Ministries

Greetings to each of you. This month I want to address the issue of Breast Cancer. You and many women you know may have had breast cancer or known someone who had it. It seems that breast cancer is frequently being talked about in the newspaper or on TV. You may be concerned about how this problem occurs. If you or a loved one is at risk for or has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important to understand some basics: What is Breast Cancer and how does it happen. So lets look at this issue now.

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. To better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop. Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell's nucleus, which acts as the "'control room" of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can "turn on" certain genes and "turn off" others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor. A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body.

The term "breast cancer" refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the tissues that include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast. Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancer's stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor. Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a "mistake" in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the "wear and tear" of life in general.  Think about the many things that might cause the wear and tear that leads to abnormal cell growth---pollutants, hormones, pesticides, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, stress. Or maybe your cells just made a mistake one day when they were making new genes to pass on to their baby cells. Perhaps there was a misprint in the genetic instruction manual that said "Switch growth on instead of growth off. This is a test". Most women are aware of the need to perform regular self-breast exams and the need for yearly mammograms, in the effort to catch this problem as early as possible. And, while there are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible (such as eating a balanced diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and exercising regularly), breast cancer is never anyone's fault. Feeling guilty, or telling yourself that breast cancer happened because of something you or anyone else did, is not productive. Space doesn't permit me to list more info on breast cancer. Now come out and hear the rest of the story on how you can manage this issue!!!
For further information on Breast Cancer I URGE ALL WOMEN TO ATTEND THE NOV. 4, PROGRAM AT 7PM “BREAST CANCER AWARENESS” AND “GENETIC TESTING". This important program will be held right here at Epworth and is open to women of all ages. I will be looking for YOU there!!!

OTHER COMING EVENTS: 

Saturday. Oct. 2 - At 5 PM - Spaghetti Dinner & and a; Movie "The Blind Side".
Sunday, Oct. 3 - FREE!! - Blood Pressure Screening after morning worship services in Parlor
 Tuesday, Oct. 5 - American Red Cross Community Blood Drive from 1:30 to 7:00PM in the Fellowship Room. To be a donor you have to be 17 yrs. or older and weigh 110 lbs or more. It only takes about an hour of your time for the whole process (actual donation usually takes about 10 minutes). You only give a pint and your body starts replacing blood right away. It's something you can do for FREE, and & your one pint may help 3 to 5 people. Support this needed program!
Saturday, Oct. 30 - Community Flu & and; Pneumonia Clinic - 9:00AM to 12 Noon at Epworth UMC. The Flu vaccine is $30 and is for those 9 yrs. & older. Pneumonia vaccine is $45 and is for! Eight and older. Vaccines are free to seniors who have Medicare and part B as your primary insurance & and do not also have a Managed Health Plan. Bring your Medicare card with you!! Those under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign for them prior to receiving the immunization.
Thursday, Nov. 4 – Breast Cancer Awareness & Genetic Testing Program at 7:00pm. All are invited to attend!

 
From, Reva Luce, your Parish Nurse  

Greetings to All: This month is one in which we begin to wrap up & prepare for the colder weather that is to come. We begin to gather indoors, and that is where we share events, experiences, and also all of our germs! Some of you have shared with me your interest in knowing more about MRSA. So, today I want to address this.

"...I will bring health and healing.....I will heal my people and will let them live in abundant peace and security" Jer. 33:6).

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph", are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of minor skin infections in the US; but, they can sometimes result in serious infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of "staph" bacteria that cannot be treated with penicillin and similar antibiotics. MRSA spread primarily by direct (skin-to-skin) human contact or by direct contact to wound drainage of someone who is carrying or infected with the bacteria. Anyone with a break in his or her skin is at risk of developing an infection if they come in contact with the bacteria Less frequently, it can be spread through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or items. MRSA is not spread through the air and there are simple things that individuals can do to prevent its spread.

To prevent MRSA or other staph infections, organizations and individuals can:

Encourage frequent hand washing
Encourage proper personal hygiene such as showering, especially after sports activities, wearing clean clothing, etc.
Discourage the sharing of personal items such as clothing, towels, bar soap, sports equipment, etc.
Ensure proper environmental cleaning
Ensure that sports equipment, including uniforms, are cleaned after each use

Anyone who has symptoms - a sore that often looks like a spider bite, boil, abscess, or turf burn and is accompanied by redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness, may be infected with MRSA or some other organism. All skin conditions are not MRSA. However, it is important that people with symptoms contact their health providers to be evaluated. MRSA is resistant to some antibiotics like penicillin but does respond well to other types of antibiotics.

