Light Up The Lake
Photo: Cancer survivors pose for the annual photo with the Hope light during Light Up The Lake. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The community cancer support group DeSoto Hope held its fifth annual Light Up The Lake event Saturday evening on the shore of the Central Park lake in Southaven.
Light Up The Lake is held annually to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones, and inspire hope for those who are currently in treatment, in remission, or are cured from cancer.
The mission of DeSoto Hope is to make sure no one is forgotten during their cancer treatment. Hope Baskets are delivered to DeSoto County residents who are beginning their treatment.
Travel grants are also provided for DeSoto County cancer patients seeking second opinions or treatment outside the Mid-South region. Once approved, a one-time grant of $500 is provided.
DeSoto Hope says it has provided 2,100 Hope Baskets and awarded 21 travel grants since November 2020.
Statistics indicate the battle against cancer continues with Mississippi being a large battleground.
According to state health data and the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 17,820 Mississippians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, and roughly 6,740 will die from it.
Mississippi State Department of Health statistics show the state’s age-adjusted cancer mortality rate (2018–2022) was 179.8 per 100,000, about 23 percent higher than the U.S. average (146.0/100k). These high case and death rates imply that Mississippi’s overall cancer survival is worse than the national average. For comparison, the national five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined (diagnoses in 2014–2020) is about 69 percent.
Although a specific statewide survival percentage isn’t published, Mississippi’s elevated mortality and late-stage diagnosis of common cancers suggest its 5-year survival is substantially below the 69% U.S. rate.
Following are photos from Saturday’s Light Up The Lake event:
