No one wants to hear the words: “You have cancer.”

Yet more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer were expected in American women this year. One in eight women is expected to face breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

Although breast cancer is a daunting topic, awareness is key and empowers women to fight the disease. That was the focus behind Vidant Beaufort Hospital’s annual Pink Power event Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Washington.

To help kick off the event, Dr. Brenda Peacock, a gynecologist at Vidant Women’s Care in Washington, offered her knowledge of breast cancer and encouraged self-breast awareness.

“Early detection still remains the best protection — we’ve had that motto for a long time,” Peacock told the crowd. “There’s no wrong way to do a self-breast exam. … Just pay attention to something that looks or feels different.”

Peacock said the Vidant Health system has recently begun utilizing 3D mammography, which she described as a cross between a CT scan and a 2D mammogram, in seven of its locations, including Washington. 3D mammography allows physicians to see the layers of breast tissue, which is especially beneficial to women with dense tissue.

“We’re so pleased that it is here in Washington,” Peacock said.

Rounding out the event, Pink Power’s keynote speaker took the stage: the Rev. Susan Sparks, a lawyer turned preacher and comedian.

Sparks told the crowd of her calling to be a preacher — a fact that became apparent to her while working one day at a bank. Leaving her job to go work for an orphanage in Calcutta, she said her calling became even clearer when a deaf and blind child was drawn to her because of the vibrations from her laughter.

“To me, humor is the most powerful gift,” Sparks said. “If you can laugh at yourself, you can forgive yourself, and if you can forgive yourself, you can forgive others.”

By mixing her faith in God with humor, Sparks said she tries to reach as many people as possible with laughter, even during a crisis such as breast cancer.

“It’s a great honor to be here today,” she said. “I’m a North Carolina native … When I said this is a homecoming, I meant it.”

Armed with knowledge of breast cancer and a little bit of humor during those tough times, cancer survivors are equipped to face the disease head on, according to Sparks.

“Humor is the WD-40 and duct tape of life,” Sparks said. “One of the things I want to give you all today is the gift of laughter.”