Lining up to receive information about breast health and to register for door prizes, women gathered at the Breast Health Extravaganza Tuesday at Ohio University Southern. Sponsored through the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the event provided breast health information for women of all ages.

“We’re promoting breast health education,” said Carole Merckel assistant director of the college of osteopathic medicine’s area health education center and community health programs. “We’re just encouraging (women) to love themselves enough to take care of themselves.”

The college of osteopathic medicine is focusing on providing breast health information to several counties in Ohio including Lawrence County that have higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than other counties.

“Nobody needs to have late stage of diagnosis,” said Merckle.

During the extravaganza, nurse practitioner Tobie Newberry spoke about the need for women to get regular mammograms and perform breast self-exams.

“Go get that mammogram. Prevent late-term breast cancer,” said Newberry. “We can stop this but we have to get that screening mammogram.” “Spread the word.”

Newberry provided guests with information on how to perform self-exams and encouraged women to seek advice from their medical provider when they have a concern about their health.

“We hope you will take this information tonight and share it with other women,” said Carrie Johnson, nurse coordinator for the college of osteopathic medicine.

Getting the crowd laughing with her entertaining anecdotes about life, author of “Children are Cheaper by the Dozen, Can I get a Discount on Six,” Beth Yazdani encouraged women to take care of their health.

“The best thing to do is definitely to take care of yourself,” said Yazdani.

The extravaganza brought together both women who had survived breast cancer and women who wanted to learn more about breast health.

“This gets awareness out to everyone,” said Virginia Cremeans, a cancer survivor at the event.

For Hazel Martin who recently received a cancer diagnosis, the event was a way to help her daughter learn more about the disease.

“I got my daughter here,” said Martin. “(It will) give her a lot more information and more knowledge.”