By MADDY VITALE
Jeanmarie Mason, of Ocean City, is a fourth stage breast cancer “thriver.” She calls herself that because there is no cure for her prognosis.
But she fights.
She fights in hopes that one day there will be more treatments for those living with fourth stage breast cancer.
Mason is a member of “METAvivor.”
The group’s mission is to “increase awareness about the funding discrepancy that shortchanges metastatic research in the cancer world, and to directly fund the kind of research that is currently lacking, with the primary goal of extending life and ending death from MBC (metastatic breast cancer).”
On Thursday night, Ocean City Council presented Mason with a proclamation in recognition of October as being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In addition, the proclamation designates Oct. 13 as the official Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Awareness Day.
After Council President Pete Madden read the proclamation, the group of dignitaries, including Mayor Jay Gillian and Council members, posed for photos with Mason.
Prior to that, Mason thanked Council for the proclamation and said a few words about her personal triumphs and her goals for others.
“My name is Jeanmarie Mason and I’ve been a full-time Ocean City resident for the past seven years. I am a metastatic breast cancer survivor,” she said. “That means that I survived my original breast cancer in 2014, but it progressed to my bones. I am stage 4 with no cure, but with lifelong treatment. Awareness research and funding is paramount.”
Each year, 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer. Six to 10 percent of these diagnoses are metastatic, or stage 4, according to the proclamation.
Mason will be the “thriver speaker” in Ocean City on Sunday, Oct. 8, for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Gillian said a few words after the proclamation ceremony about the impact Mason’s words had on him.
“We talk about all these things, and we just heard what she’s gone through. It sums up what life is,” he said. “Sometimes we get so caught up in the details, we forget how precious life is. That shook me up a bit.”
To signify the importance of honoring breast cancer survivors and thrivers, Ocean City will light up the Ninth Street bridge in colors that have particular meaning for those with the cancer and for their loved ones throughout the month of October.
Throughout October, the Ninth Street bridge will be illuminated in pink lighting in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 13, the bridge will be lit up in green, teal and pink in recognition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
“This year over 100 landmarks in all 50 states in the U.S., as well as in other countries around the world, will light up in the metastatic breast cancer colors of green, teal, and pink,” the proclamation read. “This is done to shine a light on MBC, the most advanced stage of breast cancer, where the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body.”
The pink ribbon is “well-known for representing the fight against breast cancer, but does not encapsulate the MBC experience,” the proclamation continues.
So METAvivor designed a base ribbon of green and teal with a thin pink overlay.
“The base ribbon green and teal represents green for the triumph of spring over winter, life over death, renewal, hope and immortality,” according to the proclamation. “Teal symbolizes healing and spirituality; and pink to signify the metastatic cancer originated in the breast.”
Ocean City will join many people and organizations throughout the country along with hospitals and health care organizations “to honor all breast cancer survivors and thrivers for their strength, courage, and determination; and to honor and remember those who courageously fought but lost their lives to breast cancer.”
