Before Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” or even Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No to Drugs” campaign, First Lady Betty Ford helped begin Breast Cancer Awareness month after being diagnosed in 1985.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month for those individuals to speak up and share their own experience.
According to the American Cancer Society, “Overall, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 percent. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer..”
Breast Cancer is one of the most common diseases found in middle aged and older women.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “You can get breast cancer at any age, including when you’re an adolescent or young adult (although this is rare). About 10% of new breast cancer diagnoses are people under 45.”
Oct. 27 is breast cancer awareness day, and supporters wear a pink ribbon. The pink ribbon campaign began in 1992 by Evelyn Founder who lost her fight against breast cancer in 2011. It symbolizes hope and strength for those who are facing this disease or who had faced it in the past.
Though breast cancer is often thought of as a woman’s disease, it is also found in men.
According to Yale Medicine, “Breast cancer in men, however, is less frequent, making up around one percent of all breast cancer diagnoses. In the U.S. There are around 2,650 cases each year and approximately one 1 in 830 men will get breast cancer in their lifetime.”
Breast Cancer is usually found through an X- ray, or mammogram, when the patient is feeling common symptoms like lumps or irritation.
“One day I was like “I’m overdue for my mammogram. Out of solidarity, I’m scheduling one.” Turns out I had the same type of cancer,” English teacher Karrin Vance said. “They found it in the mammogram and follow-up ultrasound. If I were to give advice to women over 40, GET THE MAMMOGRAMS.”
When going through this disease, it can never be easy. Showing awareness even without knowing anyone with this disease can warm a heart that is suffering through emotions.
“I think anyone going through it should try to let their loved ones support them, but it’s also normal to have a million emotions that no one else can really understand.” Vance said.
