Running the 2026 Pink Run with Breast Cancer Patients: I Ran Too

Hello! This is Dr. Kim Ju-won, your breast care physician.

Today, I'd like to share something a little more personal.

On October 11, I took part in the 2026 Pink Run held in Sangam-dong, as a doctor who performs breast reconstruction.

I'd been saying I would join the Pink Run for ages, so it's a little embarrassing that it took until this year for me to finally work up the courage. Still, I'm happy to have finally started. I ran alone this year, but I hope that next year, the Melonies can run with me as well.

Since I don't usually run, I was worried about being able to finish the course.

I had already said I would take on the challenge and even invited the Melonies to run together,

but I was worried that I might not make it to the end myself.

While I was fidgeting with nerves, a staff member who had come along with me said something.

Doctor, just run with the same stamina you use in surgery~

(I've always been confident in my stamina since school days, enough to make my male classmates raise their hands in surrender, haha)

In that moment, I remembered that I did have the stamina!

With my confidence restored in that instant, I lined up at the starting line.

To briefly explain the Pink Run: it is a social event held as a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of breast cancer prevention and early screening, and to send words of encouragement to breast cancer patients. This year, 2026, marks its 26th edition.

As you can see in the photo, there were a lot of participants.

There were people who came together with friends, people who were clearly patients at first glance, and people who simply wanted to support the cause.

What left a strong impression on me were the family participants. There were quite a few family teams running with their children.

Seeing moms who are in treatment or have beaten the disease banding together with their families,

I was reminded of the saying that some people become stronger after facing hardship.

It was a deeply moving moment, and I found myself wishing for everyone's full recovery.

Through my work with breast reconstruction patients, I see firsthand how much breast cancer can change a person's life. Cancer is frightening even to hear the name of, and because of that, it affects not only the patient but also the people around them. Korea has a high incidence of breast cancer, but it also has a high cure rate.

When I'm in the consultation room, I sometimes start to understand why, especially when I hear people's stories of their battles with the disease.

I come to believe that it was the strength of not only the patients themselves, but also their families and close friends, who got angry, cried, and worried alongside them, that helped beat the cancer.

I suppose that's the same feeling behind taking part in the Pink Run. It's the hope of being one more person who adds their strength to the cause.

2026 Pink Run: My First Finish

I trusted in my stamina and ran, but once I actually got going, it wasn't easy. (I had to control my breathing, think about my pace, and even on a short course there were so many things to consider. Huge respect to all the runners!)

Many people were running lightly while chatting with each other, and they seemed to have been training consistently.

Thankfully, I made it to the finish line on my own two feet ^^;;;;

Many Melonies who have had surgery at the clinic have asked me again and again when they can start running. I only realized through this experience that behind those questions was a real eagerness to get started as soon as possible. From now on, I think I'll be able to follow their recovery progress with a bit more understanding of that eagerness.

Hoping we can run together next year 🍈

The Pink Ribbon Campaign: A Message I Want to Share with Women

As a doctor who performs breast reconstruction, and as a fellow woman, I'd like to offer a few words of advice.

Breast cancer is a cancer that occurs with relatively high frequency among women.

Although cure rates have risen and cancer treatments have advanced by leaps and bounds,

the disease still shakes not only the patient's body, mind, and daily life, but also the lives of those close to them,

so the reach and impact of cancer remain frightening and far-reaching.

What's even scarier is that breast cancer can affect anyone.

Frequent drinking or smoking, irregular lifestyle habits, an unhealthy diet, heavy exposure to electromagnetic waves, a genetic predisposition... Nowadays, breast cancer occurs across a wide range of circumstances, and the patient population is so diverse that it's hard to point to a single cause. In fact, when I meet patients at the clinic, I feel that breast cancer isn't something that only happens to certain people.

Pay attention to your body and don't forget your regular checkups. If anything feels even slightly off, please see a doctor.

Even as medicine advances, there is no more reliable form of prevention than early detection and treatment.

I believe taking part in this Pink Run was a meaningful opportunity for me as well. It gave me a chance to reflect once more on the reconstruction patients I counsel every day and on the work I do. I will carry what I felt at the 2026 Pink Run with me and continue to walk alongside you through your surgical journey, with the same spirit as running together.

Let's do it together next year!

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was the 2026 Pink Run held?

It was held in Sangam-dong on October 11, 2026. The author, Dr. Kim Ju-won, also took part as a doctor who performs breast reconstruction. The Pink Run is a social event that raises awareness of the importance of breast cancer prevention and early screening, and this year marks its 26th edition.

What is the purpose of the Pink Run campaign?

The Pink Run is a campaign designed to raise awareness of the importance of breast cancer prevention and early screening, and to send words of encouragement to breast cancer patients. According to the post, participants included friends who came together, patients who are in treatment or have beaten the disease, people who simply support the cause, and family teams running with their children.

Can breast cancer affect anyone?

Yes. The author explains that breast cancer can develop in anyone. Factors such as drinking, smoking, irregular lifestyle habits, diet, electromagnetic waves, and genetics are mentioned, but the author notes that because breast cancer now occurs across a wide range of circumstances and the patient population is so diverse, it is difficult to pinpoint a single cause.

What can be done to prevent breast cancer?

The post recommends staying on top of regular checkups, paying attention to your body, and seeing a doctor if anything feels even slightly off. The author stresses that even as medicine advances, there is no more reliable form of prevention than early detection and treatment.

What is the cure rate for breast cancer in Korea?

According to the post, Korea has a high incidence of breast cancer, but it also has a high cure rate. The author shares that when listening to patients' stories of their battles with the disease, she comes to feel that the strength of not only the patients themselves but also their families and friends, who got angry, cried, and worried together, is what helped beat the cancer.