Chicago Southland residents ‘Paint the Town Pink’ for breast cancer awareness

Over 260 breast cancer survivors, patients, clinicians and residents from Chicago's South Side and south suburbs gathered Oct. 10 at Advocate Christ Medical Center to learn how everyday choices and timely screenings can lower breast cancer risk and help detect the disease earlier.

Over the past two decades, the medical center's annual Paint the Town Pink for Prevention and Early Detection of Breast Cancer has grown into a highly anticipated event. This year, Advocate cancer experts scheduled mammograms and presented brief talks on rehabilitation therapy for cancer patients, inherited breast cancer risk and the effects GLP-1 medications, alcohol and vaping may have on breast cancer risk.

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"Many participants return each year to learn about the latest wellness activities and breast cancer prevention resources," said Susan Latocha, health and wellness coordinator at Advocate Health Care. "They value connecting with others whose lives have been touched by breast cancer and who share the hope that early detection will save more lives."

Attendees also participated in chair yoga, watched meal preparation demonstrations, sampled healthy beverages and snacks and toured a giant walk-through breast exhibit.

"One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime," said Dr. Joslyn Albright, a breast surgeon at Advocate Christ who spoke about the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer. "As clinicians, it's critical that we educate women about the importance of taking steps to lower their risk and keeping up with self-exams and mammograms."

Regular mammograms can find breast cancer before it is large enough to be felt or cause symptoms. When breast cancer is found before it has spread beyond the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is greater than 99%, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Paint the Town Pink is a wonderful opportunity to bring community members together to learn how lifestyle choices and medications such as GLP-1s can affect cancer risk," said Dr. Shaina Rozell, a hematologist-oncologist at Advocate Christ, who spoke during the event. "We're committed to helping women understand their individual risk and empowering them to make healthy, lasting changes."