More than 300 Southwest Florida women, all clad in purple attire to show solidarity, explored their individual risk factors for developing breast cancer while also learning tips to optimize their overall health and wellness.
Held Feb. 13 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, the third annual Purple Tea breast health symposium explored recent developments in the prevention, screening and treatment of breast cancer through presentations developed by distinguished health care leaders from across the region.
Dr. Nadine “Deanie” Singh, founder and CEO of Premier Mobile Health Services, served as this year’s honorary chair. A teen mother and high school dropout, Singh has since earned five college degrees and serves the community as a nurse, hospitalist and family nurse practitioner. In 2018, she purchased a mobile medical unit on eBay and has since turned her nonprofit into a thriving organization that provides services to medically vulnerable patients.
Nationally, about one in eight women (13%) will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. In 2025 alone, doctors will diagnose more than 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the U.S. Singh used her opportunity at Purple Tea to encourage all women to schedule their annual mammograms, noting that nearly all types of breast cancer are treatable if caught in the early stages.
“Despite knowing this, we are still not at 100% screening, and we must change this,” Singh said. “Early detection saves lives. A mammogram today could be the difference between beating cancer and facing a diagnosis where the odds are stacked against you.”
“The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 91%,” added Dr. Faithlore Gardner, a medical oncologist and hematologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. “It can be closer to 99% for breast cancer diagnosed very early.”
“Early” also was the theme for Dr. Denise Davis, a physician and medical director for women’s health with United Healthcare. In addition to noting the importance of early detection, Davis encouraged Purple Tea attendees to tackle everything early, starting with the time they set on their alarm clock.
“When you wake up early, you have control over your whole day,” Davis said.
Another instance of “early,” though, has drawn the attention of Dr. Natalia Spinelli, a breast surgical oncologist with Precision Healthcare Specialists who has noticed the changing demographics of her patients.
“There is a rise in the number of women being diagnosed with early onset breast cancer,” said Spinelli, who has been treating a higher percentage of breast cancer patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
Dr. Alan Brown, a radiation oncologist with Advocate Radiation Oncology, planned to update Purple Tea attendees about new cancer treatment options, including the debut later this year of proton therapy at Southwest Florida Proton. Instead, he devoted his time to encouraging those undergoing cancer treatments, as well as cancer survivors, to continue sharing their personal stories and seeking support.
“Vulnerability is not weakness; it is actually courageous,” said Brown. “Cancer is often seen as an individual battle, but the truth is, no one fights cancer alone.”
Dr. Janine Harewood, a medical oncologist with Lee Health, noted shortcomings in breast cancer treatment that fall along racial and socioeconomic lines.
“Your ZIP code is just as important as your disease biology and the likelihood of you being able to survive,” Harewood said. “Part of that is your health care access, your financial situation, your barriers to care.”
In addition to presentations, Purple Tea attendees enjoyed a health fair featuring local health centers, businesses and nonprofits, including Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Lee Health Cancer Institute, Advocate Radiation Oncology, Cancer Alliance Network, American Cancer Society, Precision Healthcare Specialists, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Pink DIVAS United and A New Dawn.
Purple Tea was sponsored by Advocate Radiation Oncology, Lee Health Cancer Institute, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Fort Myers Alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta and IFoundMyDoctor.com. Gerri Ware again served as event chair, pointing out that breast cancer impacts women of all ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic classes and other groups.
“We have a war against cancer, and who is going to battle?” Ware said. “All women.”
About Advocate Radiation Oncology
Advocate Radiation Oncology has a mission to provide compassionate health care expertise to cancer patients. The practice’s world-class, board-certified radiation oncologists and researchers trained at some of the nation’s top medical schools and access industry-leading technology to treat patients with breast, prostate, lung, brain, head and neck, rectal, liver, bone, cervical and other types of cancers. Advocate is a locally owned practice with 12 cancer treatment centers across southern Florida. For more information, please visit AdvocateRO.com.
