Published: October 29, 2009 02:24 pm      

October lasts all year long

Breast cancer threat not confined to one month

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

Throughout October we’ve been bombarding you with stories and statistics related to breast cancer.

Hopefully, you’ve noticed.

Hopefully, you’ve acted.

Since Oct. 1, we’ve had the traditional pink ribbon in our front-page flag, and we’ve published breast cancer facts each day.

We’ve kept a running calendar of breast cancer awareness events in the area.

Our “Community of Hope” special section was included in the Oct. 1 issue. And on Oct. 13, we published our “pink edition” – with pink pages wherever we could print in color.

We’ve shared the experiences of doctors, researchers and cancer survivors from across the region – powerful and inspirational stories about the real people who are fighting this dreaded disease, or who are helping in that battle through diagnostics, treatment, science and advocacy.

And we’ve had lots of help all month long.

Our partners have included Conemaugh Health System and Memorial Medical Center, Windber Medical Center and the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, First Commonwealth Bank, Windber Research Institute, AmeriServ Financial, 1st Summit Bank, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kongsberg Defense Corp., UPMC Health Plan, Concurrent Technologies Corp., MountainTop Technologies Corp., Comprehensive Management Services Inc. and the American Cancer Society.

These businesses care enough about the community to support our efforts with their advertising.

Numerous other local businesses contributed to the initiative – and local cancer programs – by purchasing ribbons that appeared in their advertisements.

We produced a similar breast cancer awareness program in 2008. And after last year, local health officials told us that they had many more women who came in for screenings or mammograms as a result of the awareness we helped generate.

Some of those women found problems that could be addressed much earlier than they might have otherwise.

And this year’s program was even bigger – more stories, more space dedicated to awareness content, more sponsors helping us deliver the message.

Was it successful?

If one more woman went to a local screening for breast cancer, it was.

If one woman found a problem and could get early treatment, it was.

If one man urged his wife to get screened, it was.

If one woman talked to her sister, her mother, her daughter about breast cancer, it was.

Thanks to the companies that have supported this effort.

Thanks to the brave individuals who shared their stories with us and with our readers.

Yes, October is ending.

But the threat of breast cancer does not confine itself to one month on the calendar.

We urge our readers to be diligent all year.

This is a killer we can beat.

On the Web

You can read a month's worth of special breast cancer awareness content online at www.tribdem.com/breastcancer.