will not spread because of the compression.

The biggest risk for getting breast cancer is having breasts. Breast cancer isn’t a “white woman’s disease,” and doesn’t only affect people with a family history. Anyone can be diagnosed with breast cancer—even men! Some other things that do not or have not been proven to cause breast cancer include:

• Breast injury, squeezing or pinching the breasts
• Bigger breasts
• Consuming sugar
• Carrying a cell phone in your bra
• Working night shifts
• Bras with underwire
• Antiperspirants and deodorants
• Nipple piercings
• In vitro fertilization or abortion
• Exposure to chemicals in the environment

Annual breast cancer screening is for everyone with breasts. Getting a mammogram isn’t about feeling sick or unhealthy. It’s a regular part of health care to find cancers that can’t yet be seen or felt, which is when the cancer is easiest to treat.

This year we want to know:

Who do you screen for?

Your daughter. Your sister. Your mother. Your partner. Yourself. 

Who is it that makes you stand up for your health to get a mammogram every year? Who do you want to set an example for? Who do you want to live and thrive with? Screening for breast cancer can be deeply personal, but it's also freeing. It helps people to take control of their health and tell others: this is important, I am important, you are important. 

We want to hear from you. Tell us, using the hashtag #PaintNevadaPink, who you screen for.

Spread the word and see who else is taking the pledge and sharing who they screen for. Click to visit our Facebook community to share your pledge with your friends and family. Add a Paint Nevada Pink frame to your Facebook profile image. Choose from one of three options:

#MammogramsSaveLives pink circle
Pink Ribbon
Pledge to Go Pink

Hint: It's about more than just changing a few lightbulbs. And it goes way beyond October.

“I want to be an inspiration for our employees and show them
that cancer screening is important to our company culture.”

 Jonathan Swinton, COO

Your or your organization can show your support for breast cancer screening in October, and all year round. Here are some ways you can support the Paint Nevada Pink movement:

• Go ahead and light your business or porch pink or add the pink ribbon to your car or fleet to drive awareness for screening.
• Wear pink on Friday or invite your co-workers to wear pink on Fridays in exchange for taking the pledge or donating to Paint Nevada Pink's screening fund.
• Recognize employees who are surviving & thriving with breast cancer.
• Let employees take time off each calendar year for cancer screenings.
• Host a screening education party or wellness event and share information on breast cancer and mammograms. Connect with us for help on that.
• Ensure your organization's health plan covers cancer early detection, diagnostics, and treatment.
• Offer an employee donation match to double the impact of donations to support breast cancer screening.
• Share your activities on social media using #PaintNevadaPink to let everyone know your or your organization supports women's health.

Contact Sarah Grocki (sarah@nevadacancercoalition.org) to learn how your company can help thousands of women all across Nevada.

Breast Cancer Screening for All Nevadans is In Reach

We encourage you to make a donation in memory of a loved one or to celebrate survivorship, a special occasion or simply to recognize their courage to fight breast cancer.

Screening for Uninsured & Underinsured

We will be using the money raised for those Nevadans who need help paying for screening and any other services they need to overcome barriers to screening.

Educating Nevadans

We'll continue to educate Nevadans about the importance of cancer early detection to find cancer early, when it's most treatable.

Don't See the Form? Click here to donate.