Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

JACKSON – The Northampton County Health Department, in partnership with Northampton County Cooperative Extension, will host a free Breast Cancer Information Truck Rodeo from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.

The event will be held at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center, 9536 NC Highway 305, Jackson. It will include free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, diabetes education, breast cancer education, a breast cancer story walk, free books, and hourly door prizes.

Food trucks will be on-site.

COVID-19 and flu shots will be available. Those seeking vaccines must bring an insurance card. For those that do not have insurance, the self-pay fee for flu shots is $35.

The Northampton County Health Department accepts the following insurances: Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medcost, Cigna and Aetna.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in North Carolina. Each year over 6,000 NC women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and over 1,000 will die from the disease. Women in North Carolina have a one-in-eight lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

Some warning signs of breast cancer are:

A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area—50% of such masses are found in the upper outer quarter of the breast.

A change in the size or shape of the breast.

An abnormal discharge from the nipple.

A change in the color, feel, or texture of the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple (dimpled, puckered, or scaly).

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

For more information about the Oct. 11 event, contact

Health Educator Kysha Gary at 252-534-5841 (ext. 6019).