- A Lehigh Valley Health Network doctor has a pair of pink shoes for each day of the month
- Dr. Lori Alfonse wears her fancy footwear to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and treatment
- Breast cancer events this month include an LVHN Facebook Live on Oct. 10 and Pink Out on Oct. 12
SALISBURY TWP., Pa. — When it comes to breast cancer treatment and prevention, Dr. Lori Alfonse doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk.
In pink shoes.
From sneakers to sandals, Alfonse, an oncologist, has an array of footwear in the color that symbolizes breast cancer awareness. She wears a different pair each of the 31 days of October.
"Every pair of shoes that I wear has some sort of special meaning."Dr. Lori Alfonse, deputy physician in chief, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute
"Every pair of shoes that I wear has some sort of special meaning,” Alfonse said.
"I have different types of shoes, different shades of shoes, I've taken care of 22 men in my over 17 years of experience with breast cancer, so you have to have shoes that are dedicated to them.
"I have a pair of pink camo boots that go well, to pay homage to my males. I also have pink sneakers."
Alfonse is the deputy physician in chief of the Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. She also is medical director of Breast Health Services atLehigh Valley Health Network, and a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist with LVPG surgical oncology.
She is passionate about her work and the patients she treats, who are the inspiration for her footwear collection.
“What I've tried to do is make it a little bit more entertaining and it started with my love of shoes,” she said. “My uncontrollable shoe habit went to work and I started making sure that I had enough shoes to dedicate to every day in the month of October."
Platform to relay an important message
Her support for breast cancer awareness runs deeper than the shoes on her feet. She said the attention she gets for her footwear gives her a platform to relay an important message.
“It's really the time that we get to make women, men, our community in general, aware of what they need to do for screening opportunities, and let them know, even more importantly, what we offer at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute in terms of comprehensive breast care,” Alfonse said.
The physicians at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute recommend regular screening for an average-risk patient beginning at age 40.
“Every year without fail,” Alfonse said. "If a patient has significant family members with breast cancer history, then they may need to be screened earlier."
She recommends people have an open conversation with their primary care doctor first.
"Screening is meant to find things before they find us and it's that important. Not having any family history of breast cancer in your family does not mean that it can’t happen to you and if it does happen to you, we have great treatments and so this is not a death sentence."Dr. Lori Alfonse, deputy physician in chief of the Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute
"Screening is meant to find things before they find us and it's that important,” Alfonse said. “Not having any family history of breast cancer in your family does not mean that it can’t happen to you and if it does happen to you, we have great treatments and so this is not a death sentence."
See pink and think
It’s that message she said she hopes people will remember when they see or think about her pink shoes.
“I don't really have a favorite pair. I have to tell you all of them are my favorites, just like all of my patients are my favorites.”Dr. Lori Alfonse, deputy physician in chief, Lehigh Valley topper Cancer Institute
When asked which pair are her favorite, she replied, “I don't really have a favorite pair. I have to tell you all of them are my favorites, just like all of my patients are my favorites.”
Alfonse, along with her team at LVHN, will participate in breast cancer awareness events throughout the month.
On Monday, Oct. 9th, she will be the host for a Facebook Live, along with the imaging director of Breast Health Services Dr. Priya Sareen. They will provide vital breast cancer information and take live questions from people joining in.
Then, LVHN’s big event of the month is the Pink Out on Oct. 12 at the Promenade Shops in Upper Saucon Township. Rain date is Oct. 19.
Guests are encouraged to wear pink. It’s an opportunity to learn about the latest breast cancer screening and treatment currently happening at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute.
