During the month of October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the pink ribbon is seen everywhere. Thanks to the courage of survivors, The Cancer Society of the Bahamas, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation, and thousands of others internationally, awareness of breast cancer continues to grow. Corporate partner Ports International is dedicated to raising awareness of all aspects of breast cancer and continues to make a difference in the Bahamas.
One way Ports is raising awareness is by providing pink exam gloves to clinicians. Not only can clinicians promote awareness by wearing the pink gloves, but also other people can support Breast Cancer Awareness Month is by using them for gardening, applying hair color, food service, cleaning, arts and crafts and much more. In addition to awareness, as an annual initiative, Ports International will donate the proceeds from the sale of the Medline pink exam gloves to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas.
Wearing pink gloves is a very visible way to remind women (and men) that breast cancer is still touching lives and that early detection and prevention is still key explained Michele Rassin-Moodie. We know that mammograms save lives, if all women received regular screenings and early mammograms, the death rate would decrease more than 20 percent. But as healthcare providers, we know that is not enough.
The Bahamas incidence of inherited breast cancer is twice as high as the highest rate recorded in high risk groups around the world. Statistics reveal that 43% of Bahamian women diagnosed with breast cancer die before the age of 50 while the average age of death in American women is 65. For all the progress that has been made, breast cancer is still, unfortunately, the number two cancer among women. Many of those could have been saved with education and awareness, focused action, and on proven prevention and early detection interventions. For more information or to make a donation, contact the Cancer Society of the Bahamas at 242-323-3441.