Plastic surgeons wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
According to the Israel Cancer Association, about 4,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel each year and about 900 die of the disease.
By TOBIAS SIEGALPlastic surgeons wear pink to mark the 2020 Breast Cancer Awareness Month.(photo credit: ISRAEL HADARI)
In a creative attempt to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month during the coronavirus pandemic, plastic surgeons who specialize in breast reconstruction wore pink robes to work.A common misconception is that plastic surgeons only deal with cosmetic surgeries. That's not true. Part of the job often includes conducting breast reconstruction surgery on women who overcame breast cancer. For them, the surgeries play a dramatic role in their physical and mental healing process.Dr. Meir Cohen, chairman of the Israeli Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, emphasized the importance of breast reconstruction surgery."Scientific studies that examined the psychological aspect of the process pointed at the distress that women experience after going through mastectomies. It may damage a woman's self-image and affect their intimate relationships," Cohen said. In the past coronavirus-stricken year, some 1,200 breast reconstruction surgeries took place in hospitals across Israel, according to the society.Seeking original ways to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month this year, and being limited by coronavirus restrictions, the society came up with a simple and effective way of emphasizing an issue that affects so many women in so many ways: changing their usual white robes to pink ones.The color pink has been used to promote awareness of breast cancer and to show support for those who suffer from it. Combined with matching pink masks and gloves, the surgeons definitely stood out in their attempt to support and raise awareness of the disease.According to the Israel Cancer Association, about 4,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel each year and about 900 die of the disease.Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign taking place every October, organized by major breast cancer charities.Maayan Hoffman contributed to this report.
