Cancer schooling made easy — and enjoyable

“About 30% of women in Pennsylvania are behind on cervical cancer screenings,” stated William Calo, group engagement affiliate director at Penn State Cancer Institute. “In rural areas especially, women have fewer access points for screening, so we’re bringing the service to them through this unique partnership with the LION Mobile Clinic.”

Know your dangers

Cancer consciousness goes past screening. Rebecca Kline, 68, was one in every of practically a dozen Ladies Night attendees to obtain a free dwelling radon take a look at equipment. Radon fuel is the second-leading explanation for lung most cancers, and about 40% of examined Pennsylvania properties have excessive radon ranges.

“I live in a farmhouse that’s over 100 years old, and the cellar is creek rock, so that might be a place where radon can enter,” Kline stated. “A free test is appealing because my grandkids visit often, and I don’t want them to be exposed to radon.”

The Cancer Institute’s Breathe Easy undertaking connects householders with radon testing and assist navigating the subsequent steps. Up to 4 low-income households will obtain radon mitigation programs in 2026 via a grant from Penn State Health.

“Many people don’t know about radon or confuse it with carbon monoxide,” stated Holly Dolan, Cancer Institute group schooling supervisor. “We help people understand that even those who have never smoked can get lung cancer from radon.”

Bingo for most cancers consciousness

Learning about most cancers can really feel scary or overwhelming. The Cancer Institute’s group engagement workforce is altering that by sharing the details in a relaxed, enjoyable means: Bingo Against Cancer video games.

In March, Dolan and group engagement supervisor Sol Rodríguez-Colón introduced this system to Juniper Village, a senior residing group in Lebanon. In a comfy assembly room, practically a dozen residents marked their bingo squares whereas Rodríguez-Colón and Dolan described danger elements and signs of lung, breast, colorectal and HPV-related cancers.