Pink replaces the traditional gold and blue at West Virginia University in October as the University recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

West Virginia’s home page (http://www.wvu.edu/) will sport a special pink background from Oct. 1 through Friday, Oct. 8.

At WVU’s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center and all across campus, efforts are being made to raise awareness about the second-most common cancer in U.S. women, trailing only skin cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, around 207,090 women will be diagnosed and 39,840 women will die of cancer of the breast this year. The American Cancer Society reports there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

Dr. Jame Abraham, chief of hematology/oncology at WVU’s School of Medicine and medical director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, says support, by both family and community, is crucial in helping any cancer patient.

“When anybody has cancer, particularly when they are diagnosed, they feel like they’re alone and the world becomes a lonely place,” Dr. Abraham said. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month bring us all together, it lets patients know they are not alone in this fight. That has a healthy, tremendous effect on patients.”

Support and first-class medical care, such as that found at WVU, have reduced cancer risks and decreased mortality rates. Abraham said breast cancer deaths have decreased by about 8 percent since the late 1990s.

“Breast cancer is one of the cancers we can cure if we can find it early,” he said. “Breast cancer awareness helps us educate women. The self breast exam, regular physicals and regular mammograms have clearly helped us in finding cancers early on and the steady decrease in mortality rate the past 10-15 years is mainly because of education and a greater awareness of early detection.”

On Sunday, Oct. 3, the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center is hosting an Afternoon of Enlightenment for breast cancer survivors at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Star City. Breast cancer survivors will join fellow survivors and cancer specialists from WVU’s Cancer Center for an afternoon of sharing, celebration and learning. Cancer Center experts including Drs. Abraham, Sobha Kurian, Carl Jueng and Hannah Hazard will discuss the newest medical advances and technologies available for treating breast cancer.

WVU Healthcare is providing several opportunities for area citizens to combat breast cancer.

Friday, Oct. 1, WVU is offering free clinical breast exams as part of its annual WVU Health Expo at Morgantown Mall. Also, Bonnie’s Bus, WVU’s mobile mammography unit, will be there to provide screening mammograms, with the cost billed to insurance.

Free clinical breast exams are also offered Monday, Oct. 4 from 4-8 p.m. at the Cancer Center. The later hours are to accommodate working women. If the breast exam reveals an irregularity, patients will be referred to the Betty Puskar Breast Care Center for imaging.

Each Monday in October, the WVUH Friends Gift Shop, located near the entrance of Ruby Memorial Hospital, is asking all employees here to wear pink as part of the Paint the Town Pink campaign, an initiative of West Virginia University Hospitals, University Health Associates and Health Sciences. The annual Betty Puskar Fashion Show is Monday, Oct. 25 at Lakeview.

Later this month, Dr. Abraham and Dr. Hazard will appear on Doctors On Call, a live, statewide call-in television show that is broadcast on PBS stations all over the state. Drs. Abraham and Hazard will also appear on HealthLine, a radio show featured on WAJR, and will talk about breast cancer in the West Virginia Health Report, which will air on five newscasts statewide.

Abraham said proper diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help prevent the disease or greatly improve a patient’s quality of life. Obesity, along with tobacco use, is one of the leading causes for cancer, particularly in West Virginia.

“The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer live a long life,” Abraham said. “Early detection and effective treatment offers great help and will enhance their chances for survival.”

The message of support will also be spread through WVU’s athletics teams.

The football team will display a small pink ribbon on the back of helmets for all October games. Messages in support of breast cancer awareness will be displayed on the video boards during home football games and at Mountaineer Madness, a tip-off event for the men’s and women’s basketball teams Oct. 15 at the Coliseum. Video messages will also be incorporated onto the information stations throughout campus.

On Oct. 8, the volleyball team hosts its “Dig Pink” match against Georgetown. All fans will be encouraged to wear pink.

On Oct. 17 at halftime of its match against Georgetown, the women’s soccer team will make a special check presentation for the money it raised this spring to fight breast cancer. The WVU women’s soccer team has raised more than $60,000 over the past seven years to help fight the disease.

“I am very proud of our ladies for their efforts in raising money and awareness for breast cancer,” says coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We have built a strong relationship with Betty Puskar and the Breast Care Center at WVU. Being able to assist in the research efforts in our community is a wonderful thing.”

In the winter, the women’s basketball team and the gymnastics team will each have a “Think Pink” event.

Also, a “Party in Pink” Zumbathon was held at the WVU Rec Center Sept. 26 and raised nearly $1,000 to help fund breast cancer research and awareness. Others are scheduled for Oct. 16 and in January, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

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CONTACT: WVU University Relations/News
304-293-6997

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