15th Annual Rainbow Women's Health Fair!

Rainbow Women’s Health Fair to be held June 29

Free massage? Free yoga? Free mammograms, pap tests, acupuncture, and more – all in an LBTQ-friendly setting? Sign me up!

Actually, for most of these services, no sign-up is necessary. Just come by All Pilgrims Church at Republican and Broadway between noon and 4pm on Saturday, June 29, the day of the Capitol Hill Pride Festival. That’s where the Rainbow Women’s Health Fair will be taking place. The goal of the health fair is to provide holistic and traditional health services and education from culturally competent providers to lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and genderqueer and transgender people, especially those with limited access to care. “It’s about empowering the community to take care of their health,” says Ingrid Berkhout, women’s health outreach coordinator at the YWCA. Since 2000, she has coordinated a team of volunteers to make the health fair happen each Pride.

Research shows that lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to get the preventive screenings they need, like mammograms and pap tests, and are more likely to experience some health issues, such as depression. Trans people of all genders face even more barriers to getting the health care they need. Yet there are very few health services in Seattle geared toward LBTQ women and trans people. The Rainbow Women’s Health Fair attempts to fill this gap, at least for one day each year.

Why attend the health fair? Ingrid offers a lot of reasons: “To experience alternative healthcare you might not know about. To get your vitals checked. To have fun, meet women, maybe find a provider, and get lots of information about LBT community organizations. To be proud of your health! Because if you’re not healthy, nothing really works.” All providers that participate in the fair volunteer their time and resources, and the planning committee focuses on recruiting LBTQ providers (or people with a long history of serving our community) to ensure that all services are culturally competent, as well as free, for all participants.

The Rainbow Women’s Health Fair was started in 1995 by the Seattle Lesbian Cancer Project. In later years, the fair was sponsored by Verbena Health, and after their premature demise, Ingrid and the fair moved over to the YWCA. Despite the many changes in our community, the fair is still going strong. This year’s fair will be the 15th (a few years have been skipped), and will include free yoga, massage, acupuncture, HIV tests, vitals checks, mammograms, pap smears, raffle prizes, and more, as well as interactive workshops throughout the day on topics like nutrition. Check out the YWCA’s LBTQ health blog at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com for updates.

If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Nina Cole at 206.461.4482 or ncole@ywcaworks.org. To schedule a mammogram appointment or for general information, contact Ingrid at iberkhou@ywcaworks.org or 206.461.4493. See you there!

-Sara Jaye Sanford, MPH (Rainbow Women’s Health Fair Volunteer)  

Get Inspired and join YWCA WALKS at the Komen Race for the Cure, Sun. June 2nd.

Angelina Jolie recently revealed her choice to have a preventive double mastectomy, she spoke powerfully about the need for all women to have access to lifesaving early detection and preventative treatment, addressing that cost can be an obstacle.

Unfortunately, there over 60,000 women in our community who cannot pay for breast cancer early detection procedures due to low income and lack of health insurance.

Here is where Komen Puget Sound comes in.

We are proud to announce, Komen Puget Sound will award $1.6 million to fight breast cancer locally. The majority, $953,000, will go to the Washington State Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP) to provide lifesaving breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services to nearly 10,000 women living in our region. Komen Puget Sound is Washington State’s largest private provider of free mammograms to low income and uninsured women.

Our ability to provide these women with lifesaving early breast cancer detection and treatment support comes largely from the funds we raise at the Race for the Cure.

 Here is where you come in!

YWCA Women’s Health Outreach depends on these funds for the work we do in helping to erase health disparities in low-income and LBTQ communities.

It is not too late to join or donate to YWCA WALKS, you will receive a YWCA visor and a Komen Inspire t-shirt.

In less than one week, we will be celebrating our 20th Annual Race for the Cure. If you have not already signed up or donate, here is your chance:  http://ow.ly/ltCUN.  If you have already registered, thank you. Now, please reach out and encourage your friends, family and co-workers to register as well.

I look forward to seeing you at the Race!
Be well, Ingrid

Dealing with Pap Phobia

When was the last time you had a Pap test?

Did you know the biggest risk factor for cervical cancer is not having a Pap test every two years?

We know it can often be challenging for people who are LBTQ to feel comfortable getting a Pap test. Because of a lack of acceptance or knowledge, communities and health care providers can inadvertently create uncomfortable or unsafe environments for their LBTQ patients. It's important for LBTQ individuals to find providers they trust and clinical settings that honor confidentiality. On top of all this, the cost of health care and other barriers - like a bad experience in the past - may keep us from going to see the doctor on a regular basis.

