20 NEW YORK, NY: OCTOBER IS Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness of this complex disease. Each year, individuals, businesses, and communities come together to show their support for the many people affected by breast cancer. For people affected by breast cancer, awareness is not just about October. And there’s not just one way to have breast cancer. Breast cancer is complicated. Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC), helps people diagnosed with breast cancer understand their options, make informed decisions, and connect to people who have been where they are. Those diagnosed are taking control of their experience by making choices that express their values and individuality. This October, Living Beyond Breast Cancer is sharing some of the ways people thrive with breast cancer and how your support today can help people impacted by breast cancer — all year long. Quick facts about breast cancer • About one in eight U.S. women and one in 726 U.S. men will develop breast cancer over the course of their lives. • In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S. An estimated 56,500 people will be diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer. • An estimated 42,250 women will lose their lives to stage IV or metastatic breast cancer in 2024. • In 2024, there were over 4 million women living with a history of breast cancer in the US. • About nine percent% of all new breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women 45 and under. • Though black women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than white women b Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer. These numbers remind us there is still urgent work to do – more than we can accomplish in just one month. Early detection saves lives… Support Resources… Breast Cancer is and can be an emotional time for many people. Some find it triggering. The folks at LBBC, see, hear and serve the breast cancer community year-round and are inspired by all the ways people, survive. key that opens the door to survival, strength, and hope. A simple act, one screening, one check, can change the course of a life. From Diagnosis to Resilience: Voices of Survivors Elizabeth Emmanuel – two years in remission “Looking back two years after my breast cancer diagnosis, the greatest lesson it taught me is the value of truly living in the present. I learned that strength is not just about pushing through difficult moments, but also about giving myself permission to slow down, accept help, and appreciate life in its smallest detail. Most of all, I discovered how vital the love and support of family and friends are. They became my anchor, my courage, and my reminder that none of us should walk through hardship alone.” Her message to others: “You are stronger than you realise, and you are not alone. The road may feel overwhelming, but each step forward is a victory. Hold on to hope. There is life, joy, and purpose beyond cancer.” Nadine Johnson – three years posttreatment & survivor advocate “Breast cancer didn’t stop my life. It reshaped it. I was already someone who believed in making memories, taking trips, and living fully. But after cancer, the meaning behind why I live that way deepened. It’s no longer just about enjoying life. It’s about honouring it.” Nadine now channels her healing into helping others, founding the NJ Foundation, which offers a space of strength and sisterhood for women navigating life during and after cancer. She says, “Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens together.” The Science of Hope Dr Nelson continues to emphasise that TNBC research has entered a hopeful new era. With the emergence of immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and genetic testing, personalised care is now possible where once there was limited treatment. “We’re seeing real progress,” she shares. “The goal is not only survival but quality of life, helping women live fully and fearlessly after treatment.” REFLECTION As I continue to listen to the stories of women who have faced breast cancer with courage, I am reminded that awareness is not only about science. It’s about heart. Behind every diagnosis is a life interrupted, a family forever changed, and a voice that deserves to be heard. Science gives us knowledge, but hope gives us endurance. The breakthroughs we celebrate today are the result of both, of doctors who dedicate their lives to discovery and of survivors who remind us what strength truly looks like. This collaboration with Dr Nelson and the voices of survivors like Elizabeth and Nadine reflect a shared truth: healing is not just medical. It’s emotional, spiritual, and collective. Together, we continue to shine a light for those still walking through their own storm, reminding them that there is life, beauty, and purpose beyond the diagnosis. Because when science meets compassion, miracles begin. - Christine Marzouca in collaboration with Dr Amanda Nelson (Atlanta) Science, survival, and the power of hope PRETTY IN PINK. Christine Marzouca (left) and Dr. Amanda Nelson (right). CONTRIBUTED BREAST CANCER AWARENESS 2025 Each October, the world unites in pink, a colour that symbolises courage, remembrance, and the fight against breast cancer. This year, Dr Amanda Nelson, an esteemed oncologist and primary-care physician now residing in Atlanta, joins forces once again with Christine Marzouca, Jamaica’s first patientcare navigator for triple negative breast cancer, to raise awareness and strengthen early detection efforts across the Caribbean and beyond. Their partnership continues to highlight one of the most urgent women’s health challenges: triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form that disproportionately affects women of African descent and those in the Caribbean. Unlike other types, TNBC lacks hormone receptors, making it more difficult to treat. Yet, advancements in immunotherapy and targeted treatments are offering new hope and better outcomes than ever before. The Power of Early Detection The Jamaica Cancer Society continues to urge women to prioritise annual mammograms, starting at age 40, along with regular clinical breast exams. Women with a strong family history or genetic risk factors should begin screening earlier and consult their healthcare providers about additional imaging options such as MRI or ultrasound. Early detection remains the October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 16 - NOVEMBER 13, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE
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