Health

Free breast cancer awareness luncheon

Submitted by Alycia Dobrinick on Tuesday, October 18th, 12:34 pm

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - A free breast cancer awareness luncheon will be held at Western Baptist Hospital.

"The Power of Pink" luncheon will take place on Friday, October 21st from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Baptist Heart Center Auditorium. It commemorates National Mammography Day.

There will be several speakers including radiation oncologists Peter Locken, M.D., and Jeffrey Triplett, M.D., Baptist Imaging Center Supervisor Betty Brown, R.T.R., and breast cancer survivor Victoria Seng, Ph.D., R.N.

Seating is limited. To register, call (270) 575-2895.

Find more breast cancer awareness events throughout the Heartland by clicking here.

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Prescription drug take back event at Paducah mall

Submitted by Alycia Dobrinick on Monday, October 17th, 1:13 pm

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - If you have any prescription drugs that you don't need or want laying around your home, there will be a take back event in Paducah later this month.

On October 29th, the Paducah Police Department, Four Rivers Behavioral Health, Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will cost host "Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs" at Kentucky Oaks Mall. It runs from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

You can bring any expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs to the front entrance of the mall.

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Free health screenings for women

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011, 12:00pm

(KFVS) - In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sam's Club announced they will be offering free women's health screenings.

On Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sam's Club Pharmacy will be offering all women, members and non-members, free and simple tests that check thyroid health.

“The estimated number of people with undiagnosed thyroid disease may be 10 percent. For women, the risk is even higher. A woman faces as high as a one in five chance of developing thyroid problems during her lifetime, and that risk increases with age and for those with a family history of thyroid problems,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam’s Club Health and Wellness. “Our free thyroid screenings are a quick and easy way for women to make sure their bodies are functioning and will continue to function in a healthy way.”

The free screenings will include a TSH test, blood pressure and BMI tests.

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MCCH to host Diabetes Awareness Day

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011, 3:39pm

MURRAY, KY (KFVS) - The Murray-Calloway County Hospital Endowment for Health Care will host a Diabetes Awareness Day on Saturday, September 17 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Diabetes Awareness Day will be in the multipurpose facility at the Murray-Calloway County Fairgrounds.

The event will feature free screenings, information tables and guest speakers. The hospital says it is intended to spread knowledge about diabetes to members of the community. Diabetes is a disease that can affect the young and old alike through unnaturally high blood glucose levels.

"We want to make sure the public stays educated and aware of what diabetes is and how to prevent or treat it," said Dr. Steven Bumb, Medical Director of Murray Medical Associates at MCCH. "There are some very simple ways to control diabetes and reduce the associated risks."

The event is free and open to the public.

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Red Cross asks for blood, platelets ahead of Hurricane Irene

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Saturday, August 27th, 2011, 10:00am

Red Cross asks for blood, platelets ahead of Hurricane Irene

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - The American Red Cross is urging donors to schedule appointments to give blood and especially blood platelets before Hurricane Irene makes landfall in the United States.

The Red Cross says platelets are the fragile cells that control bleeding and can be used by cancer patients and those undergoing chemotherapy.

“Since platelets have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand prior to the storm to meet the needs of patients in affected areas,” says Tim Ryerson, CEO, Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region

Platelets are collected through a special process called pheresis. They are also one of three blood components extracted in the lab following your whole blood donation.

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NAMI support group meeting

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011, 3:55pm

MURRAY, KY (KFVS) - The NAMI support group for families and friends of those with mental illness will meet Thursday, August 18.

The group will meet at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Educational Services building at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, you can call 270-748-6133 or 270-748-6923.

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In-hospital blood bank at MCCH offers advantages to patients

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Friday, August 12th, 2011, 3:16pm

In-hospital blood bank at MCCH offers advantages to patients

MURRAY, KY (KFVS) - The in-house blood bank at Murray-Calloway County Hospital has been in place since the 1970s when a group of Lions Club members organized a fundraising effort to open it.

According to MCCH, the center offers a safe, FDA approved supply of blood to the hospital, making it fast and inexpensive for a patient to receive blood.

The hospital says blood products can cost more than $600 per unit when ordered from outside blood banks. Having the donor center allows MCCH to save on the cost of some of these products and put the money toward other health care improvements.

A hospital the size of MCCH goes through an average of 180 to 200 unites of blood per month, and with a shelf life of 35 days, it is important to keep a steady supply of blood.

"The community support is very good," said Beth Wiggins, donor recruiter. "We do regular drives at several businesses and churches, as well as the local high schools.

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