Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital to hold Breast Cancer Awareness Ceremony/Walk on October 17th

BACH invites Community to join this Event

Fort Campbell, KY – Blanchfield Army Community Hospital’s medical team is hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness ceremony and walk October 17th at noon at the hospital’s “A” building Veranda, next to the healing garden. Breast cancer survivors, their families and the community are invited to attend.

“This is a special time we can offer our support to Soldiers, Retirees and Families who have braved through the diagnosis, treatments and battles with breast cancer. It is also a time to reflect and remember our community members who have lost the battle to breast cancer,” said BACH commander Col. George N. Appenzeller.

A local breast cancer survivor will share her story and hope for others going through the process. After the ceremony, survivors, their Families and other attendees will have an opportunity to write messages on bricks in pink chalk remembering their battle.

Afterwards, everyone will be encouraged to walk the wellness track circling the hospital while gaining valuable wellness tips along the path. In addition, women will have an opportunity to schedule their annual mammogram at the ceremony site.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 232,670 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast and 62,570 women will be diagnosed with in situ (non-invasive) breast cancer in the United States this year (2014); about 2,360 new cases are expected in men.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. Breast cancer ranks second as a cause of death from cancer in women, after lung cancer. The third week in October was established as “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week” by several male breast cancer advocacy groups. An estimated 40,000 women and 430 men are expected to die from the disease in 2014.

BACH’s chief of Radiology Maj. Paul Shogan encourages women to schedule their annual mammogram anytime but if they come to the ceremony prepared with dates in mind, they can schedule at that time.

According to Shogan, “Mammography can often detect breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more effective. Steady declines in breast cancer mortality rates have been attributed to a combination of early detection by mammography and improved treatments.”