Roswell Park to Mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Educational Events, Fundraisers

BUFFALO — Currently, 1 in 8 U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease this year. But thanks to increased early detection and treatment advances, the mortality rate for cancer has dropped 30 percent in the last two decades. Throughout October, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) will mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month by spreading the word about the impact that early detection and research can have, at a series of events and educational presentations:

• BJ’s Pink Picnic, Thursday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., BJ’s Wholesale Club, 5183 Transit Road, Clarence. Look for Proctor & Gamble products marked with a pink ribbon during October at BJ’s locations. A percent of sales of these items will be donated to Roswell Park and 12 other cancer centers. Kickoff picnic to feature food, gift bags and a presentation by Roswell Park guest speaker Dr. Shicha Kumar. 
• Star 102.5 Pink Party, Thursday, Oct. 11, 6–9 p.m., Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Join Star 102.5 FM for the second Pink Party to benefit breast cancer research at Roswell Park. Event features cocktails, light appetizers and gift bags, plus a musical performance by Tristan Prettyman. Tickets $20 at http://www.mystar1025.com or $30 at the door.
• Bills Tailgate Party, Sunday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Big Tree Inn, 4277 Abbott Road, Orchard Park. WGRF-FM 97 Rock and Roswell Park are co-hosting a tailgate party before the Bills-Titans game. Help us turn Ralph Wilson Stadium pink! Stop by to get your Roswell Park “eye black” under-eye glarestrips and pink ponchos.
• WBEN Breast Cancer Q&A, Saturday, Oct. 27, noon-2 p.m. Four experts from Roswell Park will be in the WBEN NewsRadio 930 studios to take your calls about breast cancer — on everything from diet and preventive screenings to advanced surgical techniques. Manning the phones will be Drs. Ermelinda Bonaccio, Stephen Edge, Kilian May and Kirsten Moysich. Call in live at 716-803-0930, *930 from a mobile phone or toll-free at 800-616-WBEN (800-616-9236). Or submit a question at https://www.roswellpark.org/awareness.
• Managing Lymphedema: CancerConnect Web Chat, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. Dr. Stephen Edge, Breast Center Medical Director and Chief of Breast Surgery at Roswell Park, and Kathleen Fassl, PT, Co-Director of Roswell Park’s Lymphedema Management Services program, will discuss and field questions about lymphedema — why it occurs, management strategies and more. 

Plus, throughout October, buy a brick on the Pink Wall of Hope at Chef’s Restaurant, 291 Seneca St., Buffalo, and you will be entered to win a pink Schwinn scooter, courtesy of 97 Rock and Bob Weaver Motorsports. Proceeds benefit breast cancer research at Roswell Park. Bricks, which can be signed with your name or the name of a loved one, can be purchased for $20 at Chef’s Restaurant or for $25 at http://www.wallofhope.org.

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at https://www.roswellpark.org/, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.