NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month.
Project Nana Inc. is geared to empower what it affectionally calls “seasoned women.” Throughout this month, there are several ways for you to get involved.
The Second Annual Seasoned Women’s Health Summit is from Sept. 5 to Sept. 8 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel.
Leading the charge to advocate for post menopausal women is Vanessa Hill.
“We want our seasoned women to be informed about having agency over their own bodies and to be able to advocate for their body,” said Hill. “We usually look at menopause as everything stops but your care shouldn’t stop!”
Hill explained to 10 On Your Side that previously health experts had anticipated that by 2040 endometrial (or uterine) cancer would overtake colorectal cancer as the third leading cancer in women. That projection has been revised recently.
Earlier this year, the Journal of Clinical Oncology published “Combined uterine and colorectal screening: A call for action.“
Several health professionals concluded “that uterine cancer incidence is increasing at a concerning rate and will likely surpass colon cancer by 2025. The impact of health disparities on Black women calls for research on the need for screening and novel therapies.”
Hill adds, “it will overtake colorectal cancer by 2025. The urgency is just astounding! We need to make sure that we get as many people informed as possible.”
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2024 Seasoned Women’s Health Summit
Thursday, Sept. 5 — Project Nana Golfing for the Gals
The inaugural “Project Nana Golfing for the Gals” golf fundraiser will raise money for gynecologic cancer research.
“Anyone can sign up, we just want as many people out there to have fun because, as you know, movement is medicine. It’s also one of the factors that can protect you against cancer and improve your health outcomes. So why not do it in a communal, fun way,” said Hill.
Friday, Sept. 6 — Education and Empowerment
Health care providers will host several educational sessions.
“We’re still doing our research really studying attitudes, knowledge and beliefs that postmenopausal women have regarding continued gynecologic care,” said Hill. “In order to do that, we have to bring in the professionals. We’re bringing in the physicians that are gynecologists, primary care, gynecologic oncologist, pelvic floor physical therapists and those who are prominent, even in sexual health. Because we want our seasoned women to really be informed about having agency over their own bodies and to be able to advocate for their body. So they need to know about signs, symptoms and risk factors.”
Saturday, Sept. 7 — Project Nana Awards Breakfast
Jo Ann Jenkins will receive the Gwen Ifill Seasoned Women’s Champion Award for Advocacy in Post-Menopausal Health.
The award is named in honor of award-winning journalist Gwen Ifill. Ifill blazed a trail for women of color in journalism as the first Black woman to host a nationally televised political talk show on PBS.
“We are very fortunate that the family of Gwen Ifill gave us permission to name our award, the Gwen Ifill Season Women’s Champion Award, because many may not know that she had breast cancer, but she actually died of endometrial cancer. Since we don’t necessarily talk about endometrial cancer, we thought it would be really fitting to only not only honor her, but also to put the message out there about the significance of endometrial cancer,” said Hill.
Following the breakfast, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center will lead a session.
“We develop the curriculum for training these women as peer support advocates, so that they not only can advocate for themselves but they can go out and do presentations in the community and advocate for others,” said Hill.
Sunday, Sept. 8 — Walk to End Breast & Gynecological Cancers
The walk will include a DJ, vendors, giveaways and more. Sunday, Sept. 8 at noon at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel.
“On Sunday, is the walk declaring that seasoned women’s health matters and that we can’t just center women’s health around the maternal age or the reproductive age. That is super but it’s important. But beyond menopause, the mean age is 62 for when people get gynecologic cancer,” said Hill.
The following week, Sept. 9 through Sept. 14, is “Take Nana to the Doctor week.”
“We hope that people will want to come to advocate and to support their mother, their sisters and their nanas,” said Hill.
To learn more visit Project Nana Inc.
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