HOLYOKE — A gathering outside of City Hall to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was hosted by city officials and members of the Each Moment We’re Alive Cancer Support Network, or EMWA, an organization focused on aiding those in remission with mental health services after surviving the disease.
City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti began her remarks by saying many people have had someone in their life impacted by breast cancer and spoke of her own experiences from her lifetime of family who has dealt with the disease.
“It’s really important for us as a community to support each other, support these efforts, recognize those people that are no longer with us and those who are currently battling with this disease,” Murphy-Romboletti said. “If I’ve learned anything about people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s that they are some of the strongest, most powerful people.”
Mayor Joshua Garcia said it is always great to use the city’s platform to raise awareness for important issues like this.
“I wish we could raise awareness every day beyond this month, but in the spirit of what the month represents, we certainly want to use this opportunity to stand with those who have been affected and impacted and raise awareness as much as possible in the community to support the initiatives,” Garcia said. “And also, for those that are struggling to understand the support and the networks that are out there.”
Founder of the EMWA Support Network Cindy Sheridan Murphy spoke about the life changing impact of a cancer diagnosis and why having a support network available for those battling the disease is so crucial.
“When my treatments ended, what I found was so did a lot of the support. People go back to their jobs and back to work, your employers expect you to be back 110% and you’re still hurting, you’re still aching. You’re mentally and physically just not there yet,” Murphy said.
She explained through support groups of women battling or in remission for cancer, those living through the experience are able to openly talk about their fears, vulnerabilities, values and visions for the future.
“What we found is we all have those same things in common — the fear of the unknown — but we also want to know how do we move beyond cancer diagnosis?” Murphy said.
Murphy added her organization is set to begin a partnership with Holyoke Health Center in January to bring more of these services to the city that will help be a support for survivors of the disease transitioning back to everyday life.
According to the American Cancer Society, every three minutes in the United States, a woman learns she has breast cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, including 4,700 women who will be diagnosed with the disease in Massachusetts this year. All women are at risk for breast cancer, even those with no family history of the disease.
Following the society’s guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer, including an annual mammogram for women over 40, improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.
