Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while many are aware of the disease, some may forget to take the necessary steps in order to prevent or detect early signs of breast cancer. According to The National Breast Cancer Foundation or NBCF, “1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.” However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

NBCF also says, “When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 100%.”

Everyone, men and women, can be diagnosed with breast cancer; therefore, everyone should know how to give themselves a breast exam. Before giving oneself a breast exam, it’s important to recognize what is normal for your own chest. Determine what is normal by pressing firmly and rotating in circles around your breast; note any typical lumps and remember their locations. For women, be sure to do the exam when you are not menstruating; Menstruation can skew the results due to swelling. The National Breast Cancer Foundation says “Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer. By performing monthly breast self-exams, you will be able to more easily identify any changes in your breast. Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual.” The foundation lists a few early signs and symptoms on their website:

• “Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
• A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture)
• A lump in the breast (It’s important to remember that all lumps should be investigated by a healthcare professional, but not all lumps are cancerous.)
• Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling anywhere on the breast
• Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially if on one side only)
• Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially if on one side only)
• Recent asymmetry of the breasts (Although it is common for women to have one breast that is slightly larger than the other, if the onset of asymmetry is recent, it should be checked.)
• Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted
• Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange”

The NBCF also provides an informative FAQ about breast cancer. Two of the most common questions are, “If I have some symptoms, is it likely to be cancer?” NBCP says, “Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer, but any breast cancer symptom you notice should be investigated as soon as it is discovered. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your healthcare provider so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated” according to NBCF and “If I have no symptoms, should I assume I do not have cancer?” NBCF answers this question with “Although there’s no need to worry, regular screenings are always important. Your doctor can check for breast cancer before you have any noticeable symptoms. During your office visit, your doctor will ask about your personal and family medical history and perform a physical examination. In addition, your doctor may order one or more imaging tests, such as a mammogram.” NBCF also provides a list of breast cancer myths and clears up any misconceptions.

Breast cancer touches the lives of families worldwide and it’s impossible to determine who will or will not have these experiences. Just this week two sisters at the Campus Beautiful, Elizabeth and Shelby Daniel, both juniors, spoke about their mother’s experience with breast cancer. Elizabeth Daniel explains, “She was diagnosed a year ago and they had to remove one breast.”

When asked how their mother had coped with the disease and if she’d worn wigs after hair loss, Shelby Daniel added that, “She bought a few wigs. Her and my dad went out one night and she wore the wig. He told her that she looked beautiful and she cried. She didn’t wear the wigs often, but now, a year later, her hair is finally growing back.”

Certain groups on the Campus Beautiful are doing their part to aid in the fight against breast cancer. The Public Relations Workshop in the Fine Arts Division, spearheaded by Mrs. Lindsey Akers, is selling bright pink bracelets emblazoned with “CU Relay For Life” all month for one dollar a piece. Show support for those who have breast cancer this month and wear pink!

Local fraternity Chi Omega Psi, who recently adopted the American Cancer Society as their national philanthropy, are continuing their fundraising efforts through the month to support breast cancer awareness as well as the overall mission of the American Cancer Society. Most recently, they hosted a party at a local venue and donated all the proceeds from the event to cancer research.

Also, donations can be made to the NBCF on their website or by making purchases in their shop. They sell mugs, t-shirts, hats, necklaces and many more; all accessories proudly display NBCF’s signature word – hope. Hope bundles are on sale exclusively throughout October and NBFC says “With every HOPE bundle purchased in October, NBCF will deliver an exclusive HOPE kit to a breast cancer patient at one of our partner hospitals. 100% of net proceeds from the NBCF shop support our mission of Helping Women Now.” For more information about breast cancer or NBCF visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org or NBCF’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nationalbreastcancer.