SUMMER COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Various organizations across the country are appealing for the importance of early detection.
Here in the central part of the state, at least one county has found versatile ways to get the word out about some of its health services.
“Ninety-nine percent of our employees are wearing some kind of pink today. It’s kind of fun,” said Hal Hendricks, county director of the Sumner County Health Department.
On Monday, many workers wore brightly colored clothing to raise awareness of breast cancer and the medical services available to local residents.
“The Tennessee Department of Health has a breast and cervical cancer program for the uninsured and underinsured,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks said the program offers cancer detection services on a sliding scale pay scale. That means some people won’t pay.
The pop of color is part of the county’s Paint the County Pink advocacy effort.
Hendricks said early detection can make a big difference.
“We want to catch it early, but it’s treatable and preventable,” Hendricks says.
It’s a message that resonates with Sumner County Health Educator Charlotte Hollis as she works with the public.
“I tell them how important it is and that if you catch it early, the symptoms are likely to be reduced,” Hollis said.
Hollis believes wearing pink at this time of year will spark people’s curiosity and conversations that could lead to early testing.
“People look away when they see that bright color and wonder why everyone is wearing pink today,” Hollis says.
More information about services available through the Sumner County Health Department is available online.
Want more information about this story? Email robb.coles@newschannel5.com.
As Channel 5 turns 70, we remember the 1960s RnB show ‘Night Train’
For my generation, when we were young we spent part of our weekends watching music shows like American Bandstand and Soul Train. This was before the days of music videos. A few years before Soul Train was syndicated from Chicago, another syndicated R&B show was taped on NewsChannel 5 in Nashville. Night Train aired in the ’60s and included what was probably legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s first television appearance. Forrest Sanders looks back on the station’s history in another wonderful recollection.
-Lelan Statham
