Battling a disease that touches all

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women of all ethnic backgrounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk for the disease start annual screening with mammograms between ages 40 and 44. 

Nassau County hospitals and organizations are hosting programs throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to help increase understanding of the disease and its treatment.

The annual Glow of Hope ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the legislative chamber of the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola. The chamber’s dome will be lit in pink for the entire month in a “celebration of survivorship,” said Geri Barish, executive director of Hewlett House, a cancer resource center, and president of 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition in Hewlett. 

“Anything that will raise the consciousness level and raise awareness is fabulous,” said Barish, a breast cancer survivor. 

Dr. Eric D. Seitelman of South Nassau Communities Hospital; Dr. Virginia Maurer of Winthrop University Hospital, another cancer survivor; and Barish will speak at the ceremony, and the Sweet Adeline singers will perform. Peninsula Kiwanis, one of two Kiwanis chapters in the Five Towns, will be recognized for its work with Hewlett House. There will also be a candle-lighting ceremony on the steps of the building. 

South Nassau Communities Hospital will offer a free community program on Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., that will include three presentations and light refreshments. The presentations, which will take place in the Oceanside facility’s Conference Center C, are “Update on the Treatment of Breast Cancer,” with Dr. Richard Lee, associate director of South Nassau’s oncology practice; “Current Breast Imaging Techniques and Strategies,” with Dr. Mindy Scheer, a radiologist at South Nassau’s Center for Women’s Imaging; and “Breast Cancer Myths,” with Dr. Christine Hodyl, director of breast services at the Gertrude and Louis Feil Cancer Center, also at South Nassau. 

“People need to be aware of how their breast looks and if there are any changes they’re observing,” Hodyl said. Once a patient is diagnosed, she explained, there is a multidisciplinary approach to treatment that involves “coordination and collaboration between a radiologist, surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and plastic surgeon.” 

Hodyl said that if there is an abnormality on a mammogram, other tests may be done, and then a patient will work with health care professionals to devise a plan in which three treatments are considered: surgery, medication or chemotherapy and radiation. 

The first annual Ladies Night Out “Give and Glam”-theme event will be held on Oct. 6, at Jericho Terrace, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and will benefit breast cancer services at Mercy Medical Center. Proceeds from the event will aid in the purchase of a 3D tomosynthesis machine to enhance the breast imaging services technology at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, which was designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, go to mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org/ladiesnightout, or call (516) 705-2620.

“At Mercy, we strive to offer excellence in quality care to our patients, along with state-of the-art imaging equipment to provide accurate diagnostic-quality images to assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer,” said Mercy spokeswoman Elisa Gerber.

Winthrop, in Mineola, is partnering with Belmont Park to host an awareness event at Belmont’s Super Saturday race on Oct. 8. An all-inclusive ticket is $50, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Winthrop’s Breast Health Center.

Bowling for Boobs, an event hosted by radio station WBLI at Bowlmor Lanes in Melville on Oct. 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., will benefit the Hewlett House. A $150 donation for a team of five bowlers will include commemorative T-shirts, shoe rental and three hours of bowling.

On Oct. 15, Hewlett House representatives will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Long Beach Road in Oceanside to decorate it in pink and talk to customers. They will be there all day to answer questions and provide information. 

Each year, representatives from Winthrop take part in the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach. The walk is scheduled for Oct. 16, and Winthrop’s Breast Health Center will have a tent set up with staff members providing information about the center. 

Breast cancer may be the focus in October, but Barish said the goal is to increase awareness of all forms of the disease. “It’s not just about breast cancer,” she said, “it’s about all cancer.” 

Have a story or an opinion about battling cancer? Send your story or letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.