Many might not know that the month of September is ovarian cancer awareness month across the nation. Mayor Bryon Brown on Thursday officially proclaimed September ovarian cancer awareness month in Buffalo.
This proclamation from Mayor Brown and the lighting of the Peace Bridge is first of its kind in Buffalo to enhance awareness for ovarian cancer in the Western New York region, state, national, and international levels.
Each year in the United States, more than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,460 women lose their battle. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 21,990 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 2011.
The mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not improved in thirty years since the “War on Cancer” was declared. However, other cancers have shown a marked reduction in mortality, due to the availability of early detection tests and improved treatments. Unfortunately, this is not the case with ovarian cancer, which is still the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.
The Peace Bridge has a state-of-the-art LED system which is controlled by sophisticated computer software that possesses unlimited color options, timings and themes, allowing the Peace Bridge to offer unique and captivating lighting shows at the push of a button. The system, which operates daily from 9:00 PM until 1:00 AM and from 5:00 AM through 6:00 AM, also requires less physical maintenance and provides improved security lighting for the entire border crossing.