Over the past several years, the Butler Eagle has acknowledged the impact of breast cancer on our community by creating an annual edition using pink ink.

In those newspapers, our reporters have asked survivors to recount and relive their ordeals with breast cancer, which now strikes 1 in 8 women, or 13% of females, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Those reporters do not take their breast cancer interviews lightly, and marvel out loud at the courage and resolve it takes to fight a disease that can be terrifying, relentless, stubborn and cruel.

We hope our “pink stories” encourage women to get their annual mammograms, give comfort and strength to someone newly diagnosed, and even to scare up volunteers for the wonderful cancer charities in our county.

While such a diagnosis would have stricken fear into the hearts of women of the past, the good news is that 91% of those diagnosed with breast cancer today remain alive five years later, according to the foundation.

By comparison, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer was 67.5% in the 1980s.

Surely the survival numbers have risen due to an improvement in early detection practices and procedures, as well as more effective medications and treatments for breast cancer.

It could be that the millions in donations to breast cancer research fundraisers have spurred those improvements, and will continue to do so.

As local health care providers and professionals continue to test and provide treatment to county women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis, we hope they understand the genuine admiration we feel for them, not just on pink paper day, but every day.

So in closing, the Eagle continues to support and pray for those dealing with breast cancer, and we will also continue to share survivor stories until the disease is eradicated.

Godspeed to those now in treatment and kudos to survivors. Your ability to rise above the fear and uncertainty inherent in a breast cancer diagnosis is truly an inspiration.

— PG