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September 27, 2024 marks 50 years since doctors found a lump in First Lady Betty Ford’s breast. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she became a champion for the cause and an advocate for breast cancer awareness, which led to more screenings across the country - a phenomenon referred to as the "Betty Ford blip." 

Corewell Health™,  home to Betty Ford Breast Care Services, is pleased to honor her legacy with a free public event at 2 p.m. September 27 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum where a panel of physicians and breast cancer survivors will discuss the importance of early detection and advancements made in treatment.

“Betty Ford’s candor helped mobilize women to talk to their doctors about breast care and to be screened regularly,” said Amie Hop, M.D., section chief for surgical oncology at Corewell Health. “Her impact still shines through today in so many of my patients and is something that will never be forgotten.”  

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum has a new, showcase exhibit composed of free-standing panels which tell the story of Mrs. Ford’s breast cancer diagnosis and its impacts using artifacts, pictures, and reprints of letters from the public. Admission is free on September 27 for guests attending the Be Bold Like Betty event. There will also be tours of Corewell Health’s 45-foot mobile mammography bus just outside the museum.  The event can be streamed on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. Additional event information is available online.  

"Betty Ford's courageous transparency and tireless advocacy reshaped the national conversation around health. Her willingness to share her personal story eased fears and inspired countless others to seek exams. She was a beacon of strength, and we proudly honor her legacy with this program and showcase exhibit," said Brooke Clement, director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.

Here are important reminders about breast care: 

Steps to prevent breast cancer: Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding tobacco use and following recommended screening guidelines can lower your risk.

Benefits of early detection: Early detection can improve survival rates and reduce the need for aggressive treatments. Regular mammograms, clinical exams and self-exams help to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

Common misconceptions: Wearing a bra or using deodorant won’t decrease your risk of breast cancer. Breast implants don’t cause cancer. These and other claims are not supported by scientific evidence and may distract from proven risk factors.

Genetics and family history: People with inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, or who have a close relative with breast cancer, are at increased risk. Genetic testing and preventive medications or surgery may reduce the risk.

About Corewell Health™
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.  

About the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
Opened to the public in September 1981, the Gerald R. Ford Museum allows visitors to experience highlights from the lives of President Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States (1974–1977), and his wife, Betty Ford. The museum exhibits teach democratic citizenship and allow for quiet reflection. In addition to the permanent exhibits, changing temporary exhibits draws artifacts from partner museums nationwide. Part of the presidential library system of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency, the Ford Museum is in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Ford Library is located on the north campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. For more information, visit www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov 

About the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
The mission of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation is to enlarge President Ford’s legacy in a world that desperately needs his example of leadership and service. As author James Cannon wrote, “From its beginning American democracy has had the good fortune to produce a leader, often from an unexpected quarter, whose character and actions fit the tide of history. So it was on August 9, 1974, when this good and honest man, this obscure and stolid workhorse of a Congressman from the heartland of the nation, came to the rescue of the American government. To Gerald Ford was given the responsibility to move America from untruth to truth, from darkness to light.” Visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation: www.geraldrfordfoundation.org.

About the National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's record keeper. It safeguards and manages the official records of the U.S. Government, ensuring the documentation of our nation's history. For more information, visit www.archives.gov.