Five years ago, my cousin Sylvia, whom I’m very close to, was diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer. In her case, the cancer spread to auxiliary lymph nodes which resulted in a double radical mastectomy. Today, through aggressive treatment and superior support and care, Sylvia is cancer free and has joined the ranks of the proud and grateful survivors of this insidious disease.
Breast cancer will affect nearly all of us over the course of our lifetime. I conducted an informal and admittedly unscientific poll of my friends, family and neighbors. I asked if they had friends, co-workers or loved ones who have had breast cancer. My unscientific poll revealed that almost everyone with whom I spoke indicated they do know someone or have a family member or friend that has been affected by some form of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Snohomish County from 2001 through 2005 with about 556 new cases occurring each year. More than 960 women died of breast cancer during this period. But the rate of mortality from breast cancer decreased from 32 deaths per 100,000 women in 1992 to 22 deaths per 100,000 in 2006. The combination of decreasing death rates with rising incidence rates has resulted mainly from improved screening. Better screening means that cancers are caught at an earlier, more treatable stage of development.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The management and staff at The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times are partnering with a local women’s health care program to spread the word about this treatable but sometimes fatal disease. It is our goal at The Globe and The Times to help provide the citizens of our communities with an awareness of the need for routine screening, self breast examinations and available help and support at the local level. Part of our mission is to provide hope and support to breast cancer patients and their families and friends through our printed publications, our websites and our partnership in our communities. To that end, a portion of the ad sales from our local businesses who advertise in our Oct. 10 edition will be donated back to a woman’s health program in our communities. I would like to invite our readers to look for our “pink” expanded editions of The Globe and The Times that will be distributed Oct. 10. There, you will find helpful available local resources regarding breast cancer, informative articles and inspirational stories from community members who have personal experiences with the disease. For local businesses and organizations that would like to advertise in this special “pink” edition, feel free to call our office at 360-659-1300.
Please join me and the staff at The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times and our partners in the community to educate ourselves and our loved ones that there is hope for a cure of breast cancer.
C. Paul Brown is the Publisher of The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe and can be reached at 360-659-1300 or via email at pbrown@soundpublishing.com.
