Borough events and resources dedicated to breast cancer

Borough events and resources dedicated to breast cancer
Photo courtesy of Jacobi Medical Center

The borough has no shortage of breast cancer events in October.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ‘Pinktober’ as it is sometimes called, and there are a number screenings and events to promote breast cancer awareness.

In addition, there are resources available to breast cancer patients on an ongoing basis.

Events

Perhaps the largest event taking place in the borough is the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Orchard Beach on Sunday, October 16. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m.

A full story on the borough’s Making Strides walk appears in this pink edition of the Bronx Times.

Male breast cancer survivor Michael Singer said that he participates in the walk every year because he has seen first-hand the research that the walk funds.

An event that took place on Saturday, October 8 was Montefiore 9th Annual Edward S. Greenwald M.D. Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening at the hospital’s medical park on Eastchester Road. Walk-ins were encouraged.

“The number of women who came in for the screening was the most appropriate yet in the nine years we’ve had this event,” stated a Montefiore spokeswoman, adding “The majority of women who came in had either never had a mammogram or Pap test before, or were in need of one (and) hadn’t been able to do so in the recommended amount of time.”

The 49th Precinct had an event to benefit the American Cancer Society at Gasolina Bar and Lounge.

It was a karaoke night fundraiser called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and took place on Thursday, October 13.

Resources

St. Barnabas Hospital has a ‘mammogram van’ which it launched in 2013 that has the capacity to offer some 5,000 free screenings throughout various communities each year, according to a hospital spokesman.

To learn about the van’s schedule or to make an appointment, call (718) 960-3931.

Jacobi Medical Center won awards in May for two of its programs from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

The programs that NAPBC highlighted as best practice models were Jacobi’s Multidisciplinary Patient Navigation Program and its Same Day Diagnostic Imaging.

According to a hospital spokesman, the patient navigation program was also awarded a $75,000 NYS Department of Health grant for 12 months beginning in October.

The Integrative Oncology Program at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care offers programming for all people, including breast cancer patients.

According to a hospital spokeswoman, a crocheting class that is offered every Monday of October from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Montefiore’s Center for Radiation Therapy at 1625 Poplar Street is popular with breast cancer patients.

Other classes offered during October include gentle yoga, walk for life, gentle movement, Reiki healing circle, and a mind-body support group for anyone diagnosed with cancer.

Reach Reporter Patrick Rocchio at (718) 260–4597. E-mail him at procchio@cnglocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @patrickfrocchio.