A FIELD of pink and blue silhouettes has been established in front of the South Gippsland Hospital Community Health Centre in Foster to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October.
The silhouettes symbolise all women and men who, together with their families and friends, are affected by breast cancer.
More than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, including about 170 men.
People from throughout the Corner Inlet district as well as local hospital and medical staff are invited to show their support for and to pay tribute to those for whom breast cancer has come into their lives.
South Gippsland Hospital McGrath Breast Care Nurse and Women’s Health Nurse Catherine Enter said tribute cards are available in the foyer of the Community Health Centre until the end of October.
“We are asking people to write a message to their loved one and then attach the card to one of the silhouettes,” she said.
“The Community Health Centre is open during business hours from Monday to Thursday each week.”
Ms Enter said the South Gippsland Hospital has backed Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October for “quite a number of years.
“People are familiar with the Pink Lady and the Blue Man silhouettes now and it’s so heart-warming to see how many messages of support appear on them.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is one of the many activities of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), which is Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation,” she said.
“BCNA’s focus is on the people affected by breast cancer and all those around them, not the disease.”
BCNA chief executive officer Kirsten Pilatti said “55 Australians will be told they have breast cancer today.
“The same will happen tomorrow, and the next day too, making breast cancer the most common cancer affecting Australian women,” she said.
“For the past 22 years, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that all Australians who are affected by breast cancer receive the very best care, treatment and support.
“We always have been, and always will be, committed to this legacy, and are excited by the opportunities that digital innovation, emerging medical research, and leading practice offer to deliver better information and support, connection and voice for people affected by breast cancer,” Ms Pilatti said.
“We will make sure that nobody goes through breast cancer alone.”
For more information about Breast Cancer Network Australia see www.bcna.org.au.
Foster.vic.au feed
Discussion
Comments are disallowed for this post.
Comments are closed.