Celebrating Survivors: Drawing Strength from Dialogue and Dance

9-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer guided by hopefulness and intuition. Caregiver turned support group coordinator and mentor. Pink-dyed hair to spark dialogue and determination among those confronted with breast cancer. From the bedside to communities from coast to coast, these are just a few ways clinicians and healthcare facilities are helping to make strides every day to help reduce the number of lives lost to this devastating disease.

Nearly 1,000 perioperative nurses danced at Medline’s 12 Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast.

Medline today honored the strength and courage of patients, survivors and caregivers at its 12th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast. The event, happening in conjunction with the 2017 Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Surgical Conference & Expo in Boston, included nearly a thousand nurses participating in an inspiring dance.

“Clinicians are on the frontlines of care and play a vital role in helping patients navigate the raw and often scary path of cancer,” says Karen Frey, philanthropy manager, Medline. “For Medline, this important gathering serves as a reminder that you are not alone in this fight. Together, we stand bound by a united goal to celebrate strength and eradicate breast cancer, all through the help of our communities and a call to action nationwide.”

Asleep at the Wheel

In 2014, Noelle LeVeaux, this year’s keynote speaker, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She quickly learned to juggle three jobs – marketing executive, single mom of two girls and manager of her own health. These jobs are what inspired her to start a blog titled “Confessions of a Single Mom with Cancer.”  She says the ripple effect of the diagnosis has brought greater clarity about her desire to live.

“For so many of us, our everyday busyness and stress often leaves us asleep at the wheel of life. Being diagnosed with cancer taught me that it’s critical to be awake,” says LeVeaux. “The support of my friends, family and care team, gave me the courage to make changes in my life to fight uncertainty and fear.”

Medline and Its Breast Cancer Mission

A woman’s breast cancer detection journey can be filled with fear. To help create a comfortable, friendly and open dialogue about breast cancer between nurses and patients, Medline, a global medical supplies distributor, introduced the first pink exam gloves in 2009. In 2011, the company created the Medline Pink Glove Dance Competition, the only campaign to unite thousands of healthcare professionals, patients, survivors and communities – all through the joy of dancing. As part of a commitment spanning more than a decade, Medline has donated $1.7 million to breast cancer awareness, research and early detection screenings. In addition, the company has provided free, on-site mammograms to employees with more than 1,500 screenings to date.

Join in or follow the conversation about this breast cancer awareness initiative by using #MedlineAtAORN.

Learn more about the company’s commitment at http://www.medline.com/about-us/breast-cancer-awareness/.

About Medline

Medline is a global manufacturer and distributor serving the healthcare industry with medical supplies and clinical solutions that help customers achieve both clinical and financial success. Headquartered in Northfield, Ill., the company offers 350,000+ medical devices and support services through more than 1,200 direct sales representatives who are dedicated points of contact for customers across the continuum of care.  For more information on Medline, go to www.medline.com or http://www.medline.com/social-media to connect with Medline on its social media channels.