The Fairport Lift Bridge was among the New York landmarks the state planned to illuminate Oct. 13 for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The governor's announcement placed the Erie Canal bridge in a statewide display intended to draw attention to people living with advanced breast cancer and the need for more research.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation and announced the landmark display for Tuesday, Oct. 13. The planned colors were teal for healing, green for hope and pink for breast cancer awareness. The release named the Fairport bridge among roughly 30 participating sites in New York but did not provide a photograph or later confirmation that each site was lit as scheduled.
Other sites on the state's list included the State Fairgrounds' main gate and Expo Center near Syracuse, Grand Central Terminal and several state office buildings and bridges. The display was part of the international #LightUpMBC campaign, which the state said involved more than 196 cities.
The governor's proclamation followed a state Health Department virtual roundtable with Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and people living with metastatic breast cancer. The discussion focused on research, treatment outcomes and disparities in care, according to the governor's office.
Why the awareness day focuses on advanced disease
Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that began in the breast and spread to another part of the body, often the bones, lungs, brain or liver. The state described the disease as treatable but not curable. A diagnosis can occur when breast cancer first is found or months or years after treatment for earlier-stage disease.
The governor's office cited estimates that 20% to 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer develop metastatic disease later, while 6% to 10% have metastatic disease at their first diagnosis. Those are broad estimates in the state announcement, not a count of Finger Lakes patients or a prediction for any one person.
State officials and roundtable participants emphasized that an early diagnosis does not eliminate the possibility of recurrence. They also discussed disparities in outcomes: the state said non-Hispanic Black women have higher breast-cancer death rates than women in other racial and ethnic groups nationally. The announcement did not provide local rates or identify a new treatment resulting from the awareness campaign.
āWe are also reminded of the urgent need for continued research and new treatments that can allow patients to live and thrive for many years after a diagnosis,ā McDonald said in the release. Patient advocates described the lighting as a way to honor those who died and support those living with the disease.
State services and research campaign
The #LightUpMBC campaign said it had raised more than $2.7 million for METAvivor, a nonprofit that funds metastatic breast cancer research. The governor's office also pointed to a live program scheduled for the evening of Oct. 13; that event has passed, and the release did not report its final attendance or fundraising total.
New York's Cancer Services Program offers free breast-cancer screening and diagnostic services to eligible residents without health insurance, the state said. The governor's office also cited a 2024 law expanding coverage of screening and imaging under New York-issued insurance policies. Eligibility and coverage depend on the person's circumstances and plan.
The Fairport bridge's inclusion gave the Finger Lakes a visible place in the statewide commemoration. The state's release documented the plan for Tuesday's display, while the broader public-health issue it highlighted continues beyond the single evening.
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