Every Friday, Jeff Watts puts on a few pops of pink before heading into work at Appliance Park — a weekly tradition he’s kept up since GE Appliances hosted a “Wear Pink to Work Day” nearly a decade ago.
“When I ‘pink out’ on Fridays, it is my way of remembering my late grandmother, who passed away from breast cancer complications in 2007,” says Jeff, who works on the Dryer Line in AP1. “Wearing pink stands as a reminder for people to get screened and to prioritize their health.”
Prioritizing employee health is a key value at GE Appliances, and that includes promoting breast cancer awareness and offering free mammograms.
It’s a company value Jeff appreciates given his personal experience with a disease that affects one in eight women — including his grandmother, Mary Catherine, whom he refers to as the matriarch of his family and “the kindest person I have ever known.”
Early detection is key
By the time Jeff’s grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was already stage 4. Given her advanced age, she opted to forgo aggressive chemo or other invasive treatments.
“After not feeling well for a bit, she went to her family doctor,” Jeff recalls. “After some preliminary blood tests, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it had already spread to her lymph nodes. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of days not weeks.”
It’s why Jeff is so vocal about the fact that early detection is key.
“Anyone on the fence about getting screened should know that screening brings peace of mind,” he says. “Even with a positive diagnosis, the patient can initiate a plan of action that is right for them.”
Luckily, GE Appliances makes it easy for employees and their families to be proactive about their health and wellbeing. For example, Jeff says he’s gotten healthier by participating in Virta, a weight management and diabetes prevention program that GE Appliances offers to employees free of charge.
“I’ve made efforts to place emphasis on my own health,” Jeff says, and he encourages others to do the same. “Hopefully others can take notice of my Friday ‘pink outs’ and prioritize their own health.”
November 5-6: Mammograms will be available for Appliance Park employees
- Mammograms help find cancer at an early stage, when the chances of survival are highest.
- Call 502-452-0777 to schedule an appointment.
- Use ON-THE-CLOCK Care to get an exam without clocking out.