So much pink, so much positivity about a deadly disease. Is the annual October Breast Cancer Awareness month in danger of becoming an overworn pitch, a cliche? We at The Leader hope not. Because beneath the ribbons and the commercialization, there dwells a deep human connection to this sadly common affliction, that transcends trivialization. Who [...]

The Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will kick-off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting the largest footrace in the city, the 22nd Annual Komen Houston Race for the Cure, Oct. 6 downtown. Last year’s event welcomed over 33,000 participants, including more than 2,400 breast cancer survivors, and raised more than [...]

Ginger Smith was well aware that 40 marks the age when it’s recommended that a woman receive an annual mammogram. She knew, but fear of the unknown made her put it of – until her friend Kathy suggested they make a day of it. Now the community organizer, who helps take care of more than 85,000 people annually through the Mission Centers of Houston, is taking care of “me, too.”

“I’m sorry Mrs. Cohen, but it’s malignant.” Emerging from a fog of anesthesia, I looked around the hospital room to see if the doctor could be speaking to another Mrs. Cohen. He wasn’t. It was Nov. 7, 1969, and I had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Janie Botello loves music. Nearing 60 years of age, she laughingly admits that she’s into rap, hip hop, and country. The grandmother to five mourns Houston’s lack of a Tejano station and taps into San Antonio’s station by satellite radio.

In 2011 over 572,000 Americans died of cancer – that is over 1,500 a day. This is too many! This is why we Relay. This is why we are here.

Once a month and on every major holiday, Brenda Piñòn has honored herself by performing a breast self-exam.
For her birthday in January 2011, the results of that routine self exam were not what they had been on all other occasions.