FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- More than 320 women attended the second annual Purple Tea breast cancer symposium, a forum where Southwest Florida women can learn about their individual risk factors, treatment options and encouraging statistics.

Held Feb. 15 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, Purple Tea was a luncheon networking and educational event that featured a trio of distinguished presenters: Dr. Alan Brown, a board-certified radiation oncologist at Advocate Radiation Oncology; Dr. Natalia Spinelli, a board-certified breast surgical oncologist at Precision Healthcare Specialists; and Debra Wilson, vice president of oncology services at Lee Health. Nearly all attendees wore purple in a show of unity and solidarity in the fight against breast cancer.

Nationally, advocacy organizations estimate that doctors will diagnose about 300,000 new cases of breast cancer this year. Brown noted the five-year survival rate for breast cancer, if diagnosed and treated early, is 90-95%, a rate that has climbed over the years as research and technological innovations continue offering encouraging signs. One of those developments, Brown said, is emerging in Estero, where Southwest Florida Proton is building a state-of-the-art cancer care center that will be the first of its kind on Florida's west coast. Protons have the unique ability to travel into a target and not beyond it, which causes less damage to surrounding tissue, thus reducing potential side effects and complications during and after cancer treatments.

More on TelAve News

• Retell AI White Label Platform for Agencies Launched by VoiceAIWrapper, With Branded Client Portals and No Per-Minute Markup
• FOCUS Names Mark Phillips Senior Vice President of Business Development
• Notaron Expands Online Notarization Access Following Wisconsin Approval
• Wings Air Helicopters Selected to Support VIP Transportation for Resorts World in New York
• Scoop Social Co. Brings Its Signature Mobile Dessert Experience to Houston This October

Spinelli acknowledged the role of genetics, but noted there are many "modifiable risk factors" that contribute to all types of cancer. Examples include eating a healthy diet with ample vegetables, fruits and lean meats, as well as regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking.

"This is in our hands," Spinelli said. "This is all stuff we can control."

Spinelli and Wilson both noted a trend emerging in Southwest Florida with more younger women – those in their 30s and 40s – being diagnosed with breast cancer. Wilson also emphasized the impact of Lee Health Cancer Institute, the region's only accredited cancer center, in providing a full spectrum of services to anyone in need. The institute partners with individual donors and philanthropic organizations to ensure cancer patients can afford life-saving treatments.

"Nobody has a savings account for cancer," Wilson said.

Purple Tea was chaired by Gerri Ware. This year, the honorary chair was Diane Spears, the first Black woman to earn a nursing degree from Edison Community College (now Florida SouthWestern State College) who later became a registered nurse.

More on TelAve News

• The Social Capital Revolution Comes to Phoenix!
• Lawsuit Alleges American Deli Food Caused Severe Illness, Acute Kidney Failure, And Eight-day Hospitalization
• FBI/DoW plot uncovered to hurt Trump/Vance through encouraged "widespread" cybersecurity breaches and racketeering theft of $80m in USDA payments
• Bettingbladet releases H1 2026 report on the Swedish online gambling market
• Garage door installation or repair in Minnesota? Which makes more sense for your family?

Purple Tea was generously sponsored by Advocate Radiation Oncology, Lee Health Cancer Institute, Florida Cancer Specialists, Fort Myers Alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta, Florida Weekly and IFoundMyDoctor.com/Florida Health Care News.