For the third year in a row, the staff at both Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and College of the Canyons teamed up to host the Santa Clarita Cancer Awareness and Resource Expo (CARESCV) Saturday.
Throughout the day, more than 150 community residents, whose age ranged from the young to the elderly, listened as medical professionals and experts in the field of oncology shared information about the research and resources available to them.
“It’s a resource expo about talking about cancer, put on for the Santa Clarita community, where (doctors) basically teach and inform people,” said Jessica Suarez, a medical professional in attendance. “The guest speakers started at 8 a.m. and it’s pretty much speakers throughout the day, each focusing on different areas. And there’s also vendors that came.”
Held in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center on COC’s Valencia campus, the day kicked off with the keynote speaker Dr. May Lin Tao dispelling common cancer myths and misconceptions.
He then handed off the microphone to the slate of his colleagues, who spoke to the importance of knowing your genetic likeliness to get cancer, how regularly you should be screened, what types of nutrition/lifestyle choices can decrease your chances of getting cancer as well as how to navigate the health-care industry once you’re a patient.
In addition to hearing from the speakers up front, those interested could head to the second floor of the university center and speak with event exhibitors including: Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Henry Mayo Fitness and Health, City of Hope, UCLA Health, American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and College of the Canyons.
“Most (of the people here) are just trying to figure out where to go,” said Erica Raquedan, a wound care/hyperbaric tech at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. “So, I worked the part with skin cancer. They asked where they would go if they saw a mole they don’t like.”
The day concluded with a question-and-answer panel with the professionals who attended the day’s event fielding questions from audience members.
For more information about CARESCV or local oncology resources, visit henrymayo.com/carescv.
