City turns pink for breast cancer awareness

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 2,330 new diagnoses of breast cancer in Mississippi this year alone.

Tuesday, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba joined Making Strides Against Breast Cancer participants — many of them breast cancer survivors — to take a symbolic stand against the disease that affects one of eight women at some point in their lives.

In honor of breast cancer awareness, the fountains in front of the Russell C. Davis planetarium spray pink water into the air.

Lumumba noted cancer's effect on his own family, including his father, former mayor Chokwe Lumumba.

"My father was a cancer survivor and the vicious disease has affected several of my family members. We'll fight against cancer one day longer than cancer fights," Lumumba said.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba stands before a pink-colored water fountain in front of the Russell C Davis planetarium where he spoke on how cancer has affected his family.

With pink-colored water spraying out of the Russell C. Davis planetarium behind her, Becky Foust said she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. It came back in 2015, and she now lives in stage four of the disease, but said she is committed to staying positive and hopeful regardless.

"I have hope. Today I choose to have joy," she said.

Their stories:Fighting breast cancer

Becky Foust's breast cancer was in remission for close to 15 years before coming back. Now she lives with Stage 4 breast cancer, but said she is committed to remaining hopeful and joyous regardless. Foust, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and public and private officials spoke on how cancer has affected their lives Tuesday.

"It starts with a dream and it ends with a miracle," Foust said regarding the search for a cure.

This year’s Making Strides walk in Jackson will be held Oct. 28 at Thalia Mara Hall.

For more information about breast cancer or the Making Strides walk in Jackson, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/JacksonMS or call 601-321-5512.

Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or JVicory@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter.

About Breast Cancer

About 410 women die each year from breast cancer in Mississippi.
Mississippi is one of 10 states with the lowest breast cancer screening rate for older women. More than one-quarter of Mississippi's women do not receive regular screening that could save their life.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among non-white women nationwide and the 3rd leading cause of death among white women.
Nationwide, the probability of developing breast cancer in a lifetime is 1 in every 8 women.

Source: State Department of Health