Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN)
Annual Fall Conference
Focus on breast cancer awareness
Annual Fall Conference
Focus on breast cancer awareness
by Heidi M. Pascual
In observance of October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” the Wisconsin Women of Color Network,
Inc. (WWOCN) decided to focus on the topic during their Annual Employment and Training Conference on Oct.
3, which was held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Madison. The same event also presented the year’s WWOCN
Women of Achievement Awardees as well as the network’s scholarship recipients.
Pres. Sadie Pearson welcomed and thanked the participants, stressing the importance of the day’s topic.
She shared that she has a daughter who’s a cancer survivor for eight years now. Pearson knows how it
feels to have a loved one with breast cancer.
Nadya Rojas inspired her audience through her beautiful poem, “Autumn.” Gail Johnson of Wisconsin
Well Woman program then took the floor to introduce the keynote speaker, Oza M. Holmes, a nurse for over
30 years, and a clinical expert in the Wisconsin Well Woman program (a program that provides breast cancer
screening for underserved women in Wisconsin).
Johnson said that Holmes was honored by the Milwaukee Black Nurses Association as its “Nurse of the
Year” in 1999, in recognition of her outstanding work in her field. “She’s one of the top three nurses that I like
so much,” Johnson announced. “She’s been a joy to work with and she knows her stuff.”
“Breast Cancer Awareness: early detection, survival, and support”
At the outset, Ms. Oza Holmes discussed “understanding breast cancer” to dispel some of the myths and
fears of women of color.
Cancer facts (Holmes cited her sources):
• more than 200,000 women a year are diagnosed
• 197,000 will be diagnosed this year with invasive breast cancer; some 60,000 with non-invasive breast
cancer
• 1910 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer (has gone up)
• most common cause of women’s cancer and second most common cause of cancer death in women in the
U.S.
• most new breast cancers are found as a result of change seen in a mammogram.
With the use of illustrations, Holmes defined breast cancer as a malignant tumor that developed from breast
In observance of October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” the Wisconsin Women of Color Network,
Inc. (WWOCN) decided to focus on the topic during their Annual Employment and Training Conference on Oct.
3, which was held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Madison. The same event also presented the year’s WWOCN
Women of Achievement Awardees as well as the network’s scholarship recipients.
Pres. Sadie Pearson welcomed and thanked the participants, stressing the importance of the day’s topic.
She shared that she has a daughter who’s a cancer survivor for eight years now. Pearson knows how it
feels to have a loved one with breast cancer.
Nadya Rojas inspired her audience through her beautiful poem, “Autumn.” Gail Johnson of Wisconsin
Well Woman program then took the floor to introduce the keynote speaker, Oza M. Holmes, a nurse for over
30 years, and a clinical expert in the Wisconsin Well Woman program (a program that provides breast cancer
screening for underserved women in Wisconsin).
Johnson said that Holmes was honored by the Milwaukee Black Nurses Association as its “Nurse of the
Year” in 1999, in recognition of her outstanding work in her field. “She’s one of the top three nurses that I like
so much,” Johnson announced. “She’s been a joy to work with and she knows her stuff.”
“Breast Cancer Awareness: early detection, survival, and support”
At the outset, Ms. Oza Holmes discussed “understanding breast cancer” to dispel some of the myths and
fears of women of color.
Cancer facts (Holmes cited her sources):
• more than 200,000 women a year are diagnosed
• 197,000 will be diagnosed this year with invasive breast cancer; some 60,000 with non-invasive breast
cancer
• 1910 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer (has gone up)
• most common cause of women’s cancer and second most common cause of cancer death in women in the
U.S.
• most new breast cancers are found as a result of change seen in a mammogram.
With the use of illustrations, Holmes defined breast cancer as a malignant tumor that developed from breast
Lisa Tiger emcees
Nadya Rojas inspires with
her poem “Autumn”
her poem “Autumn”
cells; or one that forms in the tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and/or lobules (NCI). “Most
common cancers appear in the ducts, about 80 percent,” she said, “and every woman who has
breast cancer should know what type she has, because that will make a difference sometimes in
how it is treated.”
Causes of breast cancer:
• always by a genetic abnormality
• only 5-10% of causes are hereditary
• 90% due to genetic abnormality as a result of the aging process
“You should not feel guilty or beat yourself up; you didn’t cause it!,” Holmes declared. “As we
grow older, our bodies go through wear and tear.”
Holmes also discussed how cancer develops, emphasizing that it takes about four to five years
before a lump develops, which may or may not develop into cancer. She also went in-depth into
the stages of cancer, which determine how far the cancer has developed.
Imaging Technologies for breast cancer detection
• screen-film mammography (sees increasing density every after test)
• full-field digital mammography
• Computer-aided
• ultrasound (not approved for screening)
• magnetic resonance imaging
common cancers appear in the ducts, about 80 percent,” she said, “and every woman who has
breast cancer should know what type she has, because that will make a difference sometimes in
how it is treated.”
Causes of breast cancer:
• always by a genetic abnormality
• only 5-10% of causes are hereditary
• 90% due to genetic abnormality as a result of the aging process
“You should not feel guilty or beat yourself up; you didn’t cause it!,” Holmes declared. “As we
grow older, our bodies go through wear and tear.”
Holmes also discussed how cancer develops, emphasizing that it takes about four to five years
before a lump develops, which may or may not develop into cancer. She also went in-depth into
the stages of cancer, which determine how far the cancer has developed.
Imaging Technologies for breast cancer detection
• screen-film mammography (sees increasing density every after test)
• full-field digital mammography
• Computer-aided
• ultrasound (not approved for screening)
• magnetic resonance imaging
Presenter/keynote speaker Oza M. Holmes,
a nurse for over 30 years discussed breast
cancer awareness.
a nurse for over 30 years discussed breast
cancer awareness.
Taking Action/Making Decisions
• Scope-know the key facts; what are your choices;
what do you want to happen; evaluate your choices
and choose the best.
Holmes then summarized her presentation, and
included discussion with one’s doctor about
screening guidelines for high-risk women Lastly,
she said, “Keep your body as healthy as possible. If
you have other diseases, you have to consider the
medications you are taking. Remember, we cannot
just treat the breast cancer; we have to treat the
whole woman.” She ended with a quote from
Madam Marie Curie:
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be
understood.”
• Scope-know the key facts; what are your choices;
what do you want to happen; evaluate your choices
and choose the best.
Holmes then summarized her presentation, and
included discussion with one’s doctor about
screening guidelines for high-risk women Lastly,
she said, “Keep your body as healthy as possible. If
you have other diseases, you have to consider the
medications you are taking. Remember, we cannot
just treat the breast cancer; we have to treat the
whole woman.” She ended with a quote from
Madam Marie Curie:
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be
understood.”
(L-R) Agnes Cammer, Sadie Pearson, and WWOCN Women
of Achievement awardees Brenda Brown, (Right photos)
Alice Skenandore, and Lilliam Post -- (Not in photo: Rachel
DiAnne McKinsey and Kabzuag Vaj)
of Achievement awardees Brenda Brown, (Right photos)
Alice Skenandore, and Lilliam Post -- (Not in photo: Rachel
DiAnne McKinsey and Kabzuag Vaj)