Livingston Ties Pink Ribbon For Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Livingston Health Department's Nursing Division is doing their part to keep the public informed about breast cancer.

On Friday, the department held a “Tie a Pink Ribbon” Ceremony at the gazebo on the Oval.  The department distributed educational information, posters and hand outs to residents to help them understand the dangers of breast cancer.  The information eas donated by the Susan G. Komen foundation and Saint Barnabas Breast Center.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women, next to lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.  For women, about one in 36 deaths are caused by breast cancer.  Approximately 39,510 women will die from breast cancer in 2012.

But, at this time, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, including those who are still being treated and those who completed treatment.

Seton Hall University's nursing department provided posters sharing various tidbits of information about breast cancer.  According to Delores Keller, the head of the nursing division for Livingston, and the person who set up the event, the posters are reusable for various breast cancer awareness events around town. 

In addition to the posters and informational materials, residents were able to tie pink ribbons around trees and other town-owned property to symbolize the event.