Organizers pleased with turnout for symposium

Although there should have been standing room only for the Clinical Symposium on Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 24 in the Cache Creek Community Hall, organizers weren’t too disappointed considering the many other events that were happening that day.

The interest and support justified their efforts and paid tribute to the top quality presenters such as leading breast cancer surgeon Dr. Maureen Leia-Stephen and very qualified RN Janice MacDonald, Patient Care Coordinator for the BC Cancer Agency, Royal Inland Hospital.

Like all cancers if caught in time, breast cancer though not necessarily curable, is treatable.

A very personable Dr. Leia-Steven spent the first hour outlined the importance of early detection and screening, what to watch for in regular breast self examinations, and the importance of being well informed and having the ability to make the right decisions for treatment.

She outlined and explained the various forms of treatment, noting that everyone’s treatment program is different, depending on the location and size of the tumor, how much of the breast will be removed, what the difference is in a lumpectomy and mastectomy and what decisions the patient will have to make with regard to breast reconstruction following surgery.

Cancers can be prevented through healthy living

Janice MacDonald talked about the myths and realities of breast cancer, and pointed out that at least half of all cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect your health.

There are so many little things that you can do to maximize your life and minimize your risk of cancer in any form, she said. And knowledge is a powerful tool.

Some young nurses in training presented an educational skit outlining some of the concerns that are experienced by cancer victims who have had to deal with the shock of diagnosis and the various forms of treatment.

Personal stories the most powerful

One of the organizers and MC for the afternoon, Ashcroft resident Fran Helland, herself a 14 year breast cancer survivor, told the audience how very important it is for everyone to understand prevention and treatment. She herself had waited two years to seek treatment after discovering she had a lump. It is hard to move past denial, and that can be a big mistake, she said.

Fran also talked about the importance of support from family and friends, and from the community once cancer treatment is under way. She said she had been very blessed with the love and support that surrounded her and made her recovery possible.

There was lots of good informational material from the Canadian Cancer Society for people to pick up and take away and the community had been very generous in donating door prizes for the event.

The Breast Cancer Symposium was sponsored by the Ashcroft and District Health Care Auxiliary, the third in a series. The first one discussed Prostate Cancer in Men and the second one addressed the dreaded aging diseases of Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Elks Lodge returns to Ashcroft/Cache Creek

After disappearing for a number of years, the Elks Lodge is returning to our area with a goal to contributing to community service with a smile, literally.

The official opening of the Lodge takes place on Saturday, Nov. 7 with a dinner and social at the Wander Inn. The National President, Duane Romuld of Elks of Canada, will be on hand and a large out-of-town crowd is expected along with interested locals. Tickets will go on sale and everyone is welcome.

The event gets underway with a Meet and Greet at 3:30 pm in the downstairs hall followed by an informal buffet style dinner upstairs at 5 pm.

Ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. downstairs with music for the social evening to follow to be supplied by Anita Ladoski.

One of the organizers, Nancy Dawn Gullason said in an email to this column, “We are looking forward to working in and with the communities as a lodge and having a lot of fun doing it. Our focus is on having a blast while we help our communities.”

“With the economic climate being so low nationally and globally, the need for service organizations such as the Elks increases dramatically so it is with great pleasure that we are able to open a new lodge in this district.”

Some 17 new members have come on board so far and Gullason says they are still looking for more.

“We hope to hold two meetings a month with one being a very ‘social time’ this winter, while we work on ideas and suggestions for events to be held in the surrounding communities.”

She said the lodge is eager to soon be able to approach council for support in taking on Canada Day celebrations and they hope to be able to hold a Provincial ‘Funspiel’ this coming spring at the curling club.

The new Cache Creek/Ashcroft Elks Lodge #262 headquarters will be at the former Nag’s Stop Café located at the highway junction leading in to Ashcroft from Hwy 1.

Please call 250-457-6755 for further information on joining the new Lodge or for tickets to the event.

Trees planted in new CC cemetery

If you have driven up Stage Rd. in Cache Creek lately you will notice new trees have sprung up in the developing cemetery and much work is being completed at long last.

Developing a cemetery in the community has been along drawn out process but it won’t be long now until it is in operation. A bylaw is being drawn up by administration to be presented to council which will outline operation procedures, policies and prices.

Seniors Centre sponsors Over 80s lunch

The octogenarian members of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek SeniorsCentre were once again guests of honour for the “80 and over” lunch held last Friday, Oct. 23.

This time, the hard working President Pat Kirby sat on the guest side of the tables along with about 32 other members, to be waited on by the “younger” members of the Centre.

Both Mayor John Ranta of Cache Creek and Mayor Andy Anderson of Ashcroft were on hand to bring greetings and pay tribute to the pioneers who had played a big part in the development their communities.

One lady (sitting next to me) said she knew Andy Anderson when he was wearing diapers and said his parents would have been so proud to see him as mayor of Ashcroft today!

Flu Clinics are now underway

Patty Dyck has asked me to pass these dates along to you. Clinics are being held:

Nov. 3

Lytton New Health Site: 10 am – noon;

Spences Bridge Community Building (Old School Building): 2:30–3:30 pm;

Nov. 5

Ashcroft Community Hall: 9:30 am - noon and 1-3 pm;

Nov 10

Cache Creek Community Hall: noon to 6 pm;

Nov. 18

Ashcroft Community Hall: noon to 6 pm;

Nov. 25

Cache Creek Community Hall: noon to 6 pm.