The Advocate recently published an Op-Ed called "The Lesbian Pap Phobia." The writer describes an encounter she had with a friend who had been afraid to get a Pap test, and was asking her to be her wing-person when she went for her appointment.

While I was a bit surprised by my friend’s request for me to be her wingman for her Pap test, it was an easy yes. Honestly, though, when she first started telling me her story I got pissed off. This woman has a great job. She’s generally amazing and politically astute... Except she’s 46 and she’d never had an annual exam, a Pap, any exam whatsoever that involved her genitals.

But as I listened, I realized that she was terrified. Embarrassed. She’d learned early to be suspicious of doctors; they never quite respected her queerness. She’d never been sexually active with men; she’d never sought a birth control pill prescription for contraception or as a means of managing some of the other boatload of crap that some people with a uterus can experience with menstrual cycles. Instead, she’d gotten the message so many queer women have gotten: lesbians don’t need that kind of health care. Lesbian sex is safe sex — no risk of sexually transmitted infections? And really, who wants to endure a litany of birth control questions that are too often and too aggressively paired with a women’s health checkup anyway!  So at 46, against that backdrop, she’d taken care of almost every other preventive medical intervention possible, but not the Pap test.

... Every year, approximately 12,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. But, if it is detected early, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is almost 100%.


Routine screenings for cervical cancer can detect precancerous conditions and allow health care providers to treat them before they progress. And vaccination against the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer, can prevent the initial infection that leads to cancer. HPV can be passed by skin-to-skin contact. Planned Parenthood health centers provide 585,000 Pap tests and advanced testing and treatment for thousands of women with abnormal Paps and precancerous conditions.

I went with my friend to get her Pap test. The nurse and the practitioner were amazing, showing such compassion and expertise, I was so proud of Planned Parenthood. The results require a repeat Pap. I’ll be there again, no question. And I will fight with more verve and spirit than I did before. Because lesbians matter, and cervical health matters regardless of sexual orientation or sexual behaviors. Seriously.

At the 15th Annual Rainbow Health Fair on Saturday, June 29, we will have free Pap tests available for individuals of all ages from peer providers. To learn more about the health fair, Pap tests, or women's health in general - please contact YWCA Women's Health Outreach Program Manager Ingrid Berkhout at 206.461.4493 or iberkhou@ywcaworks.org.

Sharing our Stories

We see it all around us – breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer… The list goes on. Cancer devastates families and communities across our country. In 2008, there were approximately 12 million Americans living with a history of cancer – either living with cancer or having become cancer free. In 2012, it was expected that 1.6 million Americans would be diagnosed with cancer.

Education on cancer, prevention, and early detection is critical. And so is celebrating the successes and victories of individuals, their families, and their medical teams as they beat cancer and go on to live healthy and wholehearted lives. Recently The New York Times created a photo board of people who share insights from their lives after cancer.

The New York Times asks: How did your life change after cancer?

Click on an image in the gallery and that person’s story will appear.

Here is one such story – an inspiring message from Ilene! (Click on the image below to make it bigger.)

If you’re interested in sharing your own story, click here to upload a photo and tell the world about how your life is different after cancer.

Rainbow Women's Health Fair-- Save the Date!

Mark your calendar because the date of this year's Rainbow Women's Health Fair has been set for Saturday, June 29th! Festivities will be happening at All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway East, from 12-4pm.

The Rainbow Women's Health Fair, which has taken place annually since 1997, will have a wide variety of health and wellness services available to all lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and genderqueer and transgender people. Expect to see acupuncture, pet therapy, health screening, mammograms and Pap tests, and much more! We will continue to update our blog as we finalize our list of fabulous volunteer providers. 

The mission of the Rainbow Women's Health fair is to provide both holistic and traditional health services and education from culturally competent providers to lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and genderqueer and transgender people, especially those with limited access to care. We envision a world where people of all genders and sexualities have access to the resources they need for optimal wellness.

To make an appointment for a Pap test or mammogram, call Ingrid at 206.461.4493 or email her at iberkhou@ywcaworks.org

 

To volunteer for the health fair call Nina at 206.461.4482 or email her at ncole@ywcaworks.org

 

Eat Your Way to a Strong Immune System

Research suggests that women who identify as LBTQ are more than twice as likely to be overweight as their heterosexual counterparts. We have all heard that diet and exercise are the key components to maintaining a healthy weight. But good nutrition is not just about preventing obesity; there are many benefits to a balanced, healthful diet. The following foods, for example, are great immunity boosters. Replace other, less healthy items in your diet with these vitamin-rich goodies and your immune system will reap the benefits and keep you from getting sick. And who doesn't want that?

