A sea of pink ribbons and heartfelt stories emerge every October, to remind us of the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Communities across the nation have been coming together to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research and treatment.
During this time, it is vital to hear from survivors of breast cancer, to learn about the disease, gain support from others who have gone through this challenge, and work with them to try and gain support for research and treatment. The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay has dozens of breast cancer survivors who are willing to share their stories and give support to those in need.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, there are currently over four million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The disease can affect anyone, with one in every eight women in the U.S. set to develop breast cancer throughout their lives.
“When I was first diagnosed I really couldn’t believe it,” said Bridget DeSimone, the head of the social adult day program for people with dementia at the Oyster Bay Life Enrichment Center. “I was 26 years old and at the time it was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t know how things were going to go and I would frequently worry about whether my one-and-half-year-old daughter would remember me if I passed away from this.”
In 2024 alone, the foundation says that over 42,000 women will die from breast cancer in the United States alone. However, if you are able to catch the disease in the early stages, the chance of survival increases to 99%.
“I think people are so afraid to get that news that they don’t get checked, but I think it is important to note that it doesn’t always have to be a travesty,” said Christina Williams, a resident of Oyster Bay and breast cancer survivor. “My cancer was detected early. I had one surgery and that was it. I’m very lucky and very happy that I was able to act on it right away.”
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can also negatively impact many people’s mental and emotional health. The Department of Mental Health states that some feelings associated with the discovery of the disease can include extreme anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, and frustration.
“When I first learned about my breast cancer, my youngest son and his wife were expecting their first child in January, and I remember the first thing I thought was Please, God, let me live to see that baby,” said Elenaor Cronin, a resident of Oyster Bay and breast cancer survivor.
Despite breast cancer being the most common form of cancer in the United States, there are often still misconceptions about the disease. The foundation says that the most common misconceptions about the disease are that you need to be a certain age to get breast cancer, and that you need to have a family history of breast cancer to get the disease.
“One misconception that I’ve heard from the breast cancer community is that people don’t exactly love ‘pink-washing’,” said DeSimone. “It’s when companies, especially the major ones, will advertise products with all pink and ribbons on it and say that the money is being donated to breast cancer awareness and then you find out that it’s every cent on the dollar or something.”
Amid the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, many survivors find themselves coming away from their experience with a new outlook on life. DeSimone spoke about how her experience with breast cancer helped her to adopt a new view on life.
“I really enjoy living in the moment and appreciating what I have now because you never know what tomorrow brings,” said DeSimone.
The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay serves around 1000 residents, some of whom are former breast cancer survivors. The center provides local events for residents including line dancing, bingo and mahjong, to help keep residents active and enrich the lives of seniors. For more information about The Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay visit their website at
LifeEnrichmentCenteroysterbay.org.