Tag Archives: The 3-Day

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® 

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an opportunity to commemorate the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. AAPI month is a time to speak out against hate, share stories of achievement and hardship, and debunk myths about Asian communities, including breast cancer discrepancies. Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate, and it touches the lives of people from all walks of life, including Asian American and Pacific Islanders. 

However, the experiences and challenges faced by AAPI women in dealing with breast cancer can be unique, influenced by cultural factors, access to healthcare, and societal expectations. Generally, Asian American and Pacific Islander women are less likely than non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer that hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. This is likely because Asian American women have lower rates of screening mammography compared to Black women, white women and Hispanic women, likely due to cultural barriers. These include cultural beliefs and language barriers which can impact understanding and access to healthcare services, further complicating the journey for AAPI women facing breast cancer. 

Though rates of breast cancer incidence and mortality are generally lower for AAPI women than for non-Hispanic white women and non-Hispanic Black women, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Asian American women following lung cancer. As of January 2020 (most recent data available), there were about 160,000 non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander women in the U.S. who were breast cancer survivors or were living with breast cancer. Incidence has increased slightly from 2015 to 2019 by about 1.5% each year, likely because the daughters and granddaughters of immigrants adopt American lifestyle behaviors which may include behaviors that increase breast cancer risk, such as alcohol use, being overweight, or having children later in life. For that reason, over time, breast cancer incidence rates for the daughters and granddaughters of immigrants may become closer to incidence rates in the U.S.   

For immigrants, navigating the complex healthcare system in a new country can be daunting, leading to even more delay to prescreening. Moreover, factors such as socioeconomic status, immigration status, and geographic location can influence access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Despite these challenges, AAPI women are breaking barriers and advocating for themselves and others facing breast cancer. Community organizations and support groups are emerging to provide culturally sensitive resources and support which play a crucial role in raising awareness, providing education about breast health, and advocating for better access to healthcare services throughout their community. At the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, we continue to fight for equity amongst all cultural groups and encourage an open dialogue to destigmatize conversations about breast cancer. Through these efforts, we can empower AAPI women to seek timely medical care and support and get closer to ending breast cancer at every step.  

Discover more at Breast Cancer Statistics | Susan G. Komen® 

How the 3-Day® Inspires this San Diego Police Officer

Each year, the San Diego Police Department attends the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® to provide support and safety along the costal route. Many officers cherish volunteering at this event where they get to join the Pink Bubble and sport their favorite pink accessories, including Paul S. who served 30 years on the force. Best known at the event for his elaborate hair styles, 2023 marked Paul’s 12th year as a volunteer at the Komen San Diego 3-Day. His iconic look began when he decided to dye his hair pink and shave in the breast cancer ribbon to add a bit of joy for those taking on the tremendous feat of walking 60 miles in just three days. As time progressed, walkers began seeking out Paul along the route to see which unique design he etched into the side of his head that year.  

He first discovered the 3-Day® through a police department announcement and knew that he wanted to participate after learning how inspiring the event was. As the years of volunteering have grown, his desire to participate only increases with the tremendous relationships he builds, the support he receives, and the safety he’s able to provide. “[Everyone] treats us police officers as rock stars… It is great to have so many people love you for what you do day in and day out, but most of all I am there for [the walkers],” he shares. “I lift their spirits and they lift mine. Those years when I was a full-time police officer, it was what recharged my batteries so that when I went back to work, I knew that I was loved for who I am and what I do. There is no feeling like being there in uniform, seeing the look in the walkers’ eyes, and feeling the love they have for us… They treat us like we walk on water, but honestly, we officers do not come close to how special the walkers are.”    

Paul has always had a tremendous appreciation for the survivors and thrivers. The first year that he volunteered he was blown away by how inspiring the participants are. However, this year, he felt an even closer connection to the walkers as he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on June 10th, 2023, which had metastasized to his lungs, liver and spine. Just a few months before the 2023 San Diego 3-Day, Paul underwent six and a half hours of surgery and began treatment, including medication and radiation. In October of 2023, he had a CT scan when the doctors discovered a saddle pulmonary embolism in his lungs for which he was immediately admitted into the emergency room. After his release from the hospital, Paul decided that the best way through this was to remain positive and keep busy with his volunteer work, including coaching high school football, working at a PGA golf tournament, and, of course, the 3-Day.  

