A pastel sea of pink marks the month of October. With ribbons, bags and t-shirts we are continuously reminded that early detection and preventative screenings can help save lives. Since 1985, October has been recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; it is a time for increased awareness and education about the disease, a time to emphasize the need to continue research and a reminder to be proactive about breast health.
The Cloud Nine Gift Shop located on the first floor of the hospital is “Putting on the Pink” again this October. The Gift Shop offers a wide selection of gifts for all ages. This October, in addition to their best selling and unique items, they have everything from aprons to earrings and from lapel pins to pink candles. Everyone in the community is invited to come and browse through the many pink gifts on display. Cloud Nine Gift Shop donates to the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund. Funding provides free mammograms to women in southeast Idaho who qualify for the free service. “Our tremendous group of volunteers who make up the Portneuf Auxiliary manage and staff the Cloud Nine Gift Shop,” Monica White said. “Each year, the Auxiliary contributes funding for many projects in the community. Recently, the Portneuf Medical Center Auxiliary & Volunteers donated $154,000 to kick start the RV Park and they continue to support the Cancer Patient Assistance Fund that helps provide cancer patients with assistance to make ends meet during cancer treatment.”
If you have been affected by breast cancer, we ask for your support in raising awareness. Wear pink; support those who are in treatment, those who have not yet been diagnosed and the many who have survived. More than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors live in the US. They are survivors of the second most-common cancer in women and the survival rate continues to climb due to better treatments and increased screening that can aid in diagnosing cancer in the early stages when it is the most treatable. Another reason for an increase in survival rates is the growth in awareness.
Cloud Nine is located on the first floor of PMC. The gift shop offers a unique shopping experience with a wide selection of special and distinctive gifts. Cloud Nine is open Monday-Friday, 9:00am -5:00 pm. Flowers, balloons & stuffed animals can be ordered over the phone and delivered to a patient’s room. A Cloud Nine Volunteer is happy to help, just call 208-239-1156.