Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with four females every minute being diagnosed with the disease globally.
A study published in Nature Medicine found that cases are set to surge by 2050, but treatment disparities affect diagnoses, treatments, and survival rates worldwide. As such, raising awareness and support for breast cancer is growing in importance, and all platforms and industries can come together to make a difference.
The poker world is no exception, and there are many opportunities to bring attention to the disease and boost aid to crucial programs and organizations. Cancer also impacts the world of poker, with notable players like Esther Rossi passing from the disease.
While the community mourns these losses, there are also instances where survivors get the chance to undergo treatment after winning poker games. Poker is emerging as a unique yet important platform for breast cancer in many ways. Here’s a closer look at how the game is contributing to aid and awareness:
The Impact Of Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of women worldwide, but cases can be effectively treated and cured if spotted early through screenings. However, many women don’t get the care they need, mainly due to misconceptions about cancer and barriers to care.
“However, many women don’t get the care they need, mainly due to misconceptions about cancer and barriers to care.”
Cost is a significant factor for why women avoid procedures like mammograms, and they may also live in an area that lacks relevant healthcare facilities and services. They may also not prioritize screenings if they have no family history of breast cancer or don’t notice any symptoms.
The procedure may also seem frightening, and they’d rather not see the results for fear of the impact. Even if they are screened and breast cancer is detected, treatment options like chemotherapy and radiation are quite aggressive.
Our “Chemo Brain Can Affect Us Even If We Aren’t Fighting Cancer” post highlights how treatments can affect the brain, with 75% of patients experiencing brain fog. These issues are why knowing about breast cancer, the importance of screenings, and boosting support to provide healthcare access to women in need is necessary.
Poker plays a vital role in showcasing the benefits of getting checked and raising aid for charities and programs.
Charity Tournaments:
Poker can be a unique and exciting way to support breast cancer initiatives and organizations. The game may already appeal to players, but linking it to a good cause can encourage even more participants to play. Leading US online poker site Americas Cardroom hosts annual charity tournaments for breast cancer support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The 2024 tournament featured a $55 buy-in and a $15,000 guaranteed prize pool, with all proceeds going to the United Breast Cancer Foundation (UBCF) to aid in their work of uplifting people affected by the disease. The platform also matched the $15,000 prize pool to make a charity donation to the UBCF and raised a total of $20,000.
The event was also hosted by some of the platform’s most prolific female ACR Team Pros, such as Katie Lindsay and Ebony Kenney, and ACR’s Online Team member Svitlana ‘Svetarik’ Dryha. These charity tournaments make for an exciting support opportunity that can be a lot of fun for players and viewers while contributing to meaningful work for breast cancer.
Celebrity Games:
Many top poker players and figures in the game have become celebrities in their own right, and their impact can draw even more attention to breast cancer.
Celebrity poker tournaments can aid in breast cancer programs by bringing more awareness and support to the cause through an exciting poker game. Breast Cancer Alliance hosted a Livestream Celebrity Poker Tournament featuring famous players and commentators.
The winner was Chris Moneymaker, who’s known for revolutionizing the poker scene after his win at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and is currently an ACR Team Pro as well. He enjoys helping charities, and his participation in the event was important to him, knowing the impact of breast cancer and how it can upend lives.
Other big names included tournament hose Jamie Kerstetter, a professional poker player, ESPN commentator, and social media personality. Other poker personalities also offered tips and stories, including poker player and chess champion Jennifer Shahade and Dan Smith, one of the highest-earning poker players ever.
The Women’s Poker Association was also involved in creating the event, which was a particularly personal and crucial cause, with board member and WPA Player of the Year Ruth Hall being a two-time breast cancer survivor. Big names in the game are great for spreading awareness while being entertaining to watch.
“Poker players have made gestures to catch attention and make it an opportunity to highlight the disease and for support. “
Making A Statement:
Poker tournaments draw thousands to the tables and even more eyes through livestreams and broadcasts, making it an ideal platform for breast cancer awareness. Poker players have made gestures to catch attention and make it an opportunity to highlight the disease and for support.
For instance, Poker Hall of Famer Tom McEvoy wore an all-pink outfit to the WSOP in 2018, playing in support of his daughter, who was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. He stood out with a pastel pink hat and western shirt at the tables in the Main Event, and he made his cause clear with a breast cancer awareness ribbon pin.
He made the statement to ask people in the poker to pray for his daughter, regardless of religious beliefs, as well as bring awareness to the impact of the disease. Poker may be an unexpected way to shed light on breast cancer, but it provides a lot of opportunities to show support and ask people to pay attention.
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