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Randolph’s Jane Harrness is turning up all over the state—in jails and halfway houses, at rotary clubs and trailer parks… even on the radio waves. And why? Jane is on a mission. Her mission is to inform women about overall breast health. "Early detection is the key," she admonished. Six years ago, Gifford Medical Center’s Nancy Hoggson submitted the only Vermont application to the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund Grant. The grant focuses on reaching rural women, low-income women, the elderly, and those underinsured or not insured. The aim is to meet women where they live, work, and socialize. Jane is coordinator for the Avon program, in addition to her job as radiologic technologist at Gifford. This allows her 10 hours a week to reach and educate rural women about breast care. Through her Avon role, Harrness has met many people, and said she has been able to "break the ice, become a person, a friendly face" and make the idea of a mammogram less scary. Vermont Experiences A connection with a mobile home park in Milton demonstrates the complexity of her job. Harrness asked if she could speak with the park group, and was told she was welcome only if she could help women who had no insurance or not enough to pay for the cost of a mammogram. Equipped with information about Ladies First, Harrness spoke with the group about funding, and about the need to request a mammogram when having a physical. "Tell the doctor, ‘Jane says you need an annual mammogram after you turn 40,’" she advises. Harrness spends time explaining the mammogram procedure, describing the process of breast self-examination, (even demonstrating in a bathroom at one meeting), and empowering women by giving them information. At women’s prisons in Windsor and Waterbury, Harrness found mostly women younger than 40 who seemed interested in learning. She found that inmates assumed they would die if they had breast cancer, and that they lacked education about health issues. More importantly, they lacked hope. An inmate shared an experience in which she had felt a lump in her breast and asked the prison nurse what to do. The inmate felt she had been ignored and was confused and frightened. Harrness then advocated for the woman. Sometimes Vermont folklore crops up in discussions. Years ago, Vermont women were told that they should not injure their breast for fear of getting cancer. Even bruises caused by household chores were seen as precursors to cancer. Therefore when a breast is squished in the process of a mammogram, the myths of an older generation are remembered. Men as well as women are often in the audiences. At Rotary Clubs and Senior Centers Harrness found that men were eager to listen and then go home to talk with their wives. All in the Family Harrness’ first job in 1981 was with Gifford, and she remains a radiologic technologist, with an associates degree in radiologic technology, certificates in ultra sound, mammography, and cat scans. She is progressing towards her B.S. in Professional Studies. Her Gifford and Avon roles come naturally for Harrness. Her father was a radiation therapist, her mother an ob-gyn doctor. Several other family members are doctors, as well as her sister, a radiologist. Her maternal grandmother died of cancer when Jane was four years old. Harrness saw the impact on her mother, and how awful her grandmother’s illness had been. The Harrness children, Molly, 15, a ninth grader, Riley, 22, graduating from VTC in May, and Courtney, 24, grew up with the hospital as extensions of their lives. Each has known people who have died of cancer. Jane is a cancer-survivor herself, and the children are now more aware of the possibilities for positive treatments. Courtney is following the family tradition and applying to medical school. Gifford and Avon From among the 1000 applications nationwide, Gifford was chosen to host the program in Vermont, along with 121 programs in other states. It has been a successful and rewarding partnership. Gifford’s arrangement with Avon gives Harrness the freedom to travel and meet Vermont women, while insuring that the diagnostic imaging department continues fully staffed. Challenges Remain Harrness reports that those people 65 years and older, on Medicare, can receive one physical paid for by Medicare. Other physicals are often avoided because of prohibitive costs. "These women need a breast exam once a year. We need to make this happen," reported Harrness. Getting to the most isolated, backwoods areas, to people who are not connected, is a challenge. Harrness found that most women associated with any organizations, such as churches and Granges, probably have support in health care. She seeks those who are isolated and not connected. Any club, organization, association, or just a group of friends, are encouraged to invite Harrness to speak about breast care. Call 728-2317 to discuss possibilities. Harrness’ openness, her ability to put people at ease, and her incentive to attack a treatable disease make her particularly suited to her roles. She is the epitome of grace, knowledge, ease, and good humor, eager to listen and to inform, a woman with whom it is easy to relax. And it is evident that Harrness loves her work. "I am grateful to have my job. I know that in one or two cases a year my efforts have saved someone’s life," she said. _______________ |
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