Our Care Lives Here: Cancer Community Outreach

Our communities, places of work, and families are full of cancer survivor stories and yes, stories about the warriors who lost their fights. Premier Health extends its reach into our community where life happens. We bring prevention, hope, inspiration, and support. Our care lives here, in these spaces, where lives intersect with cancer. Where we’re working to reduce cancer’s impact.

BCCP, Mobile Mammography Remove Barriers

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP) continues to remove barriers to wellness for women in Southwest Ohio through free cancer screenings and diagnostics. A program of the Ohio Department of Health and administered by Premier Community Health, BCCP served 1,172 uninsured women in a 16-county area during the 2019-20 grant year with free mammograms and Pap tests. Premier Community Health’s voucher program served an additional 84 women who fell outside BCCP eligibility. Upon cancer diagnosis, BCCP pairs patients with nurse navigators who connect them with health care providers, social workers, and additional resources.

Another way we remove barriers to wellness is through our mobile mammography coach, owned and operated by Atrium Medical Center. Last year, we reached more than 2,200 women in Southwest Ohio through visits to businesses and public venues such as schools, churches, and events.

Brake for Breakfast Promotes Breast Health

Premier Health’s annual Brake for Breakfast event didn’t let off the gas this year. As an outdoor drive-through event, it coexisted with COVID-19 in October to continue a strong message of breast health awareness and early detection of breast cancer. Motorists drove through Premier Health hospital locations during the event to pick up a free breakfast bag and educational breast health information that included the importance of annual mammograms for women over 40. Both motorists and staff followed safety guidelines and contactless measures due to COVID-19.

Cancer Survivors Day/Tree of Life

Premier Health and Dayton Physicians Network specialists hosted a June 5 live webinar, “Fitness and Food to Survive and Thrive,” as part of this year’s National Cancer Survivors Day®. The free webinar offered insights into the essential role diet and exercise play in cancer survivorship, with practical tips for incorporating into daily life.

We also created a Tree of Life display to celebrate survivors. The beautiful tree mosaic was creatively designed using submitted photos of cancer survivors, caregivers, and cancer care providers for a truly unique piece of art.

Foundation Support and Impact

Community contributions to Premier Health hospital foundations, in support of our cancer centers, have a powerful impact on cancer care throughout our region. Among the areas funded by donor support are integrative therapies. These programs are designed specifically for cancer patients and taught by trained instructors. Examples include specialized massage and exercise programs, yoga and tai chi, therapeutic art, healing touch and mindfulness courses, acupuncture, and many more classes. In tandem with quality clinical care, integrative therapies enhance the health and well-being of patients thanks to donor support. Donate and learn more about Premier Health hospital foundations.

Gala of Hope Grant Benefits

Phase 2 distribution this year of the Gala of Hope Foundation grant further expanded integrative therapies at Premier Health cancer centers. Thanks to this generous grant, we’re now able to offer the evidence-based oncology exercise and nutrition classes from Maple Tree Cancer Alliance® at each of our hospitals. The grant also has helped Premier Health expand other integrative services across all locations to elevate quality of life for our cancer patients.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

A closer relationship with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) is providing more information to our social workers and nurse navigators regarding ways LLS can support our blood cancer patients and their families. In addition, to assist LLS in its important work, Premier Health became a first-year sponsor of a virtual LLS Light the Night event Oct. 15.

Portraits of Hope

The fifth annual Portraits of Hope event took place at Miami Valley Hospital South Saturday, Aug. 1, under COVID-19 safety precautions that included separate entrance and exit areas. Thirty families took advantage of the event’s free portrait sessions for cancer patients, survivors, and their families, provided by Laveck Photography. The community education fair highlighting resources for cancer patients and survivors was cancelled for the safety of all involved.

Pink Ribbon Girls

Premier Health continued its support of Pink Ribbon Girls, an all-volunteer group that provides healthy meals, rides to treatment, housecleaning, and peer support to patients with breast and gynecological cancers. Support included hosting the annual pink fire truck visits to all facilities as well as fundraisers. Premier Health System Vice President for Oncology Services Mikki Clancy is vice chair of the Pink Ribbon Girls board.

American Cancer Society

With a long history of supporting American Cancer Society (ACS) events, including the annual Making Strides walk, Premier Health made another leap of support this year by helping ACS grow its Real Men Wear Pink Dayton campaign. Mikki Clancy chaired the October campaign, which featured recruitment of distinguished men from our community (10 from Premier Health). Their roles were to raise awareness for breast cancer and $100,000 through varying fundraisers. Our own Charles Bane, MD, chair of the Premier Health Cancer Institute, joined the more than 30 community leaders recruited.