March 20, 2008

Volunteer of the Month: Dee Dragan
Dee Dragan has been volunteering with the Mautner Project for three and a half years, and has contributed her keen organizational skills and good cheer to tasks from organizing and inventorying the office to driving clients to medical appointments.

How did we get so lucky to land such an amazing volunteer? Dee explains why she's so committed to the Mautner mission:

"When I lost my partner to cancer about six years ago, I had a great support group of friends and family. I'm grateful for every moment they spent with us. I cannot say 'thank you' enough to each and every one, but I can pay it forward to our community. For every minute I spend with Mautner, Mautner gives something back to me. Working in Client Services is very rewarding. Finally, I love the story of how Mautner was founded, one woman keeping her promise to another to make a difference in the lives of lesbians with cancer. It says a lot about human beings, and how we should all strive to do that. I'd like to challenge everyone in our community to volunteer an hour or two of your time with the Mautner Project and make a difference!"

SHE Circle Goes to South Florida!
Our innovative Spirit Health Education Circle is now in its fifth year, and is offering new and valuable insight into the ways lesbians of African descent access health care. SHE Circle is an interactive seven-week health education program; to learn more, visit www.shecircle.org.

With the help of long-tim supporter Nan Van Den Bergh, we reached out to community leaders in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Last month, our program director D Magrini trained six new SHE Circle facilitators! They are a diverse group, including youth, experienced facilitators, artists, and community activists. We look forward to supporting thse new facilitators as they share the Mind-Body-Spirit connection that is the core of SHE Circle!

If you smoke and are trying to quit, get support. The Mautner Project holds regular smoking cessation support groups, with the next one starting on Tuesday, April 1st. For more information or to sign up,
click here to visit our smoking cessation webpage, e-mail our quit specialist ssanford@mautnerproject.org, or call us at 202.332.5536. If you are outside of the DC area, we can help you find resources in your community.

Colorectal Cancer: It's a Bummer!
Every year, about 150,000 people in the US are diagnosed with colorectal cancer - and about half of them are women! Colorectal cancer forms in the lower part of the digestive system, and it typically starts out as small, benign polyps, which are like little skin tags or growths.

Here's some good news: Because polyps usualy take years to become cancerous, regular screenings can remove them before they become cancerous or while cancer is still in its early stages, when it is very treatable. You probably aren't looking forward to colorectal screening, but it's very effective at preventing cancer or catching it early, so it's well worth it! You may not even have to be awake during the procedure.

What You Can Do:

• Get Screened! Most people need to start being screened at age 50. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a personal history of cancer such as ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer, or if you smoke, are obese, tend to have a sedentary lifestyle, or drink heavily, you may be at a higher risk for colorectal cancer, and your doctor may recommend that you get screened more frequently or at a younger age.
• Quit Smoking: This will not only reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, but of a wide variety of other health conditions like lung cancer, cervical cancer, and heart disease.
• Eat well, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Foods like these have high fiber content, which is especially good for keeping your digestive system healthy!
• Make physical activity a part of your daily routine. If athletics aren't your thing, you don't have to join a gym or a sports team to get your exercise - find things that you enjoy, like yogam or taking a walk with a pet or a friend.

Screening Options Include:
Tests that find polyps and cancer:

• flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• colonoscopy every 10 years
• double contrast barium enema every 5 years
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

Tests that mainly find cancer:

• fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year
• fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
• stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain

Take charge of your health - talk to your doctor about colorectal cancer! If you need help finding a doctor in your area who is experienced with lesbian, bisexual, and transgender patients, give us a call at 202.332.5536.

The Mautner Project improves the health of lesbians, bisexual, and transgender women who partner with women, and their families, through advocacy, education, research, and direct service. We envision a healthcare system that is guided by social justice and responsive to the needs of all people.

Health Education Team
Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization
202.332.5536