Washington Hospital's 7th Annual 'Think Pink' Event Offers Breast Health Education and Support

For the seventh year in a row, Washington Hospital is hosting its free Think Pink event to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Think Pink offers women the latest information on breast health, breast cancer screening guidelines and breast cancer treatments.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Tent Atrium at Washington West – located at 2500 Mowry Avenue in Fremont. Guest speakers at the program will include:

• Dr. Vandana Sharma, medical director of Washington Hospital’s Oncology Program and Genetic Counseling Program. A medical oncologist, Dr. Sharma will provide an update on services offered at the Washington Women’s Center’s nationally accredited breast center. She also will discuss genetic testing and counseling for women at high risk for breast cancer.
• Dr. Prasad Kilaru, medical director of the Washington Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine and the Washington Hand Center. A board-certified general and plastic surgeon, Dr. Kilaru will talk about breast reconstruction after prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy and various surgical techniques for breast reconstruction.
• Dr. Ingrid Oakley-Girvan, a research scientist at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, located in Fremont. She will discuss new developments in breast cancer research as well as quality of life and general health issues for women recuperating from breast cancer.
• Nachal Bhangal, a registered dietitian on the staff at Washington Hospital. She will talk about how proper nutrition can help reduce the risks for breast cancer and the importance of good nutrition for women recovering from breast cancer treatments.

Dr. Victoria Leiphart, a board-certified gynecologist on the medical staff at Washington Hospital, will serve as emcee of this year’s Think Pink event. Dr. Leiphart also is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the North American Menopause Society. In addition to her gynecology practice, Dr. Leiphart teaches a wellness class at the Washington Women’s Center – “Restoring Balance” – a four-week program focusing on meditation, mindfulness, exercise, nutrition and stress reduction.

“Think Pink is a great opportunity for women to learn more about taking care of themselves and to talk with experts in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Leiphart says. “The event has a general focus on preventive care and overall wellness. In addition to presentations by our guest speakers, we will offer mini-classes and demonstrations of various services offered at the Women’s Center, including Wellness Massage, Mindful Meditation and Yoga, ‘Healing Touch’ for women undergoing chemotherapy and Zumba Gold – a modified, lower-intensity Zumba dance exercise program.”

Participants at the Think Pink event also will have the opportunity to speak with representatives of various organizations, including:

• The Washington Women’s Center.
• The HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, including its Bras for Body and Soul program, which offers specialty products for women dealing with breast cancer and other related issues.
• The American Cancer Society.
• Drivers for Survivors, which provides free rides to medical appointments.
• The Washington Hospital Radiation Onclology Department.
• The Washington Township Medical Foundation.

The Washington Women’s Center offers a variety of advanced diagnostic services as well as numerous wellness and support programs for women in the community. The Women’s Center was designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in June 2012 by the American College of Radiology. The Women’s Center also is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a non-governmental not-for-profit organization established to identify and recognize breast centers that provide the best possible care to patients with breast disease.

At the Women’s Center, women with an abnormal screening mammography are able to obtain diagnostic mammography within three days. Sometimes the Women’s Center is able to get the patient in for a diagnostic mammography the same day. The median time from abnormal diagnostic mammography to diagnosis is seven days.

To register to attend this year’s Think Pink event, or for more information, visit www.whhs.com and click on the tab at the bottom of the home page for “Upcoming Health Seminars” or call 800.963.7070.

For more information about the Washington Women’s Center, visit www.whhs.com/womenscenter. For information about wellness classes at the Washington Women’s Center, click on the arrow for the pull-down menu under “Women’s Center” in the left-hand column of the Women’s Center main page and then click on the link for “Wellness Classes.”