Cancer awareness boat to debut at St. Patrick’s Day parade

St. Luke's Hospital's newest cancer awareness campaign will debut this week in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Cedar Rapids.

Officials hope the new stlukesearlydetection.com boat –sponsored by the hospital and area businessman Jeff Palmer - will educate people about the importance of early detection for breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women and the chances of a woman developing invasive breast cancer is almost one in eight.

Experts say finding breast cancer early is vital. Breast cancer rates have been declining since the early 1990's, according to the American Cancer Society, in part because early detection screening has increased.

Palmer volunteered his boat for the cause for personal reasons. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago and has been cancer-free for six years.

“We all have special women we want to protect from this deadly disease. My hope is the stlukesearlydection.com boat will bring about more awareness of breast cancer and serve as a conversation starter about the importance of annual mammograms,” Palmer said.

Organizers plan to show the boat off at various events in Eastern Iowa. Staff from St Luke's Breast and Bone Health unit will appear with accompany the boat to to hand out education information.