Getting Candid about Breast Cancer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 17, 2016 – Spectrum Health is doing its best to remind women about the importance of regular screening for breast cancer.

Candid Conversations, a community event celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19. The event will be held at Grand Rapids Christian High School’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship, 2300 Plymouth Avenue SE, Grand Rapids.

The keynote speaker this year is Diahann Carroll, Tony Award winner and the first African-American actress to star in her own television series. Carroll will share her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor. Susan Ford Bales will join the event via a pre-recorded video message. Spectrum Health’s breast cancer program honors her mother, the late First Lady Betty Ford, who was the first public figure to openly discuss her personal experience with breast cancer.

There will also be a panel discussion with Spectrum Health breast cancer experts and a breast cancer survivor, Tammy Myers. The free event, which has attracted 1200 guests, is sold out.

In addition, the McKay Tower in downtown Grand Rapids will be lit up in pink ribbons for the week of the event in honor of breast cancer awareness.

This is the fourth Candid Conversations sponsored by the Spectrum Health Cancer Center and Spectrum Health’s Betty Ford Breast Care Services.

“We know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Our hope is that those who attend Candid Conversations leave feeling empowered to take charge of their breast health,” said Judy L. Smith, MD, chief of the Spectrum Health Cancer Center. “We want to raise awareness by talking candidly about breast health. Hopefully, we motivate people to explore and understand what options are available to them so that they take action.”

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Contact:
Sarina Gleason
Media Relations
Phone: 517.256.5618
Email: sarina.gleason@corewellhealth.org