Published: October 01, 2008 10:25 pm      

Local observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins

ibrown@themeridianstar.com



Most people know someone who either has or has been impacted by breast cancer. In his proclamation to the city recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mayor John Robert Smith shared his personal story.

"My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and I remember how frightened she was," said Smith, during Wednesday's official kickoff of the month-long observance at Dumont Plaza.

Smith said his mother did not live long after her diagnosis; she succumbed to the disease in a few short weeks.

But he also shared another breast cancer story – one that offered hope.

"She was diagnosed a little more than a year ago and it was caught in the early stages of the disease," Smith said.

And, as a result, that individual has the distinction of being recognized as a survivor.

"That's what we're about – increasing awareness and education on breast cancer," said Shelia Joiner, a two-year breast cancer survivor and representative of CAREousel, a local breast cancer support group.

"If we can get the message out, hopefully we can encourage more women to get regular mammagrams and perform monthly breast self-exams (BSE)," Joiner said.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

About 212,920 women in the United States were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2006; about 40,970 women died from the disease. More than 2 million women living in the United States have been treated for breast cancer.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8, according to the ACS. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33. Breast cancer death rates are going down. This decline is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment.

CAREousel is designed to meet the needs of breast cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers.

"We are open to anyone facing breast cancer or its effects; it is not exclusive to any one group, hospital, doctor, or other facility.

CAREousel Cancer Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month, from 6 p.m-7:30 p.m., at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1704 23rd Ave.

Prior to the local kick off of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CAREousel members placed pink ribbons around Carousel horses throughout the city.





Upcoming events



• Oct. 7 – CAREousel Support Group will be featured on "Good Morning Meridian" at 5:45 a.m.

• Oct. 10 – "Women in Leadership Conference," from 1 p.m.-3 p.m., MSU/Khalmus Auditorium. Information on women's health issues will be provided.

• Oct. 11 – Methodist Women's Conference, from 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Call CAREousel for more information.

• Oct. 17 – National Mammography Day.

• Oct. 21 – CAREousel meeting. Breast cancer survivors will be honor; refreshments and door prizes provided.

• Oct. 26 – Dr. Robert Berg, facilitator for CAREousel, will be featured on WTOK's "On the Record" at 6 p.m.

• Throughout the month of October: Pink Sundays and Pink Thursdays.

For more information, call CAREousel Breast Cancer Support Group, (601) 482-5174.