The Glendale Star
18
November 11, 2021
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Cigna, Cardinals making a play on breast health BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Glendale Star Staff Writer
Cigna and the Arizona Cardinals hope that women across Arizona take their breast health seriously all year long, not just for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the 12th consecutive year, the Arizona Cardinals presented the “Crucial Catch Intercept Cancer” game sponsored by Cigna on Oct. 10. The two organizations work together to educate the community about breast health and the importance of preventive screenings. Cigna employees and guests, along with 125 other cancer survivors and previvors, were honored and performed in the halftime show on Oct. 10 with the Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders. Previvors are individuals who have tested positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation and therefore have a significantly higher risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer than the average population. These individuals make an extra effort to manage their elevated risk through a combination of healthy lifestyle choices, increased surveillance and preventive medical procedures. One of the Cigna employees who participated in this year’s event was Heather Jaeger, senior clinical program manager at Cigna and a pharmacist by trade. “Cigna gave some of its employees the opportunity to participate in the halftime show,” said Jaeger, who was also able to bring her daughter Kate to the event. “I believe it was the 12th year that Cigna sponsored the ‘Crucial Catch’ game. It was like a lottery to give people the chance to participate, and so I was lucky enough to get picked.” The halftime show consisted of a health and wellness drill instructed by celebrity trainer Chris Powell.
“It was super fun, and I got to participate with some of my co-workers and the Cardinals cheerleaders,” Jaeger said. “It was a little nerve-racking because I didn’t want to mess up the moves, but it was really fun. The cheerleaders were right next to us cheering us on, too, so it made it quite a fun activity.” Jaeger first participated in the halftime experience in 2013. “(The Cardinals stadium is) such a huge venue that I think it really brings to light early detection of breast cancer and how important that is,” Jaeger said about the annual Crucial Catch game. “I can tell you that this was the fourth time that I’ve been able to participate in the halftime show, but the very first show I participated with someone who was at the game the year before, which prompted her to do her self-exam when she got home, and she found a lump. “That really brought that truth to light that people pay attention (during these events), and it gets people to either do their mammograms or do their self-exams, whatever it is to catch breast cancer early. I think that is why it’s so important for all of us to participate.” Jaeger herself was diagnosed with
The “Crucial Catch Intercept Cancer” game halftime show included 125 Cigna employees and guests, along with cancer survivors and previvors, performing a wellness drill instructed by celebrity trainer Chris Powell. (Photo by Peter Vander Stoep)
breast cancer in 2013. She had a lumpectomy and received chemotherapy and radiation and is currently still on medication to prevent a recurrence. “I know October is breast cancer pink ribbon month, but it is really important for women to not put off screenings until October,” Jaeger said. “I think it is a good time to remind people about screenings and self-exams, but staying on top of scheduled appointments, mammograms all year long is really important.” While several health care facilities are starting to get back into a normal schedule with routine checkups following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaeger hopes that COVID-19 is still not a deterrent for women to get their annual exams. “My fear is that COVID may be scaring people out of the health care facilities, and so I am afraid that there are people out there now that put off their screenings that maybe would have been diagnosed earlier,” Jaeger said. “While we have a lot of attention toward breast cancer in October, it’s important every month of the year to
just make sure that those screenings are getting done.” Cigna is a sponsor for the organization Check for a Lump, a breast health education and support organization for people with breast cancer in Arizona. Check for a Lump has four major programs, including its education program to teach women around Arizona more about breast health; a program that helps women undergoing chemotherapy obtain a free wig; a program that provides free mammograms; and the super survivors program that hosts gatherings for breast cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. For more information, go to checkforalump.org. “Cigna has a lot of resources for patients and employees as well,” Jaeger said. “Lots of great resources that are available to people who want to learn more about it, and Arizona Cardinals (has some) as well. They have some great resources that I have seen on their website just to increase awareness and to just make sure that women are being screened.”
