“Pink October” is officially here! M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando kicked off “Pink October”, a month dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer, with its annual Hope Hike from City Hall. The hike, which began on the steps of City Hall and continued down Orange Avenue to M. D. Anderson – Orlando’s cancer treatment facility on the Orlando Health campus, brought together community members, government leaders, oncologists, and breast cancer patients, survivors and their families in solidarity in the fight against breast cancer.
Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and Commissioner Robert Stuart were present at the kickoff of the Hope Hike, issuing proclamations declaring October as “Pink October.” M. D. Anderson – Orlando breast cancer oncologist Nikita Shah, MD provided a medical update on the fight against breast cancer and the work going on at M. D. Anderson – Orlando to diagnose and treat breast cancer patients in Central Florida. A breast cancer survivor also shared her personal experience battling the disease.
“M. D. Anderson – Orlando’s ‘Pink October’ is a chance to recognize those who have successfully fought and those who are currently fighting this disease, but also an opportunity for us to remind everyone that with early diagnosis and current treatments more women are surviving breast cancer and going on to live very full lives,” said Clarence Brown III, MD, President and CEO of M.D. Anderson – Orlando. “In order to continue to save lives we must focus on raising awareness and spreading the word about this disease. That is what ‘Pink October’ is all about.”
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in the United States. Every three minutes a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed and every 13 minutes a woman dies from breast cancer. Yet this type of cancer is being diagnosed earlier and earlier and as a result fewer women are dying of this disease each year. In 2009, it is estimated that 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which is down 20,000 cases over the last few years.
