PBNM Drums Up Support to Beat Breast Cancer
PBNM Board Members and volunteers organized rallies in two Illinois communities during September to raise awareness about how nutrition and lifestyle can play a key role in reducing the risk of breast cancer and other chronic diseases.
The dynamic events, part of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) “Let’s Beat Breast Cancer” nationwide campaign, brought together breast cancer survivors, health advocates, community leaders, and two impressive drum lines to amplify this life-saving message.
On September 7, PBNM board member Janet Pearson, held a rally at Zabrocki Plaza in downtown Tinley Park. “We are here to send a powerful message,” said Janet, a Tinley Park resident and Group Leader with PCRM’s Building Healthy Communities initiative. “According to a 2024 survey, fewer than 3 in 10 women know that what they eat can reduce their risk of breast cancer. Through events like this, we hope to change that.”
Speakers then shared personal stories and insights about the importance of lifestyle changes in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Janet shared a deeply personal account of losing family members to cancer, including her dad at age 56, his six siblings, her grandmother, and most recently a cousin who passed away in her 30s from breast cancer.
Dr. Angela Riffice, a Stage 3 Metastatic breast cancer survivor from Homer Glen, shared how lifestyle changes, along with integrative medicine, helped her achieve two years of being cancer-free. “One out of eight women will get breast cancer, but with a change in lifestyle, you can lower your risk and even turn on immune cells to reduce the risk of recurrence,” she said.
As the night in Tinley Park wrapped up, Tinley Park Trustee Bill Brady encouraged the crowd to take the message to heart. “This message isn’t just for women—it’s for everyone. Let’s make some noise and beat breast cancer.”
On September 25, the Riverwalk in Naperville was the venue for another rally hosted by PBNM board member Sharmila Vedam, who is also a Food For Life Instructor.
“Our message is different than most breast cancer events,” Sharmila said. “Food is powerful medicine and is a healing force to both prevent breast and other cancers, as well as most chronic diseases.”
Sharmila speaks from personal experience. By changing her diet, her diagnosis of ovarian cysts has completely reversed, uterine fibroids have reduced in size, and her symptoms are minimal.
Vivian Amos Brown, “83 years young” from Glenwood, shared how by following a whole food plant-based diet she was able to lose over 100 pounds, recover from cirrhosis of the liver, reverse heart disease, and survive breast cancer. “It’s never too late to make a change,” she said.
Dr. Ashwani Garg, a Family Physician trained in Lifestyle Medicine, stressed the importance of developing healthy habits starting in childhood. “More diseases can be prevented and reversed when people are willing to make changes and embrace the lifestyle recommended by the College of Lifestyle Medicine,” he said.
To locate a rally in your area, visit LetsBeatBreastCancer.org and sign up to receive a free getting started e-book and Breast Cancer Prevention Cookbook.
