By Anne Levin

When it comes to breast cancer, the statistics tell the story. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed in her lifetime. In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

But there is hope. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99 percent. Thanks to better screening, increased awareness, and improving treatment options, breast cancer rates have slowly gone down since 1989 — an overall decrease of 43 percent through 2020.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Local efforts to combat the disease include Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer on October 14 from 4-6 p.m. at the Witherspoon Hall parking lot, sponsored by the Princeton Health Department, Princeton Human Services, and Move Over Breast Cancer; and the 7th Annual Beyond Pink Art Show fundraiser on October 24 at MarketFair, sponsored by the YWCA Princeton’s Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). Artworks from that event remain on view through October 27.

The October 14 gathering is designed to provide information about prevention, detection, and treatment options. Princeton Council is also scheduled to read a proclamation at its meeting that evening. The Beyond Pink event is BCRC’s major fundraiser of the year. The 52-year-old organization offers free and low-cost support services for women and men living with, through, and beyond the disease. The BCRC provided more than 8,000 services to the public last year. This year so far, that number has risen to 10,000.

“The more we can educate and make people aware of breast cancer and its symptoms, and what resources are available, the better it is,” said Rose Wong, the YWCA’s CEO. “Everybody knows somebody who has either had breast cancer, passed away from it, or is struggling with it. We provide a huge amount of support and wraparound services, which is part of our overall mission.”

The Beyond Pink Art Show opens with a party where works of art inspired by breast cancer survivors and others affected by cancer are on display. “We welcome any artist at any level. They don’t have to be survivors. They can be caretakers, or artists just inspired by a type of cancer,” said BCRC Director Melissa White-McMahon. “The first night is a party and gallery opening with a bar, food, music, and some demonstrations of the healing arts we do here.”

Education is a priority for the BCRC, which goes into high schools to teach students about breast health, knowing their bodies, and family history. The organization also holds outreach efforts at local churches and companies that employ people who might not have access to sufficient health care.

“That definitely helps to remove barriers, which leads into our mission at the YWCA to eliminate racism and empower women,” said White-McMahon. “There is a lot of information. A lot of people don’t realize that cancer is not just genetic. Many more cases are not genetically linked, and we need to get the word out about that, and simplify it.”

Among the zero-cost programs offered by the BCRC are free wigs, post-mastectomy bras, chemo care bags, and breast forms, “which are extremely costly even with insurance,” said White-McMahon. “We have a healing arts program, five different support groups, wellness and educational programs, and talks by expert speakers about different topics. We connect women to others who might have the same diagnosis. That also extends to their families.”

For services not offered by the BCRC, the organization tries to connect clients with places that do offer them. “We are a resource center. So it’s not just what we can offer, but also finding resources in our community and throughout the state. We always say we don’t have any boundaries here,” said White-McMahon. “Any person who calls us, we are able to offer a line of support to them. We don’t turn anyone away, no matter what type of cancer they have.”

Breast cancer is a lifetime disease. “Not everyone understands that,” said White-McMahon. “And recurrence is a real thing. We are here from day one and throughout.”

White-McMahon sees evidence of advancements in treatment, especially for those with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. In 2018, the BCRC provided services for one woman in that situation. Currently, there are 15. “They have really come so far with treatments,” she said. “We really support that community, because it is a growing community. They will never be cured, but we are helping them thrive.”

Visit ywcaprinceton.org/beyondpink for information about attending or sponsoring Beyond Pink. Visit princetonnj.gov for information about the Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer event.