DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709280045

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   24 lines

BEACH MAYOR TO KICK OFF CELEBRATION FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS

``Lights of Life,'' the second annual celebration of life for breast cancer survivors, their family and friends, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Francis Land House.

Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf will kick off the event and proclaim October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Patty Jenkins of The Virginian-Pilot will speak about ``laughter is the best medicine.''

Susan Kinsler of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health said that more than 180,000 women in the United States will learn this year that they have breast cancer, with more than 40,000 losing their lives to the disease. In Virginia, about 4,400 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

However, Kinsler said, annual mammograms, along with yearly clinical exams and monthly breast self-exams, can increase survival by 30 percent.

``Lights of Life'' is sponsored by the Department of Public Health and the American Cancer Society, and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 631-4029.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu