Jerry ZurekThe topic of breast cancer sparks the interest of many people, especially during October, the official month of breast cancer awareness. At Cabrini, there are a few things being done to promote awareness on campus, although there has been more involvement in the past.
Susan Fitzgerald, the health services coordinator, said she will make sure that on Oct. 24 and 31, the Health Hut will include information on breast cancer. Also, she is going to purchase educational items about breast cancer to be hung in the residence halls.
Fitzgerald realizes that there could be more things done on campus during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Fitzgerald said, “We could do more to promote, but the media does an amazing job of promoting awareness.”
Fitzgerald commented on the idea that many college women don’t worry about breast cancer because there is a low occurrence of young women getting this type of cancer. According to the World YWCA web site, breast tissue in younger women is dense, and it is hard to find cancerous cells with a mammogram because of the dense tissue.
However, the World YWCA web site also stated that it is becoming more common for women under 40 years of age to get breast cancer. The most common cases are found in women who have a history of breast cancer in their family.
This rising statitistic is one of the reasons why it is very important for women to start giving themselves self-examinations starting at the age of 20. Fitzgerald said, “It is good to start self examinations early because this will get women into a good habit, so when they get older they will be used to examining themselves.”
Early detection is the key to fighting breast cancer. This is why self-examinations and mammograms are highly recommended. By checking up on themselves, women are helping to improve their chance of survival.
Breast cancer is a seriously fatal illness. According to the breast cancer site, each year about 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 of the women diagnosed die from the cancer.
Although there is a much higher occurrence of breast cancer in women, there is still a possibility that a man could get breast cancer. According to the breast cancer site, about 1,600 men will get breast cancer each year, resulting in approximately 400 deaths.
With all the awareness spread through our country, there are still many women who never think once about the possibility of getting breast cancer.
According to the breast cancer site, about 13 million women, ages 40 and up, who reside in the United States, have never had a mammogram.
Breast cancer does not only affect the person who has it but also all of those who are close to them. Sophomore Christina Siderio, an elementary education major, reflected on the time her aunt suffered from breast cancer. Siderio said, “I know first hand how dangerous breast cancer is because my aunt had it. It was a scary time in the lives of my entire family and made us realize how important it is to detect breast cancer early.”
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