Senior Voice -

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign to increase awareness about this prevalent disease. Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide. Early detection, often through screening, increases the chances of successful treatment and can save lives.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. It can affect both men and women, but it’s far more common in women. Regular self-examinations and routine screenings can help in the early detection of breast cancer.

Mammography remains one of the most effective screening tools. It can detect breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt. Women are encouraged to discuss with their healthcare providers about the right age to start and the frequency of mammograms.

Sometimes, Alaska Health Fair, Inc. collaborates with local providers to bring mammography screenings to our health fairs. It’s an essential part of our mission to promote health awareness and early detection in our community. We encourage everyone to check our schedule of events at www.alaskahealthfair.org and our Facebook page to see whether mammography screenings are available at a health fair near you.

For those seeking additional resources and information on breast cancer, we recommend visiting the websites for the National Breast Cancer Foundation; Breast Cancer Research Foundation; American Cancer Society.

Health fairs around the state

Embrace October’s fall colors with Alaska Health Fair, Inc. health fairs and affordable blood draws:

Oct. 1 Anchorage  Make It Alaskan Market, Egan Civic and Convention Center, noon to 4 p.m.

Oct. 3 Anchorage - Anchorage Museum Community Health Fair, Anchorage Museum, 8 a.m. to noon. Flu and Covid Immunizations will be available/

Oct. 7 Anchorage Enlaces Community Health Fair, Dena’ina Center, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Flu & Covid Immunizations will be available

Oct. 10 Fairbanks Alaska Health Fair Fairbanks Office Draw, 725 26th Ave., Suite 201, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 14 Girdwood Girdwood Community Health Fair, Girdwood Community Center, 250 Egloff Dr., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 14 Wasilla Wasilla Community Health Fair, Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. (Wasilla Senior Center), 1301 S. Century Cir., 8 a.m. to noon. Flu and Covid Immunizations will be available

Oct. 18 Anchorage Credit Union 1 Community Health Fair, CU1, 1941 Abbott Rd., 7 to 10 a.m.

Oct. 20-21 Juneau Juneau Health Fair, Nugget Mall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

Oct. 21 North Pole North Pole Community Health Fair, 301 N. Santa Claus Lane # 2, 8 a.m. to noon.

Oct. 24 Fairbanks Alaska Health Fair Office Draw, 725 26th Ave., Suite 201, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 28 Houston Mid-Valley Senior Center, Houston, 11975 W Mid-Valley Way, 8 a.m. to noon.

For a full schedule and more details about each event, visit www.alaskahealthfair.org.

If interested in holding a worksite event, reach out to one of our offices and our team will be happy to help you get something started.