Why Breast Cancer Awareness is Front and Center this October

With fall bringing cooler weather and bursts of color from falling leaves, it is time to spread the word about the upcoming Philadelphia Women’s Business Network Connection's Third Annual B-Strong & Pink Out Breast Cancer Awareness Event on Thursday, October 5.

Founder and CEO, Felicia Shanken, who knows as a long-term medical professional the importance of early detection and mammograms, urges everyone to take care of their breast health and let all of the women in their lives know to do the same.

“I support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and always because I come from a medical background of over 25 years and women’s health is very near and dear to me,” explained Shanken. “I started in Radiology early in my career and then I went back to school and received a degree at Gwynedd Mercy University for Nursing.”

Why do you and the PWNC support Breast Cancer Awareness?

Felicia Shanken: Early detection is key; the more we shine a light on this horrible disease, the more chances women have of surviving breast cancer. It only made sense to bring this awareness to the Philadelphia Women’s Network Connection organization because, after all, we are a women’s network group.

What are the goals of this event?

Our yearly Signature Breast Cancer Events aim to bring more awareness and knowledge to this disease while informing more women of how important it is to get yearly mammograms and not wait until there is an issue. Women take care of everyone else including our families while we are the last ones taken care of, that has to stop. If we are not ok then our families are not ok. We want women to make their health a priority.

Why is this something we need to care about for ourselves, daughters, aunts, mothers, and other female family members?

The women of the family are the foundation of the family, whether they are daughters, aunts, mothers, or other female family members, they will have families of their own one day and they have to be well in order to take care of them.

Mammograms can be used to look for breast cancer, either as a screening test in women without symptoms or in women who have symptoms that might be from cancer. A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early when it’s small and even before a lump can be felt. This is when it’s likely to be easier to treat. Working with a great oncologist and early detection is key in the treatment plan.

What do you appreciate about this event?

What I appreciate about the event is that it gives PWNC the opportunity to bring women of all races and ages together in a safe, fun, and inspiring environment where survivors can share powerful stories of their journeys. We do this to let survivors know that they are not in this fight alone, we care, we hear them and we are here to support them on whatever level they need.

This year we are doing something a little differently besides having a caterer, vendors, speakers, giveaways, and photos, we will have a DJ so if the ladies want to express themselves with a little dancing, they are more than welcome too.

What else would you like to add?

Each year we have this event, and we would love to see it grow bigger each year, especially by word of mouth from past attendees who know and love what we are doing.

Are you looking for more attendees and more?

Yes. We always need sponsors, vendors, and of course, breast cancer survivors who are willing to share their stories to help the next woman who may have been newly diagnosed with this disease or those who are just trying to make it from day to day. It’s a process, we are here for the long haul and I also know that it takes a village, each one -- teach one and that is what the mission is behind our Breast Cancer Event.

How can we attend this event?

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/b-strong-pink-out-breast-cancer-awareness-signature-event-tickets-697598524967?

For further information contact:

Website: phillywnc.org

Email:phillywnc@gmail.com