By Lola Magazine | Photography by Trey Lankford
Awareness, Healing, and Hope in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the pink ribbons we see around us are more than symbols—they’re reminders of strength, survivorship, and the ongoing fight against the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide.
In 2025, more than 316,000 women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and more than 42,000 will die from the disease. Globally, there are 2.3 million new cases each year. Yet alongside these sobering numbers stand stories of survival—proof that early detection, medical innovation, and community support can save lives.
Marcia’s Journey
One of those stories belongs to Marcia Lankford, RN and Diabetes Care & Education Specialist at Ochsner LSU Health. Marcia’s world shifted in February 2025, when a routine mammogram led to a callback, a biopsy, and a diagnosis she never expected at just 58. “My mom had breast cancer at 75, but it was a totally different type. I thought I had more time before it was something I had to worry about,” Marcia recalls. “The wait between biopsy and diagnosis was one of the hardest parts—not knowing but imagining.”
What followed was a whirlwind: surgery, four rounds of chemotherapy, and 33 daily rounds of radiation. By mid-September, she had completed treatment and transitioned to a daily oral medication she’ll take for seven years. “Taking a single pill a day is nothing compared to the past seven months of my life,” Marcia says. “I missed holidays, occasions, and swimming over the summer. But now, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is life after cancer.”
At her first Cancer Survivorship Walkathon, Marcia found something unexpected: comfort in the voices of other survivors. “Those conversations gave me encouragement when I was still in the storm,” she says. “Now, I get to walk alongside others and remind them they’re not alone.” It’s the same encouragement that now anchors a weekly tradition in Betty Virginia Park.
A Student-Led Community
Every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., the LSUHS Cancer Walking Group gathers at Betty Virginia Park. This student-run initiative is currently led by Nicholas Whitton, MS3 and son of neonatologist Dr. Gerald Whitton of Willis Knighton Health Systems. Nicholas, along with his peers from LSU Health Shreveport, carry on a tradition which began when medical students on their hematology/oncology rotations observed many cancer patients avoiding physical activity, noting concerns like exertion, accessibility and financial burdens.
The solution was simple but powerful: gather survivors, caregivers, medical students, and community partners—including the LSU Health Foundation and Ochsner | LSU Health—for a one-mile walk together. No gyms, no costs, no intimidation—just steps toward wellness in a supportive space.
A highlight of each walk is the survivorship bell, which participants may ring in celebration of milestones or victories. Its sound carries across the park, echoing resilience and hope. Passersby, shout congratulatory cheers as others wipe away tears. It’s truly an uplifting experience for everyone.
Whitton describes the impact: “Over the years, I’ve seen how meaningful this is for patients and survivors. But it’s also transformative for us as students—it gives us perspective, stress relief, and a reminder of why we chose medicine.”
Beyond the Walk
The group doesn’t stop with Saturday mornings. Each spring, the medical students and their partners host the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Survivorship Walkathon, a larger community celebration of hope, survivorship, and solidarity.
For survivors like Marcia, the presence of the group is a gift. “The Shreveport-Bossier community is fortunate to have Feist-Weiller and Ochsner LSU in our backyard,” she says. “And to have these medical students give their weekends to walk with us—it’s nothing short of amazing.”
Moving Forward
Research continues to affirm what the LSUHS Cancer Walking Group practices weekly: walking outdoors reduces stress, boosts mood, and fosters mindfulness. But beyond the data, what makes this initiative powerful is the togetherness—students, survivors, caregivers, and community members walking as one.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the message is clear: while the statistics are daunting, the stories of survivors and the steps of communities like ours remind us that there is hope, healing, and life beyond cancer.
So, if you find yourself at Betty Virginia Park in Shreveport on a Saturday morning, listen for the sound of footsteps and the ring of the survivor’s bell. You’ll hear not just a walk, but a movement—one that proves, in the fight against breast cancer, every step counts.
Breast Cancer Awareness:
By the Numbers
316,950: Estimated new invasive breast cancer cases in U.S. women in 2025
59,080: New cases of DCIS (non-invasive breast cancer) in 2025
42,213: Women expected to die of breast cancer in 2025 in the U.S.
1 in 8: Lifetime risk for a woman to develop invasive breast cancer
4 million+: Breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today
91%: Five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S.
2.3 million: Global new breast cancer cases annually
670,000: Global deaths from breast cancer each year
Sources: American Cancer Society, CDC, Breastcancer.org, Susan G. Komen, World Health Organization
When:
Every Saturday at
9:00 a.m.
(weather permitting)
Where:
Betty Virginia Park, Shreveport, LA
Who:
Open to all cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, medical students, and community members
What:
One-mile-walk for connection, encouragement, and wellness
Tradition:
A Survivorship Bell is rung to celebrate milestones and survivorship
Leadership:
Student-run initiative led by LSU Health Shreveport medical students
Partners:
LSU Health Sciences Foundation, Ochsner | LSU Health, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center