The fight against breast cancer goes on in Jefferson County

STEUBENVILLE -- Wednesday offered a chance for breast cancer survivors to remember, reflect, celebrate and build awareness.

The centerpiece of the health fair at the Ohio Valley Health Center was the annual pink wreath ceremony held by the Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition. Combined with mammograms offered through the Tiffany Breast Care Services Mobile Unit from Youngstown, the health fair offered a chance to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“This is to honor and remember those who have survived or passed away from breast cancer,” explained Alisa DelGuzzo, executive director of the health center. “We also wanted to bring resources together for the residents of Jefferson County.”

Janet Sharpe, co-chair of the coalition, said the organization has been holding its wreath ceremony for the past 30 years.

“Jefferson County has one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in the state of Ohio,” she explained. “It’s important to get the word out. Second, it’s just really important to honor the women who have made it through this.”

During the ceremony, breast cancer survivors were presented with flowers and shared the number of years they had been free of cancer.

The coalition has been serving the area for 32 years, Sharpe explained during the presentation. Its message has never really changed -- it is focused on increasing awareness, providing education and promoting early detection and prevention of cancer in Jefferson County. It does that by encouraging and motivating individuals into taking charge of their health, she said.

Statistics surrounding breast cancer in the county are sobering. According to Patti Mannarino, a coalition member and cancer survivor, between 2018 and 2022, an average of 64 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Jefferson County. Breast cancer was the second-most common cancer during that period and accounted for 12.8% of new cancer cases, she said during the presentation. An average of nine women died of breast cancer, which represented 4.8% of the cases.

Women should do annual screenings starting at 40 years old, Mannarino said. A diagnosis of breast cancer caught in the early stages produces a survival rate of 99%, she added. Regular mammograms, she said, can detect breast cancer early, leaving treatment less invasive and more effective.

Steubenville Mayor Ralph Petrella, who delivered a proclamation from the city recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said his life had been directly touched by the disease. He said his grandmother and his former mother-in-law had battled against and succumbed to breast cancer.

“We are celebrating survivors,” he said while speaking before the event. “Breast cancer has affected me personally. The people who are fighting against breast cancer are some of the toughest people on earth. If you ever see someone going through it and the battle they fight, you know they deserve to be celebrated.”

Groups like the coalition are important, he added.

“They just get people involved,” Petrella added. “This is such a prolific disease that has affected so many, and when you have a group like this that shows its support that people can reach out to when they are battling, I think it is really important.”

Shari Jo Watkins, a breast cancer survivor who said she was in active treatment, was among those who spoke during the presentation.

“Cancer will change your life, but you can change your life without cancer,” she said.

Watkins said the health center had been able to assist her in getting connected with help near the end of the COVID-19 period. She also encouraged women to get mammograms.

Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons presented a proclamation the board passed last week recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month,

“Events like this build awareness. It’s about awareness and support for those who are going through these issues,” Timmons said prior to the program.

Local businessman Mike Petrella made a personal donation to the coalition during the presentation.

“Events like this bring everyone together and obviously bring awareness to breast cancer and the survivors, and those who didn’t survive, as well,” he said. “We have a lot of people coming together to try and promote health for all of these women who are here today. It’s important that we all try to stick together and present things, do things and talk about what options are available for women.

“I don’t think there’s one person or family that hasn’t been impacted by breast cancer in some way or some form,” Petrella added.

Beth Rupert Warren, coordinator of the Jefferson County Resource Network, said having events where members of the community can share information is important.

“People can know where resources are when they need them,” she said. “An event like this gives people an opportunity to network within the community and be face-to-face with providers, where you can get the answers and information you need.”