FORT RUCKER, Ala. – The 110th Aviation Brigade's ninth annual Cancer Awareness Motorcycle Mentorship Ride took place on October 16 at Fort Rucker, drawing Soldiers, family members, and the community. The event served as a vital time to share life-saving information, encourage proactive health screenings, and honor the resilience of those who have faced cancer, along with their caregivers and those lost to the disease.
The ride included a significant stop at Lyster Army Health Clinic, where participants formed up to present certificates of recognition, pink bandanas, bracelets, and flowers. Attendees and honorees also added their signatures to a ceremonial cancer-awareness flag, reinforcing a community-wide network of support and remembrance for those impacted by cancer.
Among the individuals receiving certificates were Marcetta Chancey, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and Melissa Gilchrist, a medical support assistant at Lyster Army Health Clinic. Both serve on the front lines of patient care and clinic support, leveraging their personal experiences to advocate for annual health checkups, routine mammograms, and open dialogue between patients and healthcare providers in the Fort Rucker community and the broader Wiregrass region.
Chancey shared her experience as a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a less common and aggressive form, despite having no family history of the disease. Chancey credits her survival to a routine mammogram, stating that surviving breast cancer reinforced "how critical early detection really is." She shares her story to encourage others to prioritize their health and schedule appointments without delay, emphasizing that routine screenings save lives.
For Gilchrist, the annual event serves as a powerful milestone of remembrance and solidarity. She has lost beloved family members to cancer, giving her firsthand insight into how deeply the disease impacts everyone around it. Gilchrist expressed that her participation each year means the world to her, as she stands to show support for those currently battling, to honor the memory of those lost, and to encourage everyone to schedule routine screenings. She highlighted that a mammogram is a simple appointment that can make a profound difference for families, potentially allowing for more years together.
Medical experts consistently agree that annual screening mammograms remain the gold standard for early breast cancer detection. These screenings are capable of identifying physical changes years before they can be felt. When breast cancer is caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is over 99%, underscoring the life-saving potential of early detection.
Denise Cape, a population health nurse at Lyster Army Health Clinic, encouraged individuals to overcome any apprehension they may have about scheduling their preventive health visits. Cape emphasized that prioritizing preventive screenings is the ultimate act of self-care, as it is about choosing to protect one's health today for a healthier future and for the people who love them. She advised residents not to let fear prevent them from attending their screenings.
Beneficiaries seeking to take control of their health are encouraged to speak with their primary care manager about scheduling their preventive health screenings. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Lyster Army Health Clinic primary care clinic.