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Yogurt
Yogurt contains live bacteria, called cultures, that act as pro-biotics in the body. This means that they help your digestive system do its job, thereby keeping you regular and helping to prevent digestive illnesses. Try putting individual yogurt packets in the freezer as a replacement for ice cream, or have yogurt with your cereal in the morning instead of milk. If at all possible eat organic-- it's good for you and the planet!

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Garlic
Garlic is a natural antiseptic. Eating garlic when you feel a cold coming on significantly reduces your chances of the cold taking over your body. Add chopped garlic cloves to almost any sauce, pizza, or stir-fry dish. And try to refrain from buying pre-chopped garlic; the fresher cut the garlic is the more germ-fighting properties it has.

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Carrots
Beta carotene, the compound that is a precursor for Vitamin A, boosts your body’s production of T cells, which are a key component of your immune system. Chomp on carrots, raw or cooked, to get the benefits of beta carotene. Carrots have also been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
March is colorectal cancer awareness month-- folks over 50, remember to get the highly preventive colonoscopy screening once ever ten years!

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Fish
The omega-3s in fish are powerful in reducing inflammation, which in turn reduces symptoms of various illnesses. Plus, fish has vitamins that help your T cells produce virus-fighting agents. Whether you eat canned tuna or cook an elaborate grilled salmon, your immune system will be stronger.

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Tea
Black tea --decaf or caffeinated-- contains an amino acid that fights viruses in the body. If you’re a frequent coffee drinker, try replacing at least a few of your usual cups of jo with tea instead. As a bonus health benefit, a cup of black tea has less caffeine than a cup of coffee, which means that a cup of tea will dehydrate you less than coffee will.

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Ginger
Not only does ginger naturally reduce anxiety, it has chemicals that help break down the type of virus that causes common colds, and it relieves pain and reduces fevers. Ginger teas are a great way to get your dose of ginger. Make your own ginger tea by shaving some ginger into boiling water and adding a little honey and lemon. Some stores also sell candied ginger—while these products can be high in sugar, they are delicious and easy to eat! Just be careful that when you are buying an item labeled as “ginger” that is has ginger listed as one of the first ingredients. Most ginger ale, for example, actually contains very little of the spicy root and is loaded with high fructose corn syrup* instead.
*http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fructose-corn-syrup/AN01588
Taking a hot bath with shaved ginger helps when you feel a cold coming up.

For recipes and tips on healthy eating, visit http://www.myrecipes.com/healthy-recipes/

Keep your immune system healthy and you will be happy!

Be Prepared for Health Care Reform

The YWCA's Health Access blog posted a very informative and helpful article about Health Care Reform. Even though finding a provider who is sensitive to LBTQ needs and concerns can feel daunting, it is important to understand the changes that are happening to health care so you can know what your options are. Read the post below:

Different pieces of health care reform have been implemented and many of us are preparing for more changes this fall and early in 2014. There is a lot of information out there on health care reform and these changes, and often I just feel overwhelmed by it all.

The federal government has a website that is completely dedicated to health care reform: HealthCare.gov. It has a lot of great information, including this list of steps for individuals and families.

Given that health care reform is so big and can feel overwhelming to the Average Jane as well as health professionals, I suggest taking it in small doses.

First, learn about different types of health insurance. If you live in Washington state, learn about Washington Health Plan Finder. The exchange is set to go live in October 2013. Also visit this HealthCare.gov site to learn more about basic insurance options including Medicaid and, for those not able to afford insurance coverage, access to free or reduced/low-cost services at community health clinics in your neighborhood.

Second, make a list of questions you have before it’s time to choose your health plan. This will help you be prepared when that time comes, and you’ll feel confident you’re making a choice that works best for you and your family. It’s possible not everyone in your family will end up with the same coverage, so check out eligibility for each and every family member.

Third, learn about how insurance works. This site on insurance basics can answer your questions on types of plans and network restrictions, and different kinds of policies.

Fourth, gather basic information on your household income. HealthCare.gov says that most people will qualify to get a break on costs (premium or out-of-pocket), and that we’ll need income information to find out how much we’re eligible for.

Fifth, set your budget. Find out how much you can pay for insurance and then look at plans that fit your needs and budget. When looking at options in the Washington Health Care Exchange, you will be able to access clear information about different services, benefits, and costs right there, and compare different options available to and affordable for you.

Sixth, find out about possible employer-based health plans. Even if you work at a small business, you might have access to a health insurance plan through your employer.

Seventh, explore your options. There are plans that exist now that might work for your needs and budget. Do some research to see what is available now, and what options we can expect in the near future.

Washington’s Health Care Exchange goes live in the fall. At that point, when we have questions, we’ll be able to speak to representatives at a call center or meet with a navigator or receive other forms in-person assistance. Be sure to reach out and ask questions! This is a new system for all of us.