Celebrate Women event returns Nov. 18 to support women’s health in Southwest Virginia

Ballad Health Cancer Care at Johnston Memorial Hospital invites women across the region to attend Celebrate Women, a free annual event dedicated to women’s health and wellness, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 4–7 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia.

This community event offers women an opportunity to prioritize their health while connecting with local healthcare experts and resources. The evening will feature door prizes, educational sessions, giveaways and vendor booths, all designed to promote awareness and encourage preventive care. Guests will also have the chance to win a YETI cooler as the grand prize.

“Celebrate Women is such a meaningful opportunity for women to come together, learn and take steps toward healthier lives,” said Paula Fore, senior director of Ballad Health Cancer Care - Abingdon. “Through screenings, education and engagement, we’re helping women identify health issues earlier and empowering them to make informed choices about their wellbeing.”

The event will include participation from Ballad Health Cancer Care, Ballad Health Medical Associates and multiple specialty and support teams, including cardiology and oncology navigators, dietitians and nurse practitioners. Attendees will also have access to information about services related to heart health, kidney care, pulmonology, neurology and more.

A recent survey conducted by Hologic, Inc., and Gallup revealed that while many women recognize the importance of screenings, a large percentage still delay or skip them. The survey found that women are most likely to have skipped screenings for breast (41%), cervical (35%) and colorectal (33%) cancers. Celebrate Women provides a convenient and welcoming space to close that gap — encouraging women to take charge of their health.

In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Ballad Health will also host an informational booth at this year’s event to share details about free low-dose CT lung cancer screenings available to eligible individuals during November. A clinician referral is required to schedule the free screening.

To qualify for a free screening, patients must:

• Be between the ages 50 and 80
• Have no previous cancer diagnosis
• Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (one pack year equals smoking one pack per day for a year)
• Be a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years
• Have not had any prior low-dose CT scans
• Have not had a chest CT scan within the last 12 months

Eligible individuals are advised to contact their physician’s office and ask for a low-dose CT imaging order. For more information on low-dose CT and other available cancer screenings, visit www.balladhealth.org/screenings.