Breast cancer: Stories of survival

October 22, 2012

As each year comes and goes, the color pink has become a common trademark that most people are aware of. It is seen on athletes, business signs, vehicles, food labels, and more. The infamous pink ribbon is something that represents the strength and awareness that comes with the diagnosis of breast cancer and the women who fight one of the toughest battles there is to fight.
Breast cancer accounts for over one third of invasive cancers in women. The five year survival rate of breast cancer is over 90% when detected early and is the most common in American women and second leading cause of women’s cancer deaths.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Many may be aware of breast cancer, but many also forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.
Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns and organizations have made a lot of progress in raising awareness and funding for research, but still have much progress to be made, and are always open to donations.
The slogans “Fight Like a Girl,” “Think Pink,” “Get Your Pink On,” and more have become common phrases of the strength, empowerment, encouragement and positive attitude that women battling breast cancer represent.
Whether it is marathons, fundraisers, sporting the national breast cancer awareness color, or purchasing merchandise that helps fund research, awareness still needs to be spread for others to know of the impact of breast cancer and the importance of seeing a doctor and always checking for signs of breast cancer.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries.
In fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors, and then the pink ribbon was established in 1993 by Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estee Lauder Companies, Evelyn Lauder, when she founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to represent breast cancer awareness.
There are many ways to get involved on a national level for walks, pink days, and fundraisers, but everyone should always remember that although national recognition is important, there are people in the Panhandle area who are battling this battle as well.
Hearing the words “cancer free” is one of the most rewarding sounds for friends, family, and cancer fighters across the world, but there are some that still have that tough road ahead of them, and some that weren’t able to win that fight. All are recognized with the awareness that this month brings, and each story is as powerful as the next.
Amber Adams submitted a photo of her mother, Ruth Adams of Plains, Kan., who was diagnosed with breast cancer Dec. 2, 2011, two months to the day that her husband passed away.
“She had surgery in January and did radiation,” said Amber. “After her treatments, the doctor stated ‘no more cancer!’”
Ruth was 60 years old when diagnosed and her one year anniversary is coming up.
Kandi Chesnut also submitted a photo. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer on Oct. 11 of this year. She is 38 years old and lives in Guymon. This overwhelming diagnosis is not an easy one to face, but everyone hopes that with awareness and support from the community and nation, she will have great encouragement and positive stories to help lift her spirits as she faces this battle.
As they eyes of the nation see the sight of pink floating around the autumn days of October, they are encouraged to keep in mind that women all over the world have fought a hard fight, and have overcome many obstacles with breast cancer that represent each fiber of pink that is shown. Awareness is important, so the meaning behind this month is influence the people of the nation to do what they can for research and finding out all they can do to help other women be aware and informed of what they can do to be prepared.