The nine casinos in Atlantic City are joining forces to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual event that promotes research and early cancer diagnosis.
October has been the national month to raise awareness of breast cancer since its inception in 1985 as a result of a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries' pharmaceutical division, according to AstraZeneca. Casinos in Atlantic City are commemorating the month with a number of activities.
"Breast cancer impacts families in every community, but thanks to advances in detection and treatment, survival rates continue to rise. Each October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Atlantic City casinos stand united with our employees, guests, and the greater community to raise awareness and shine a light on this important cause,” said Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) and Resorts Casino Hotel.
“Atlantic City casinos remain committed to supporting groundbreaking research, promoting early detection, and ensuring care for all those impacted by this disease,” Giannantonio added.
Lights in Pink
Casinos in Atlantic City will use pink lights on their facades and atop their hotel towers for the duration of the month.
Breast cancer awareness is linked to the color pink. Participants in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure started receiving pink ribbons in 1991. Moreover, pink is seen as a feminine and sympathetic hue.
Borgata, Ocean, Hard Rock, Resorts, and Caesars Entertainment's three casinos (Caesars, Harrah's, and Tropicana) are all planning to become pink. Male employees at Golden Nugget will compete with one another to raise the most money for breast cancer research while wearing pink.
Throughout the month, Hard Rock is serving a pink cocktail, with a part of the sales going to breast cancer charities. Caesars is donating $1 of each drink sold to the American Cancer Society's Men Wear Pink campaign as part of a similar pink cocktail special. Additionally, the American Cancer Society will benefit from the pink cosmopolitan that Resorts is selling.
Donated gaming vouchers will be donated to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, according to Golden Nugget. Resorts is contributing their gift buckets to Greater Philadelphia's Men Wear Pink campaign.
Additionally, team members can get complimentary on-site mammography screenings at the Borgata and Caesars hotels.
Click here for a comprehensive list of all breast cancer awareness events held by Atlantic City casinos.
Statistics about Breast Cancer
With the exception of skin cancers, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in the US and one of the most financially supported malignancies. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer makes up over 30% of all new malignancies that affect women annually.
According to the group, including both active patients and those who have finished treatment, there are over four million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
On the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) scale, localized breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of greater than 99%. A distant SEER diagnosis, which indicates that the cancer has migrated to distant organs including the liver, lungs, or bones, only has a 32% five-year survival rate.