The following month, Paul was back in his favorite place: the Pink Bubble. “I was so happy to be alive every day and had a positive attitude about my journey. I wanted to help others keep their positive attitude… more than ever, and I wanted them to help me continue my positive attitude,” he beamed. “I wanted to let them all know that anything is possible if you just stay positive.” After the 2023 3-Day, Paul’s spirits have never been higher, and he shares that he walked away a better person for being there and for participating in the incredible event. He finds solace in his family and friends, through volunteering at events like the 3-Day, and by reminding himself of how much good he’s been able to do throughout his career. Since beginning his service in 1988, Paul was able to lead, mentor, and give advice to countless officers and detectives, and takes tremendous pride in helping them achieve their goals.  

He expresses a tremendous amount of gratitude to the San Diego Police Department for allowing him to participate in the 3-Day all these years. “But most of all I want to thank all the walkers I have known over these years for being there and for allowing them to touch my life and make it have more meaning.” 

The 3-Day community is endlessly grateful for all that the San Diego Police Department has done for us throughout the years. Their support and service are integral to what makes the San Diego 3-Day such a momentous event each and every year. We extend our positivity to Paul as he continues to battle this journey and hope to see him again in 2024. 

May Pink Bubble Story of the Month: Stephen Y. 

Stephen’s story is his wife’s story.  

In 2005, Stephen’s wife, Karen, was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought every step of the way with her husband by her side. Stephen would attend every appointment to support his wife, to the point that on rare occasions when he was unable to make one, the doctors would be concerned. “We went from two I’s into one We,” he touchingly notes. Soon after receiving her diagnosis, Karen found solace in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® community when she registered to walk for the very first time. Each year, her husband was on the sidelines cheering as she walked until 2011 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time. Unable to walk for herself, Stephen knew that the best way he could support his wife was to walk in her place. The following year they walked together for the first and final time before Karen transitioned over to crewing.  

Karen began crewing as a thriver on the sweep van where she and her crew partner, Melissa A., were affectionately known as “the camo girls.” Karen and Melissa met at a 3-Day Opening Ceremony years prior and became fast friends, so when they decided to sweep together, it became their passion. Stephen describes the Komen 3-Day as his wife’s happy place, an event that they lived 365 days a year, giving her reason to get up each morning and motivation to fight just a bit harder. Karen and Melissa would spend every day chatting about their upcoming sweep van, buying decor, planning outfits, and fundraising. All the while, Stephen was walking the 3-Day® to continue his wife’s passion as she received treatment.  

In 2017, Karen’s breast cancer had metastasized to her brain, making her unable to drive the sweep van with her partner Melissa. She still attended the San Diego 3-Day and passed away just six weeks later. After thirty years of marriage, Stephen was left without his beloved wife, and their three children left without a mother. Stephen speaks about how incredible their marriage was and her absence has left a huge hole in his heart to this very day. “Nobody’s family should have to go through what my family has gone through and continues to go through…. [I walk] so that nobody else has to [experience] what my family has.”  

Day 3 of the Susan G. Komen San Diego 3-Day on November 19, 2017.

Over 200 people attended her funeral, many of whom were friends made on the 3-Day. From that moment, Stephen knew that the best way to honor his late wife was to walk every single 3-Day, which he has done since. He has walked a total of 32 times and crewed once, participating as an all-city walker every year since his wife’s passing. Stephen remains in close contact with Melissa, his wife’s sweep partner, who has become a family member to him and his children. Stephen will be walking in all four cities again in 2024 and looks forward to returning to the Pink Bubble. “In this world there are givers and takers. [At the 3-Day] everyone is a giver and anything you need, you can ask of anybody and if they’ve got it, they will give it to you,” he shared. “It was important to my wife so it’s important to me.”