According to nationalbreastcancer.org, one in eight U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease and is also the second leading cause cancer death in women. On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes. Every 13 minutes a woman will die of breast cancer.

Yearly, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and while rare in men, it is estimated over 2,000 men will be diagnosed every year and over 400 will die.

There are success stories to go along with the sobering statistics of the disease. Over 3 million breast cancer survivors are residing in the U.S. today.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Middlesboro ARH Hospital will be holding its ninth annual Breast Cancer Survivor Tree Lighting Ceremony and Reception on Oct. 3 in the hospital lobby.

Breast cancer survivors throughout the Tri-State are invited to attend.

“It is such a privilege to honor our breast cancer survivors during our tree lighting ceremony,” said Kathy Miracle, Middlesboro ARH Director of Radiology.

“We are proud to say that many of the breast cancer survivors who have attended our special ceremony continue celebrating with us each year. That gives us all hope. We also want to reach out to breast cancer survivors who have not experienced our tree lighting ceremony and celebration. We want you to know that you have support.”

Prior to the tree lighting ceremony, Middlesboro ARH Radiologist Dr. Laura Slusher, certified in breast imaging, will speak to the group about life after breast cancer.

Each breast cancer survivor will be given an ornament to personalize and hang during the tree lighting ceremony. Once all the ornaments are hung, the tree will be lit, symbolizing hope, encouragement and strength.

The tree lighting ceremony and celebration will be held in the front lobby of Middlesboro ARH Hospital on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to reserve your ornament for the tree, call Miracle at 606-242-1193.

For more information on breast cancer visit http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts