PADUCAH — World Cancer Day marks a time of year when people living with cancer and those who have passed from the disease are recognized.
To expand awareness efforts locally, Baptist Health Paducah held its World Cancer Day Health Fair at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center in Paducah.
The health fair was the center's first big event; more than 100 people showed up, and roughly 20 health organizations were present.
The center serves more than 60 patients daily, like Charlena Smiley, who beat stage four breast cancer in 1996. As of March 2023, it returned to the same aggressiveness as before.
Charlena Smiley
"After 28 years, it was really a surprise," Smiley said.
As before, Smiley said she takes care of her body daily. But, this time, lymphedema is causing discomfort, so she decided to attend the health fair.
"I wanted to come because I knew they would have some very informative things about health and how we could do things by ourselves," she said. "The way I swell in my body, I wanted to know what that was all about, what it entails, and how they could support me."
Radiation Cancer Center Supervisor Tonya Rittenberry said the center treats all breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers. Although they stress the importance of every cancer group, lung cancer is the leading cancer for Kentuckians.
Radiation Cancer Center Supervisor Tonya Rittenberry.
"In the state of Kentucky, lung cancer is like number one in all the United States," she said. "That is a big one, and we're trying to do more screening and provide more education to get more people. The more we can get in for a screening, the sooner we can find those and the better we can progress a cure for those."
Rittenberry notes that they see people as early as 20 getting colon cancer, and skin cancer is also on the rise in western Kentucky.
Rittenberry hopes the event will shed light on the center's many resources that only some people utilize.
"There are a lot of things people are not aware of. We have had our resource room here for some time. They don't realize we have free wigs, bras, and prosthetics. We have a lot of things that are needed that are free."
Stephanie Caldwell, left, and Cecila Wallace, right, prepare food for cancer patients at the event. All food prepared catered to certain cancer patients' dietary needs.
Executive Director of Oncology and Imaging Services. Peter Locken said the center cures two out of three cancer patients. He said the fair is another tool to offer free resources. He notes that dietary needs are an enormous factor for cancer patients and one he's passionate about assisting with.
"Unfortunately, people that get cancer tend to lose their appetite," Locken said. "In fact, one of the signs of a cancer is unexplained weight loss. So when you have cancer, it puts a chemical in your bloodstream that you don't want to eat, or you take a couple of bites and don't want to eat, and then your body is going through all this turmoil is trying to fight off cancer."
Locken is passionate about continuing the fight to cure cancer because it affected his family. He hopes that offering free resources to cancer patients will move society one step closer to finding a cure.
"It's very near and dear to my heart to see the community gather around and support this endeavor," he said. "This event is a testament to our community's dedication and generosity, and that's why I am grateful to our community for supporting it."
