By Jennifer Goodstein
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a time for us all to redouble our efforts to eradicate the second leading killer of women in America.
Community News Group’s third annual pink edition is dedicated to the need for early intervention because we share the struggle, and are mindful of the sobering statistics and excruciating toll of this deadly disease:
• Approximately 40,290 women and 440 men will die from breast cancer before the year’s end, estimates the American Cancer Society.
• One in eight American women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime.
• Every two minutes an American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer in our country.
• About 85 percent of cases occur in women with no family history of breast cancer.
Like most people, we have had friends and family battle cancer, and anyone who has watched the impact of this terrible disease on sufferers and their loved ones understands the urgency for a cure.
Our commitment to supporting breast cancer awareness and the decision to start our annual pink paper in 2014 was inspired by my friend, Holly Reich, and her recent, and third, diagnosis with breast cancer. The third bout would go on to become a fourth and fifth before she left us last Thursday, concluding her 20-year “dance with cancer.”
Holly called it that because she floated across the floor, living her life, enjoying every moment, and touching everyone with her smile, spirit, and love of life. Cancer never stopped her, she simply moved through life alongside it.
As an automotive writer, Holly traveled the world to the most exotic places, test driving the most exotic cars, but her favorite place was with her husband Mike, and children Dylan and Jenna Kreitman. Her family gave her the courage, style, and grace to “dance with cancer” for such a long time. As all of her friends stop to remember Holly’s kindness, charm, wit, lust for life, and beautiful light that shined from within, there is only one thing I can say: Find a cure, dammit!
Until then, we hope our pink edition makes people who would not ordinarily read our newspaper stop, pick it up, read it, and then turn to their families and friends and ask if they have been screened, or offer to go with them for this life-saving examination.
—Jennifer Goodstein, President, Community News Group
