Awareness is Growing! Pop-Up Pink Pumpkin Patch Sprouts at BRG

BATON ROUGE, La. – Breast cancer awareness is growing at Baton Rouge General (BRG)! Thousands of pink pumpkins arrived overnight in a pop-up pumpkin patch on BRG’s Bluebonnet campus. The pumpkin patch is part of the hospital’s breast cancer awareness campaign that promotes annual mammograms for women over 40.

The public is invited to visit the pink pumpkin patch, take photos, and bring home a pumpkin to display in honor of breast cancer awareness. The pink pumpkins aren’t painted - they are “Porcelain Doll” pumpkins that were cultivated to aid in the fight against breast cancer. Only about 50 farms across the country grow the pink pumpkins, which are part of a national campaign launched in 2012 to encourage people to show unity in the fight to find a cure.

“Breast cancer deaths have dropped dramatically in the past two decades, thanks to better treatment, greater awareness and more women getting mammograms,” said BRG President and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro. “But, we can’t get complacent. Most women over 40 need a mammogram every year, and we want to make it as easy as possible.”

To schedule a mammogram, visit protectyourpumpkins.com or call 769-1847. Baton Rouge General is also hosting a mammogram screening event October 27. “Mammos & Mimosas” is a Saturday morning brunch event where guests can enjoy a variety of food options, mimosas, music, local retailers and demonstrations in addition to having a private clinical breast exam and mammogram. Visit BRGeneral.org/mammos for more information.

Women in the U.S. have a 1-in-8 lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. A mammogram can often find or detect breast cancer early, when it’s small, and even before a lump can be felt. Women over 40 should talk to their doctor about their risk for breast cancer and when they should schedule a mammogram. Early detection leads to a greater range of treatment options, including less-extensive surgery and fewer serious side effects.

The pumpkin patch is located at the corner of Bluebonnet Blvd. and Picardy Ave. Pumpkins are available for free until they are gone. “We want to see pink pumpkins on every porch in Baton Rouge,” Tenreiro said.

Baton Rouge General’s Pennington Cancer Center was the Baton Rouge area’s first accredited comprehensive breast center by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. BRG’s breast imaging center was also named a breast imaging center of excellence by the American College of Radiology for the past two years.

The hospital also opened The Healing Boutique in March, a first-of-its-kind retail shop offering supplies and resources for both men and women with all types of cancer. The full-service store, located in the BRG Gift Shop, specializes in cancer-related items that span the full spectrum of patient needs, from pillows and journals to lotions and hats, to eyebrow kits, wigs and prosthetics. It is the only boutique for cancer patients in the area that’s open after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as an affiliate of Tulane University School of Medicine, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral.

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