Project
REACH
Program
Planning Guide
Sample
10 Minute Activities
Beads
for Life
Cost:
Approximately $1-1.50 per necklace
Goal:
To increase the awareness for breast screenings
through directly experiencing the result of frequent
examination
Materials:
Photocopies of Beads for Life explanation
Beads*: 38 mm, 25 mm, 16 mm, 10 mm, and 3 mm
String for necklace
Procedure:
By far one of the most popular Project REACH activities,
Beads for Life provides the participants a visual
and tactile experience of what lumps look and
feel like when screening examinations are delayed
versus when practiced regularly. Although there
is some cost associated with it, the response
is so overwhelming that you will be glad you invested
in the materials!
Appendix
2 contains the Beads for Life handout explaining
what each size bead represents. A little prep
time is needed for this exercise because photocopies
(on pink paper, if possible!) and bags should
be assembled. Bags must contain the following:
- Necklace
string, approximately 20 inches in length - 1
38 mm bead - 2
25 mm beads - 2
16 mm beads - 2
10 mm beads - 2
3 mm beads.
To
begin, pass out a bag of materials to each participant
without the explanation. Have them guess what
the contents represent, then ask them to raise
their hands if they practice monthly breast self-exam.
Next ask who receives annual clinical breast exams
and mammograms. As you distribute the explanation,
tell them that the activity they are about to
complete will visually show them the importance
of all three types of screenings. Explain that
the beads represent different size lumps that
can be found within the breast.
As
you give the participants the explanations, ask
them to remove the contents of the bag and set
them on the table. First begin by stringing the
38 mm bead. Next, a 25 mm bead should be placed
on either side of the 38 mm. As you continue stringing
beads until you reach the end, talk about which
screening habits are associated with the appropriate
size and refer them to the handout as a resource.
Once
the necklace is complete, have the participants
place them over their heads and close their eyes.
Give them a few seconds to palpate each bead and
think about its meaning. Start with the biggest
and move all the way to the very smallest bead,
while explaining the importance of breast self-examination,
clinical breast examination, and mammography.
Emphasize that men get breast cancer as well as
women, and often a man can detect a lump in the
breast of his partner before she does. Encourage
the women and men to wear the necklaces for the
rest of day and to explain its message to others!
*Some
companies sell assembled Beads for Life necklaces
for approximately $5. However, by purchasing each
size bead in bulk from your local craft store,
you can often receive a discounted rate or even
have them donated. In the past, teams have also
been able to order professionally stained beads
in various colors through online distributors
such as BJ
Craft Supplies. NEA HIN also supports the
Vivian
Roy Bowser Cancer Education Fund, which can
be used to purchase these and other cancer education
materials.