Lynn Parker, MD, Joins FWC at the Illinois State Fair to Bridge the Awareness Gap

The Foundation for Women's Cancer (FWC) attended the 2024 Illinois State Fair with its #MoveTheMessage initiative, engaging with attendees to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers. Lynn Parker, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Norton Cancer Institute, joined the effort, offering perspective as a medical expert.

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Parker shares that engaging with fair attendees is primarily about concise but impactful communication. She prioritized informing visitors about the five types of gynecologic cancers, the importance of HPV vaccination, and sharing educational materials. "In these situations, you have very little time to engage with people passing through," Dr. Parker explained. "We provided them with QR codes for more resources and focused on key messages that could make a difference in their health."

Dr. Parker noted several common misconceptions about gynecologic health. Many women were unaware that not having regular periods increased their risk of endometrial precancers and cancers. Additionally, continued bleeding into their late 50s and 60s is often dismissed as normal, despite being a potential sign of gynecologic cancer. "It's important to help women recognize these warning signs and understand when they need to seek medical attention," Dr. Parker emphasized.

Dr. Parker’s background in rural Kentucky gave her a unique perspective. She found that sharing her rural upbringing helped attendees feel comfortable discussing their health concerns. "Letting them know I also grew up in a rural community made them more open to talking about their health or concerns they had for family members," she shared. This connection helped break down barriers to trust and provided a sense of shared understanding.

Some of the most impactful moments during the event came from women who shared their experiences with cervical cancer. Several women had experienced delays in diagnosis after reporting symptoms to healthcare providers but were not promptly directed to appropriate care. "These stories remind us that we still have work to do in educating both the public and healthcare professionals," Dr. Parker said. "It shows the importance of these outreach events to empower women to advocate for themselves."

For Dr. Parker, participating in community outreach events like health fairs is particularly meaningful. "There is a lot of mistrust of healthcare in certain communities, including rural ones," she explained. "Meeting people where they are shows a commitment to their health and helps overcome that mistrust." She also emphasized that such events provide an opportunity to hear directly from the community about their concerns and knowledge gaps, which can guide future outreach efforts.

Several gaps in gynecologic cancer awareness became clear during the event. Many people did not know that the HPV vaccine is now approved for individuals up to age 45 or that HPV can cause cancers in both men and women. Additionally, there was widespread surprise that irregular periods or continued bleeding later in life could be symptoms of gynecologic cancers. These conversations underscored the need for more public health education about these risks.

For healthcare providers considering involvement in community events, Dr. Parker’s advice is simple. "Participating in these events is such a rewarding experience, and if we can inform or help even one person, the ripple effect can multiply as they share that knowledge with others,” she reflects. She encourages her peers not to miss the opportunity to make a real impact by getting involved in public outreach.