9th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event Held Friday at Stroger

Red and blue may be the colors to wear in Chicago now that the Chicago Cubs have gotten to the World Series. But at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital on Friday, it was all about pink.

Stroger had its 9^th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event on Friday, and more than 200 people—both women and men—showed up for the event.  Most came wearing a pink T-shirt to show their support for breast cancer awareness.  But one woman rocked a pink wig, while another wore a pink tutu.

The event featured several doctors, who talked to the audience about issues like stress management during cancer treatment, screening recommendation for healthy living and details about how to get involved in clinical trials.  There was also plenty of entertainment, featuring the Tina Turner impersonator, Dorothy Roberson, and bands like the Mariachi Mexico Vivo.

And when all of the breast cancer survivors—or “conquerors” as some of the women called themselves—were asked to stand up and be recognized while a singer crooned ”You Are Beautiful,” there was a mix of smiling, crying and people hugging each other. More than half of the 200 people stood up during this moving tribute.

One attendee—Shirley Aldridge, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012—said she found the event very educational.

“I also like that so many of the breast cancer survivors were here and we could talk to each other about our experiences,” she said. “That was powerful.”

Breast cancer survivor, Brenda Starr Woods, agreed. Sporting the pink wig, Woods said she has been coming to the annual breast cancer awareness event for the last 6 years with her group, the Chi Town Hoofers.  Her cancer has been in remission since 2006.

“The reason I come here is to let the ladies who are now just coming into the experience of having breast cancer know that there is life at the end of the tunnel,” the 68-year-old woman said.

Another group at Stroger also wore pink on Friday to show their support for breast cancer awareness. The entire staff of Stroger’s emergency room wore matching shirts that they bought, saying “Early Detection Saves Lives.”  The staff—which includes nurses, technicians and some doctors—has been wearing the shirt every Friday this month to get the message out about screening.

The slogan of the shirt refers to the finding that women whose breast cancer is found at an early stage tend to have a better outcome.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States, after lung cancer.

Getting routine mammograms as part of attention to one’s overall health care can increase the likelihood of finding a cancer at the early stage.

Comprehensive Breast Program, which is run by Cook County Health, provides more than 13,000 mammograms annually and offers the full continuum of high quality breast cancer care from screenings to diagnostic and treatment services.

To make an appointment for a mammogram, you can call the CCH Patient Support Center at 312-864-0200.