Newswise — Year after year, breast cancer affects New Mexico’s women. And year after year, the University of New Mexico Lobos support those women and raise awareness of breast cancer by playing a game in their honor. This year, the game in their honor will be played on February 20, 2016 against the Air Force Falcons. The University of New Mexico Lobos, UNM Hospitals and UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, are sponsoring the game.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. After lung cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women of all races and populations. The American Cancer Society estimated that 1320 New Mexican women received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and that 270 died from the disease. But women today face better odds of beating the disease and have more choices for treatment than they ever have before.
“Women have a lot of treatment options, and can survive for more than five years after diagnosis, if we catch the disease early,” says Melanie Royce, MD, PhD. Royce leads the Breast Cancer team at the UNM Cancer Center. She and the rest of the multidisciplinary breast team not only treat women with breast cancer but also conduct breast cancer research and pioneer new treatment methods.
The UNM Cancer Center will host an invitation-only pre-game reception for breast cancer survivors and their family and friends. “It is a privilege to publicly recognize our breast cancer patients, who constantly demonstrate their tremendous courage,” says Cheryl Willman, MD, Director and CEO of the UNM Cancer Center. “We thank UNM Hospitals and the Lobo Women’s basketball team for their support and participation.”
The UNM Cancer Center, UNM Hospitals and Lobo Women’s Basketball team will also honor all New Mexico breast cancer survivors with a ceremony during half-time. Those attending this symbolic game are encouraged to wear pink, as a gesture of support and respect for all women fighting breast cancer.
About the “Lobos Love Pink” UNM Women’s Basketball GameThe Lobos will tip off against the Air Force Falcons on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. in WisePies Arena, 1111 University Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM. Individuals who wear pink can purchase a ticket for $5.00 the day of the game. If you are interested in purchasing tickets in advance, please call the Lobo Ticket Office at 505-925-LOBO or visit the link below: unmtickets.com. During the first half of the game, the Lobos will be auctioning off official LOBOS LOVE PINK JESERYS on the north concourse of WisePies Arena. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.
About the UNM Comprehensive Cancer CenterThe University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 400-mile radius. One of the premier cancer centers nationwide, the UNM CCC has 128 board-certified oncology physicians, forming New Mexico’s largest cancer care team. It treats about 60 percent of adults and virtually all the children in New Mexico diagnosed with cancer — more than 10,000 people— from every county in the state in more than 135,000 clinic visits each year. Through its partnership with the New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance, an “exemplary national model for cancer health care delivery,” the UNM CCC offers access to more than 160 clinical trials to New Mexicans in every part of the state. Annual research funding of more than $72 million supports the UNM CCC’s 132 cancer scientists. Working with partners at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and New Mexico State University, they have developed new diagnostics and drugs for leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver and pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, and melanoma; garnered 33 new patents and 117 patents pending; and launched 13 new biotechnology companies since 2010. Learn more at cancer.unm.edu.
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