Two Nov. 2 events highlight two different diseases.
The Augusta University Center for Blood Disorders will host a community fair for Sickle Cell Awareness Month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the May Park Community Center gym, while the Georgia Cancer Center will sponsor the White Ribbon Fall Fest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saturday Market at Riverwalk.
The Sickle Cell Awareness Month fair will include resources related to sickle cell care and research, mental health services, general health screening and other community support services. Shepeard Community Blood Center will host a blood drive as well.
“Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body,” according to the Centers for Disease Control’s website.
“In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells,” the website said.
Augusta University’s Center for Blood Disorders provides comprehensive care services for the treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders and sickle cell disease, according to its website.
The White Ribbon Fall Fest focuses on lung cancer awareness. November is lung cancer awareness month, and the awareness ribbon is white.
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and accounts for more than 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die from lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined,” according to Augusta University’s website.
“While 90% of lung cancers in the U.S. are associated with smoking tobacco, lung cancer can affect anyone with lungs. About 10-20% of lung cancers occur in people who never smoked. Many of these people were exposed to secondhand smoke through their parents, spouse, or workplace. There is an increasing trend of lung cancer in ‘never smokers’ with 20% of people who die of lung cancer in the U.S. never having smoked or used tobacco.”
The event will include giveaways and health information as well as health screenings.
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