Program heightens cancer awareness

     By Judy DeLoretta
     View staff writer
      Macy's Las Vegas and the American Cancer Society recently kicked off the second For Her Sake program in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
      The program is designed to educate women about breast cancer and to raise funds for breast cancer research.
      To reach Las Vegas women, For Her Sake donation stations are located throughout October in Macy's lingerie departments at the Meadows Mall, Boulevard Mall and Fashion Show Mall.
      Anyone who donates $10 or more will receive a thank-you card and a chance to win a new Ford Focus sedan, as well as a gift of lingerie soap and lace lingerie bag.
      American Cancer Society volunteers also will be on-hand each Saturday throughout October to answer questions, give out literature and demonstrate how to do monthly breast exams.
      Lynda Hoch, who works in the lingerie department at Macy's in the Meadows Mall, knows first-hand about breast cancer.
      She is an 18-year survivor.
      "A lot of women come in here after breast surgery, or just before they go in for surgery, and I'm proud to tell them I am a survivor," Hoch said. "This event is very important to me."
      The event is important to the Macy's West Breast Cancer Committee, as well.
      Denise Ames, Macy's regional special events manager, works to help raise awareness as well as money for breast cancer research.
      "We try to address breast cancer awareness all year long," Ames said. "Macy's West and the American Cancer Society work together on projects like these."
      Macy's also partners with the American Cancer Society for Mom-O-Gram, a program in which several Las Vegas diagnostic facilities provide mammograms at a reduced price of $50 throughout the year.
      The Breast Cancer Coalition of Nevada also has worked with Macy's to raise money for breast cancer research and cure.
      Hoch, a Macy's employee for 10 years, gives her customers with breast cancer extra time and lots of positive feedback.
      And Hoch isn't ashamed to lift her blouse for those women. She gladly shows off the reconstructive surgery she had to women who have just had surgery.
      "With cancer, there's no guarantee," Hoch said. "I found out I had it in 1981, and back then, they knew a lot less than they do now."
      Last year, Macy's West's first For Her Sake program raised $200,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society's breast cancer programs. Macy's Meadows Mall was the No. 2 store for dollar donations.
      A total of 85 Macy's stores participate each year, including stores in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
      "All we want to do is reach women, get them educated and deal with prevention," said Chris Vetter, the American Cancer Society's Las Vegas office breast cancer manager. "We're hoping that women who just see the literature will prompt them to be more aware about their own breast health.
      "If breast cancer is diagnosed earlier, it can completely change the way treatment is done."
      The American Cancer Society's 1999 Nevada breast cancer figures note that 1,000 women in the state will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the end of this year, and 300 women will die by the end of 1999.