Paint the Town Pink

In recognition of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Cancer Institute at Advocate Christ Medical Center and the Advocate Christ Center for Breast Care will Paint the Town Pink by hosting the medical center’s annual health information program for women.

This year’s free event will be held on Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Christ Medical Center Auditorium and Conference Center on Kilbourn Avenue between 93rd and 95th streets in Oak Lawn. 

The program will feature keynote speaker, Melinda Pollack-Harris, founder of Sing to Live Community Chorus, who said she was awareof the possible healing effects that music could have on breast cancer survivors - during treatment and beyond. She said that she established the chorus becauseshe felt that both singing and sense of community would be beneficial to the health and well-being of those directly or indirectly facing breast cancer.

In addition to Melinda’s presentation, Paint the Town Pink will offer conference participants the choice of attending two of the five mini-lecture sessions scheduled for the morning and led by health care professionals from Christ Medical Center. Topics to be explored are:

 Let’s Get Personal, Tailoring Treatment to the Patient –Renee Jacobs, MD

Everything You Want to Know About Melanoma but are Afraid to Ask –Adam Riker, MD

Heart Health for Women –Pat Pappas, MD

Cancer and the Law – Monica Fawzy Bryant

Is This Chemobrain or Am I Just Getting Old? – Peggy Kupres, RN and Debbie Stlaske, MSN 

The program will conclude with a presentation, "Believe It Or Not!!! (From the Ridiculous to the Sublime in the Current Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer)," led by Christ Medical Center surgeon,Barbara Krueger MD, who serves as medical director of Christ Medical Center’s breast cancer program.

“One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. The Cancer Institute strives to arm women with as much information as possible on advances in breast cancer detection and treatment options during Paint the Town Pink,” said Barbara Krueger MD.

In between lectures and discussions, participants will be able to check out a variety of vendor booths and stop by education tables for more information about breast cancer, breast cancer treatments and related information.

Free valet parking will be available to those attending the program. Early registration is recommended by calling 1-800-323-8622 (1.800.3.ADVOCATE) and referring to event code 1C35.

All proceeds generated by the program’s vendor fair and a sale of T-shirts will benefit patient education at the Advocate Christ Center for Breast Care.