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Oklahoma Senate
Legislature shows support of Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Members of Soulful Survivors and the many other organizations and businesses who participated in the 5th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the state Capitol pose with former state and event chair Sen. Judy Eason-McIntire, Sen. Jabar Shumate, Sen. Con
Several members of the state Senate wore pink Tuesday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the state Capitol. This year marked the 5th anniversary of the special event started, and chaired each year, by former state senator and breast cancer survivor, Judy Eason-McIntire.
The Senate approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, authored by Sen. Jabar Shumate, Rep. Anastasia Pittman and Rep. Kevin Matthews, designating the special educational day at the Capitol.
“We all know someone who has battled breast cancer given that it’s the most common cancer among American women, affecting one in eight women,” said Shumate, D-Tulsa. “Breast cancer is so common but a lot of women don’t take the necessary steps, like getting an annual mammogram, to detect it; and early detection is what saves lives. This event helps educate women about the importance of early detection but also helps patients by providing information about available treatments and support groups around the state.”
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and is projected to claims the live of nearly 40,000 in 2013. This year, an estimated 232,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. There are currently around three million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
Around 20 businesses and organizations from around the state including Soulful Survivors, the IBC Foundation and OU’s Stephenson Cancer Center had displays in the fourth floor rotunda with information on detection and prevention as well as treatment options, medical assistance and a variety of other information for patients and survivors.
The event was dedicated to the memory of American Association for Cancer Research Foundation for Prevention and Cure of Cancer trustee Zora Brown, who was a pioneering advocate for cancer research and breast cancer awareness among minorities. Brown lost her battle to ovarian cancer on March 3, 2013, at the age of 63.
