Judi Menzel of Elmwood Park said she really enjoyed attending the recent Get Fit Health and Fitness Fair. As a cancer survivor, she said health and personal wellness are especially important to her.
“I really like seeing the different vendors and what they have to offer to the community,” she said.
Menzel and many other members of the community attended the health fair on Saturday at the Elmwood Park Parks & Recreation Center.
The event included giveaways such as snacks and water, as well as flu shots, free EKGs and overall health information, said Donna Sabella assistant to the parks and recreation director. She said the event included 49 vendors.
“We have this event in October to go along with Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Sabella said.
Deidra Morgan, the lead mammography technologist at Rush Oak Park Hospital, was present to give women information about breast cancer.
“We’re telling patients about our new 3D breast tomosynthesis, which is for breast scans,” she said. “It’s a little different from the routine mammogram.”
Morgan explained the 3D breast tomosynthesis, or tomo, is a way for radiologists to read dense breast tissue.
“We’re giving away mints, calendars, breast cancer awareness pins and pink ribbon magnets,” she said.
Morgan said women were also able to compare rubber replicas as to what a breast with and without lumps would feel like.
“Early detection is the best,” she said.
Menzel said she was interested in Rush Oak Park Hospital’s table. She said she’s had two breast cancer surgeries.
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“I felt something, and I wanted to check it out,” she said. “If anyone feels anything different, they should go to their doctor immediately.”
Eleanor Vogel of Schiller Park attended the health fair and said she also was interested in the breast cancer awareness information that Rush Oak Park Hospital had to offer.
“My daughter-in-law is a breast cancer survivor, and my son is a thyroid cancer survivor,” she said. “I want to give my daughter-in-law some of this information.”
Vogel said women should get a mammogram every year and watch their diet.
“I exercise at the Parks & Recreation Center three times a week,” she said. “I’m 83, and I’m still trying to learn about health.”
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.