October has arrived, and St. Joseph’s/Candler is once again partnering with the Savannah Morning News and WSAV News 3 to PAINT THE TOWN PINK. We are inviting the community to join us in one shared purpose:
to spread hope and awareness of breast cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship, not only throughout Savannah and Chatham County, but to every far corner of the Coastal Empire and the Lowcountry.
This is the 19th year of the PAINT THE TOWN PINK campaign, and our message is as crucial and urgent as ever: early detection of breast cancer can save lives. Routine mammography remains the gold standard for detecting breast cancer early, and it must be accessible for all eligible patients, even those who are uninsured or underinsured.
The United States designated October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month decades ago, opening up the dialogue around breast cancer publicly and educating communities about mammography. On a local level, we know that breast cancer touches almost all of our lives in some way. You may have a family member or a friend who is a survivor, or who lost their fight to the disease. You may be a survivor yourself. Your story may help others finally get the mammogram they have been putting off, whether because they feel too busy juggling work and family demands or because they are worried about how to afford it. Share the empowering data that we’ve learned over the past two decades, including this fact from the American Cancer Society: if breast cancer is detected at a localized stage—before it has spread beyond the breast—the five-year relative survival rate is an incredible 99 percent.
Also, tell your loved ones about the Telfair Mammography Fund. This fund is the reason we PAINT THE TOWN PINK. It was created to remove all financial obstacles to mammography and other breast health services. We don’t want anyone in our community postponing or canceling a mammogram due to inability to pay. Every dollar we raise this October goes to filling this fund up, to be used by any woman who is facing a financial barrier to mammography, and then refilling it for the next woman in need.
The defining power of PAINT THE TOWN PINK is that we don’t do it alone. Along with our partners, the Savannah Morning News and WSAV, we are privileged to have so many Savannah citizens, organizations and businesses who are hosting their own fundraising events. Schools such as St. Vincent’s Academy and The Habersham School have already held their Pink Night volleyball tournaments. Restaurants, hair salons, and even car dealerships are raising money in fun and creative ways. We will even see the City Hall dome lit up in pink this month. The citywide campaign will culminate with our annual Mammography Day on Monday, Oct. 26. Technicians at our five regional locations and our Mobile Mammography Unit will work tirelessly to provide as many screenings as possible, and anyone who receives a screening on Mammography Day will be entered to win a one-night stay at the Plant Riverside District. You can schedule your appointment for Mammography Day, or any time in October, by calling 912-819-PINK.
With the Telfair Mammography Fund, a routine mammogram has become a reality for those who once saw it as just a wish. But for some patients, mammography is only the entry point to a path of treatment and survivorship. If your screening is positive for breast cancer, the responsibility of the experts and caregivers at St. Joseph’s/Candler has only just begun. The next step is providing support and access to advanced, personalized cancer care.
More than at any other time in history, the journey of a breast cancer patient is a hopeful one. Medical advances, targeted therapies, and a seamless continuum of care, like the kind available at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, have redefined what it means to face a breast cancer diagnosis. Each Sunday this month, this space will feature the voice of a physician—a breast surgeon, a radiologist, and a medical oncologist—who will share their real-time insights into modern treatment options and the brighter future that is emerging on the horizon.
So keep reading the Savannah Morning News, tune in to WSAV, and follow St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit our website at www.sjchs.org to see what’s happening next in our campaign. We can’t PAINT THE TOWN PINK without you, so please join us in spreading awareness about breast cancer and sharing the vital message of detecting it early through regular mammography screenings.
Paul P. HincheyPresident & CEOSt. Joseph’s/Candler
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Why you should schedule your mammogram this October | Opinion
