Maine Cancer Survivors Day Preempts Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Two weeks prior, Maine celebrated cancer survivors.
The 11th annual Cancer Survivors Day was held at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta on September 12th. The event celebrated Mainers who have beat cancer, with music, food and fun. Inspirational stories from survivors resonated throughout the attendees and standup comedy by Maine humorist Gary Crocker added entertainment to the free event. This year’s theme was “Inspiration for Life.”
Hundreds of cancer survivors gathered to share stories and celebrate life, and Governor John Baldacci and his wife were in attendance to support the survivors’ strength and perseverance. Keynote speaker, Heather Perry, a cancer survivor, spoke about finding out she had cancer while pregnant. She delivered a healthy baby boy and beat the disease, but the treatment left her unable to have any more children. Her message to cancer patients was to stay strong, and delivered a challenge to doctors to find less harmful treatment for cancer patients.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. The health campaign is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness. The month long celebration is dedicated to educating the general public on the disease, providing greater access to screening services, and empowering women to take charge of their own health by practicing regular self-breast exams.
Breast cancer forms in the tissues of the breast and occurs in both women and men. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year in the United States with an additional 2,000 new cases in men. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. An estimated 40,000 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2009.
Treatment for breast cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. A patient and his or her physician commonly chooses the treatment that is right for him or her based on the location and extent of the cancer, the patient's age and preferences, and the risks and benefits of each treatment. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to our family, friends, clients, and Mainers who have been affected by cancer. Today, it seems as if everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer, which makes it all the more important to remember those that have passed, celebrate those who have survived, and educate those who have been unaffected. It just may saves lives down the road.
For more information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month please visit: www.mainebreastcancer.org.
