By Sonia Lavina
Gearing up for breast cancer awareness month in October, Women’s Care has partnered with the American Cancer Society (ACS) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) walk, an event to raise awareness and funds to end breast cancer. The 5k (3.1 mile) walk will be held on Saturday, October 18 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum located at 401 Channelside Dr. at 9:30am.
MSABC is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 300 communities to finish the fight. Last year, nearly 1.2 million walkers raised more than $60 million for the ACS.
Women’s Care Florida (WCF) has a combined goal of $8,500 which includes Hillsborough ($3,500), Pinellas ($1,500), Polk ($1,000) and Orlando ($1,000). The funds will go toward cancer research, comprehensive support to women, and access to mammograms.
Participants can maximize their impact by raising money online or collecting donations to turn in the day of the event. Nine WCF care groups sponsored $2,500 for the Hillsborough area walk.
“Thanks to companies like Women’s Care Florida, we are saving lives from breast cancer,” said Cynthia Corbin, Senior Director/Community Events for ACS.
In 2014, 232,670 women are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women (excluding skin cancer) second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.
“Women 40 and over should get annual screening mammograms,” said Christina Adams, Division Administrator with Women’s Care. “It’s the best early detection along with monthly self-exams.”
Women’s Care offers digital screening mammography at the Brandon office, lunch time and evening appointments on Tuesdays. Patients can have their annual well woman exam, mammograms, ultrasounds, immunizations, in office procedures with anesthesia, and for those age 50 and older, a bone density screening.
Women’s Care is one of 26 physician care groups that make up Women’s Care Florida throughout Tampa Bay and Central Florida. Dr’s Jerry Stein and Keith Whitehead started the group out of Brandon and Plant City in 1998. The practice has four locations in Brandon, Plant City, Lithia and Gibsonton. The Brandon office is located at 731 S. Parsons Ave. For more information, call 681-9171 or visit www.wcobweb.com. To get involved with the walk, visit mak ingstrideswalk.org or call 1-800-227-2345.
