October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while we see plenty of pink ribbons this time of year, the month represents something much bigger. It's a chance to support the people and families whose lives have been affected by breast cancer, raise funds for continued research, and perhaps most importantly, remind the people we love to prioritize their health. Here in Seattle, there are meaningful ways to do all three.
On Saturday, October 10, the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk returns to Pier 62 along Seattle's waterfront. From 9:00 AM to noon, survivors, metastatic breast cancer thrivers, caregivers, families, friends, and supporters will come together for a morning centered around community and a shared goal of helping end breast cancer as we know it.
The walk itself begins at 10:30 AM, with both 1-mile and 2.5-mile routes along the waterfront. It's noncompetitive, family-friendly, dog-friendly, and free to participate in. You don't need to be a runner or even commit to a long walk. The point is simply to show up.
Over the years, Making Strides events across the country have grown into one of the American Cancer Society's largest breast cancer movements, raising money to support research and programs for people facing breast cancer while creating a space where survivors and families can feel surrounded by a community walking alongside them.
But awareness is only part of the conversation. October is also a good reminder to actually schedule the appointments we sometimes keep putting off. Fred Hutch Cancer Center's Mammogram Van brings breast cancer screening directly into neighborhoods throughout Greater Seattle. The program has been operating for more than 20 years and now uses two mobile units that travel throughout the region Monday through Saturday, making preventative care more convenient and accessible.
Throughout October, the Mammogram Van will make stops in Seattle and across the greater Puget Sound area, including Harborview Medical Center, Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, Bellevue College, Issaquah, Kent, Lynnwood, Federal Way, Marysville, Snoqualmie, and other communities.
For women 40 and older, Fred Hutch recommends receiving a screening mammogram every year. Appointments for the Mammogram Van can be scheduled by calling 206-606-7800, and patients with a UW Medicine or Fred Hutch MyChart account can also schedule online. Because locations and dates can change, it's a good idea to check Fred Hutch's current schedule when making an appointment.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month can mean something different to each of us. For some, it's celebrating survivorship. For others, it's remembering someone they love, supporting a friend going through treatment, raising money for research, or finally scheduling a screening that's been sitting on the to-do list. However you choose to recognize it, there are opportunities right here in our community to turn awareness into action. Wear the pink. Walk the waterfront. Support the research. Schedule the mammogram. Check in on someone you love. Sometimes the most meaningful way to show support is simply to show up!
