CLEVELAND — Tuesday night, a trio of landmarks in downtown Cleveland will light up in teal, green and pink.
The colors represent those touched by Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Metastatic Breast Cancer, or MBC, is an advanced cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
“For most people, it’s brain, liver, lungs, bones most commonly,” said Alice Santurri.
Doctors found it Santurri's spine.
“There’s no cure, yet,” said Santurri.
Each day, 115 people die from this specific cancer.
“I had three friends pass away last year only because there were no drugs for them to take,” said Santurri.
Santurri is observing Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day to speak out on the issues facing patients like herself.
“We need more research; we need more drugs. The drug that I’m on was actually FDA fast-tracked approved a month before I was diagnosed,” said Santurri.
Tuesday night, nearly 200 landmarks across the U.S. and Canada will help shed light on MBC.
“We have three downtown – Terminal Tower, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse,” said Santurri.“Last year, I heard someone say why is Terminal Tower lit up like a unicorn? And I’m like ugh, they don’t know, so we want to have more message across, so they know why were lit up and what the meaning is for all of us."
MBC, which is the deadliest form of breast cancer, affects 30% of women.
This year alone, it is estimated more than 42,000 Americans will die from the disease.
“My friends that passed away, they would still be here if they had the drugs and that’s very frustrating that we just don’t have the research that’s available so the lights are just hope for all of us,” said Santurri.
You can join the movement to raise awareness about Metastatic Breast Cancer on social media.
Take a photo with one of the landmarks lit up downtown and post it publicly using #LightUpMBCand #METAvivor.
