Breast Cancer Awareness

By Iesha Coburn

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Although many people are aware of what breast cancer is, the National Breast Cancer Association is taking the extra step by making the whole month to inform people on how to check themselves to prevent it, and to educate on the fact that even men can get breast cancer. They also fundraise for the whole month of October.

 

Breast cancer is a malignant tumour that can start in the breast tissue. Malignant means that it may spread. It is the second most leading cause of death from cancer for Canadian women. On average, 67 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, men can also develop breast cancer, although less than one per cent of breast cancers do occur within men.

 

That is what makes Breast Cancer Awareness Month so important. Knowing these statistics, St. Clair College held multiple breast cancer awareness fundraisers by selling t-shirts, popcorn and cotton candy at both the Main Campus and the TD Student Centre.

 

Sarah Ryrie is the Student Representative Council President at St Clair College. She organized the fundraiser and feels very fortunate to come from a family that has minimal family members that have been affected by cancer.

 

“I do have friends who their families have been torn apart from cancer so it’s a vicious cycle and it’s something that needs to end. I have friends who have lost friends, I have friends who have lost moms, I have best friends that their families have been torn apart from this disease so although I’m not a scientist and I know that I don’t have it in me to develop a cure, said Ryrie. She does as much as she can to help.

 

“Whether it be cotton candy or making popcorn and selling it to students for minimum donations of 50 cents cause we want students and know that that they don’t have a lot of money to spare, but we’ve had a lot of people giving $20 bills for a 50 cent popcorn or cotton candy, it gives me chills but it just goes to show that people are being affected,” said Ryrie.

 

 

One of the things that Ryrie thought to help girls be fully aware of their bodies is putting posters in the bathrooms of the school showing how girls can check their breasts for lumps, etcetera. She understands that college students can’t be as proactive as desired because of classes and other daily activities that may take their time and money.

 

“People may not have the money to give us but their time, everybody as a little bit of time- if you have time to change your Facebook status or upload an Instagram photo, you probably do have spare minutes of your day that may be promoting the things that are happening around the county,” said Ryrie.

 

Amanda Broski is a St. Clair College student and talked about her experience this month raising awareness for breast cancer.

 

“You know you just have to give support. I did the breast cancer run and it was very emotional but I think that what people have to understand is you have to be aware, you have to help them and you can’t look at it as a sentence you can’t be like, ‘I’m affected now I’m done, you have to know that there is hope,” said Broski.

 

Run for the Cure is a national fundraiser for breast cancer. It not only raises money for more innovative research but it brings a lot of emotions and has different ways of getting more people involved. When Broski attended the Run for the Cure she was one among 127,000 participants and volunteers that had come together to show support, and according to CIBC’s Run for the Cure website over $25 million was raised this year.

 

“Everyone was smiling and crying, different teams had different names. My favourite team was called “Steps for Strength” and then they had this part where all of the people who had cancer were on top of this stage and they were holding up signs and everyone had ‘I’m still fighting’ signs or ‘I’m going to get through this in months.’ There was this girl that was there that had four different types of cancer. It was just emotional and then laughter, everyone had fun,” said Broski.

 

To find out more information about Breast Cancer such as where to research prevention, risks, signs and symptoms, or even on where to donate, you can go online to http://www.cancer.ca/.