The third annual Go Pink & Purple 2K Walk for Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness will be held on Friday at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the medical center walking track near Westwood Boulevard. Apples, hot chocolate, s’mores and door prizes will be available to participants.
“October is an important month for women’s health,” said VAMC Women Veterans Program Coordinator Martinie Franks. “It’s when we observe national months for Breast Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness. We hope everyone will don their pinkest and purplest clothes and join us for the walk to raise awareness about these important issues.”
Franks explained the walk will kick off with remarks from the medical center director and a group photo at noon.
• Breast Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, more than 245,000 women get breast cancer and more than 40,000 women die from the disease. Breast cancer (represented by pink) is the second-most common cancer among American women, after skin cancer. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. Most breast cancers are found in women 50 years old or older, but about 10% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has adopted the American Cancer Society guidelines regarding mammograms. Women ages 40-44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so. Women ages 45-54 should get mammograms every year. And women ages 55 and older can switch to mammograms every two years or can continue with yearly screening.
• Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (represented by deep purple) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCAVD.) The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of physical violence by a partner every year. Every 9 seconds a woman in the U.S. is beaten or assaulted by a current or ex-significant other and 1 in 4 men are victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
“According to one statistic, the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 is 6,488, while the number of women who were murdered by current or ex-male partners during the same time frame is 11,766,” said Franks. “And women are 70 times more likely to be killed in the weeks after leaving an abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship.”
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence recommends those who are abused come up with a safety plan that includes a code word to use with family members, a list of numbers to call for help, and identifies a safe place for essential documents. The National Domestic Violence Hotline number is 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
• Pregnancy and Infant Loss
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month recognizes the tens of thousands of families each year who are devastated by the loss of a child to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS or any other cause during pregnancy or infancy.
Promoting awareness of pregnancy and infant loss increases the likelihood that grieving families will receive understanding and support, and also results in improved education and prevention efforts which may reduce the incidence of these tragedies.
There are many ways to support the bereaved parents, such as being present, saying, “I’m sorry,” using the baby’s name, acknowledging them as parents, remembering the father, and supporting their decisions. A list of statements to be avoided can be found at https://starlegacyfoundation.org/how-family-and-friends-can-help/.
“We hope to fill up the walking track with people who want to know more about these issues and support those affected by them,” stated Franks. “Anyone is welcome to join us.”