Many women mistakenly think that heart disease primarily affects men. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in four women in the United States dies of heart disease, while one in 30 dies of breast cancer, and an astonishing 80 percent of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more risk factors for heart disease.

“Early identification and management of risk factors for heart disease through a healthy diet, weight management, exercise and stress management, can greatly reduce a woman’s risk for heart disease,” said Paula Harwood, RN, BSN, and manager of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and heart failure at Memorial Medical Center.

 Harwood suggests women take these steps to reduce their chances of developing heart disease: Read the rest of this entry »

Often, the majority of adults, especially women, do not think about frail bones until they become older. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, millions of women already have, or are at risk of developing, osteoporosis, a disease of the bones where a break or fracture can easily occur.

 “The best way to prevent osteoporosis is to work on building strong bones as soon as you can,” said Randy Wise, RN, orthopedic research and outcomes nurse at Memorial Medical Center. “Building strong bones during childhood and teen years is one of the best ways to keep from getting osteoporosis later. Unfortunately, most kids and women do not get the recommended daily allowance of calcium in their diet.”

 “However, no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start building stronger bones,” he said.

 The following is a list of recommendations to improve bone health that Wise shares with his patients. Read the rest of this entry »

Barbi Walter, her husband, their three children, and their two grandchildren

If it weren’t for a visit to Memorial’s Be Aware Women’s Fair, Barbi Walter is convinced she wouldn’t be alive today. 

And it’s taught her to never ignore minor aches and pains because they could be warning signs of larger problems. “I had all the signs,” she said. “I just didn’t listen to them.” 

The owner of Barbi’s Styling Studio in Sherman, Barbi and her preteen daughter, Molly, visited the fair in October 2011 in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. She decided to give blood at the Central Illinois Community Blood Center, which was stationed at the fair, to teach her daughter the importance of giving back to the community. 

A worker told her they couldn’t accept her blood. She was “severely anemic” and was urged to follow up with her doctor as soon as possible. The following Monday at her doctor’s office, her iron level was even lower.  Read the rest of this entry »

Jennifer with her friends

Just because you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, it doesn’t mean you’re safe. Jennifer Finley learned that when she was diagnosed a decade ago in her early 30s.

Her first child, Nicholas, was just a baby when she visited her doctor for a routine exam. Her doctor felt something that he thought should be checked out further. It turned out to be cancer and it had grown extremely fast. 

“It was totally out of the blue,” the Buffalo mom of three recalls. “I’d had no family history of anyone having breast cancer.” 

More than 220,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Like Jennifer, more than 85 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.  Read the rest of this entry »

Angie Daniels and her family

Diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her late 20s, Angie Daniels now hopes to share her story and encouragement with other young women after they receive the same life-shattering news.

“When I was diagnosed, I really didn’t have anyone to reach out to,” the Springfield mom of two young girls recalls. Other women diagnosed with breast cancer were older “and their situation was much different” than hers.

Today, she and a friend, a breast cancer survivor she met when she learned of her diagnosis, are working to start a support group for other young women who have been diagnosed with cancer. They’re collaborating with Bright Pink, a national nonprofit group that offers education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Becky Daughtery, CNA

Even while Becky Daugherty was receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer, she rarely let it slow her down as she worked with hospice patients – some of whom were losing their own battles with cancer.

Becky is a certified nursing assistant with Memorial Home Services Hospice and has worked with hospice patients for 23 years. Her cancer journey only strengthened her bond with her patients.

“They’ve told me that I have a better understanding of what they’re going through,” she said.

The Pawnee resident is one of three women who were named Super Survivors for this year’s Be Aware Women’s Fair, an annual event hosted by Memorial Medical Center that is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you know a breast cancer survivor who has been an inspiration to others? Memorial Medical Center’s Be Aware Women’s Fair committee is accepting nominations for its annual Super Survivors program, which pampers and honors three such women each October.

Nominations will be accepted until July 20 at BeAwareWomensFair.com or by mailing a completed nomination form to Super Survivor, c/o Memorial Medical Center Foundation, 701 N. First St., Springfield, IL 62781.

Three nominees will be selected in a random drawing on July 23. Each will receive a makeover that includes a visit to BJ Grand Salon the day before and on the morning of the Be Aware Women’s Fair, free admission to the women’s fair, a new outfit to unveil during a fashion show on the day of the event and other gifts. Memorial’s third annual Be Aware Women’s Fair will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Read the rest of this entry »

You can’t avoid it. The boxes of chocolate strategically placed at the entrance of every grocery store, aisles filled with stuffed animals and the large bouquet of flowers your coworker just received. Yep. It’s Valentine’s Day.  And if you’re single, chances are it’s a day you would rather forget. Read the rest of this entry »

Good news travels fast. And as the benefits of robotic surgery continue to spread, more women facing hysterectomies and other gynecological procedures now request robotic surgeries. Read the rest of this entry »

A teacher who sends positive quotes each day to a friend battling cancer. A grandmother of seven who vowed to beat her diagnosis. A mother of five who took in her sister’s child after she passed away.

These central Illinois women — Missy Miller, Deborah Williamson and Rochelle Green — are super survivors who have inspired those around them in their breast cancer journey. Nominated by their peers, each will receive a makeover that includes a visit to BJ Grand Salon and Spa on the morning of the Be Aware Women’s Fair, Oct. 15. They’ll also receive free admission to the fair, various gifts and a new outfit to unveil that day. Read the rest of this entry »