The Carson Tahoe Health Foundation honored a group of employees from GE Bently Nevada and the Carson Valley Inn for their ongoing efforts in support of local cancer patients in need. Over the last 12 years, they have donated more than $215,000 in funds raised in support of the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, an affiliate of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, during their annual GE Bunko for Breast Cancer event held at the Carson Valley Inn.
The 12th annual event was attended by 240 players dressed up in this year’s Disney theme. Attendees bid on silent auction items, and raised a record $23,800! Carson Valley Inn was a part of that success with their pledge to donate $1 for every bunko.
Statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer within their lifetime.
“A cancer diagnosis comes with a great deal of anxiety and all the unplanned expenses can be overwhelming,” said Kitty McKay, Director of Foundation Development for the CTH Foundation. “Donations like this soften some of the stress, by assisting patients with basic necessities, like putting gas in their car to get to treatment and helping cover costs like insurance co-pays.” Support is then distributed to patients through the Carson Tahoe Cancer Resource Center.
McKay calls the annual GE Bunko for Breast Cancer event a big win for everyone.
“These caring community champions who attend Bunko have a blast,” McKay said. “And the patients who receive support say that being helped by people who don’t even know them eases some of the burden of their health struggle.”
New to Carson Tahoe Health’s state-of-the-art cancer services is the Breast Imaging Center, the first in Northern Nevada to offer advanced, lifesaving diagnostics in one comprehensive location. Located inside Sierra Surgery, patients will be able to take care of all their imaging needs in a healing, integrated environment.
About 40 percent of women in the U.S. have dense breasts, meaning they have more glandular/fibrous tissue than fatty tissue. In some cases, having dense breast tissue can make it challenging to identify certain types of breast cancer through mammography alone.
“We are thrilled to be offering 3D breast imaging services at the new Carson Tahoe Breast Imaging Center, allowing radiologists to detect breast cancer earlier as well as reduce false positives,” said Scott Mattes, Director of Ancillary Services at Carson Tahoe.
The Carson Tahoe Breast Imaging Center is scheduled to open summer 2016. Naming opportunities for the center are still available, and the Foundation is seeking donors to help with funding for this lifesaving project.
For more information on making a gift to the Carson Tahoe Breast Imaging Center, call the Foundation at 775-445-5166. For more information about breast health, go to CarsonTahoe.com/BreastHealth.