Please contact me if you want further information on this topic.

Reva Luce, 856-829-0218

Many thanks to all who supported the Oct 5th American Red Cross Blood Drive at Epworth. We obtained a total of 37 units of blood that day. Good Job!!

Dates to Remember:

Sunday, Nov. 7 - FREE Blood Pressure Screenings in Parlor after morning worship service.
Friday, Nov. 26 Babysitter Training Course -9AM to 4PM (lunch provided) for youth 11 to 15 yrs. Fee: Epworth youth $35: all others $45. Learn how to develop a babysitting business, keep self & children safe, & learn skills necessary to safely & responsibly care for children and infants. Receive handbook, emergency reference guide and a CD-ROM for future use. This is an American Red Cross Course with certification awarded on successful completion. Class size limited, so sign up now in Narthex or call office. (Course will be conducted by Reva Luce, Parish Nurse.)

Greetings to each of you!   Once again we have had our share of snow for the year, let's hope there isn't much more to come!   February is National Heart month; and, we know that we ought to protect & maintain a healthy heart.
But how many of us are doing so??    Usually there is a lot of room for improvement in what we do day-to-day.  There are 5 harmful habits that herald the coming of heart disease.   They are: smoking, inactivity, excess weight, poor eating habits, and excessive alcohol intake.   These 5 set the stage for artery damage, & further changes in how cells & tissues work.   They also affect blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.   The end result is often heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, valve problems, aortic aneurysm, or heart failure.   The damage can extend to the kidneys, bones, and brain.   So, let's look at some of the areas where a few changes can make a difference.

Here are some Belly Blasters!!!:
At the Gym -
*Hit the gym & watch calorie intake.   Those who do are more successful at tummy trimming.
*Do the bicycle to target the ab muscles.   Lie with your hands behind your head; alternate touching each elbow to opposite knee.
*Work in Intervals.   Do 20 minutes of interval training 3x/week & lose more belly fat than those who do 40 minutes of cardio 3x/week.

At Home -
*Wine - Light to moderate wine drinking can protect against belly bulge, but make sure to limit yourself to just one daily glass.
*Avoid Carbonation. Fizzy drinks are full of gas ---and you will be, too, if you drink them.   The result? A not-so-svelte profile.
*Don't sip through a straw.   You'll swallow extra air which will show up on your middle.
*Nix broccoli. It contains raffinose, an indigestible carbohydrate that'll puff you up like a parade float.   The same goes for cauliflower, cabbage, and brusssel sprouts.
*Up your calcium.   Dieters who add 1200 to 1300 milligrams of calcium to their diet can see 3x the belly trimming!

In Your Life -
*Stop smoking.  Among its other harmful effects, nicotine keeps abs from burning fat, so smokers often have more deep-tissue belly fat.
* Get More Sleep.   Those who get only 5 hours of shut-eye a night are almost twice as likely to be obese as those who get 7 hours

Now for Some Slim Down Strategies!!
Lose weight the natural way.   Just add these 4 surprising fat burners to the shopping cart the next time you hit the supermarket.
*Pears- They are rich in fiber, help you feel full and keep you from overeating.   Eat an unpeeled pear before a meal to help curb your hunger.
*Grapefruit - Eating half a grapefruit before each meal may help you lose weight.   A compound in grapefruit helps regulate insulin, a fat-storage hormone.   Peel & segment, try cutting them into chunks & add to spinach salad. Also great with shrimp!
*Almonds - Eating a handful of almonds a day, along with a healthy diet, might help you zap fat.   Dieters who ate almonds daily for 6  months lost up to 18% of their body fat. A great snack -- 22 almonds add up to one serving.   or add chopped almonds to cereal
or yogurt.
*Chocolate - Dark chocolate -- and other foods high in antioxidants -- may help prevent the accumulation of fat cells in the body.
Melt 1/2 oz dark chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds, spread on half a graham cracker; it is just 98 calories!