It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Fresno State is doing its part to commemorate the word “awareness.â€Â
Breast cancer is one of the top killers of women. Women over 30 years of age have a high risk of developing breast cancer, especially those with children. Women under the age of 30 who smoke are at an even greater risk of developing breast cancer.
Campus sororities are helping to remind all women to take the time to do self-examinations.
Sigma Alpha Zeta̢۪s Fresno State chapter, with the efforts of president Berttania Leon, held a booth at the annual Big Fresno Fair where visitors could sign up for Buddy Check.
“I use the Buddy Check system,â€Â said Gracie Settle, a Fresno State student and KSEE 24 intern. “It’s a great way to stay connected and it’s simple to start. More people should sign up.â€Â
Buddy Check is a system where people sign up to make a promise to remind their buddies to check for breast cancer through a monthly self-examination on the 24th of each month. The system can also be used to remind friends and relatives to get their yearly mammogram.
The original Buddy Check system was started by news anchor Stefani Booroojian at KSEE 24 more than 15 years ago. Now, this reminder system has been adopted by sororities like Sigma Alpha Zeta to help others for early detection.
Sigma Alpha Zeta̢۪s former president, Eunice Camacho, said she enjoyed doing the Buddy Check booth at the Big Fresno Fair, because women are able to help other women.
“I think it’s good,â€Â Camacho said. “At first I did think it was a waste of time, but it really does help people and that’s important for [breast cancer awareness] to continue.â€Â
Fresno State will be continuing to highlight the importance of awareness this month, hosting events such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation is the largest grassroots network aimed at combating breast cancer.
Campuses like Fresno State are essential messengers in getting the word out to people everywhere to get checked.
Students on campus feel fortunate to have a college campus so dedicated in making this October̢۪s Breast Cancer Awareness month known through out the community.
How to get involved
Ninth annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure fundraiser
̢ۢ When: Oct. 27 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
̢ۢ Where: Meet at the Satellite Student Union.
̢ۢ Features: Men̢۪s and women̢۪s team 5K run, a co-ed 5K and 1-mile walk, a Kids for the Cure run and a Survivor Recognition Ceremony.
̢ۢ Registration: $15 for adults, $12 for children.
̢ۢ For more information, call (559) 229-4255 or visit online.
Benjamin Baxter • Oct 28, 2007 at 6:34 pm
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
How about this one, found on page five:
“In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to increase to 454,000 new cases a year by 2010.”
Breast cancer can end in death. Is Alzheimer’s worse on the families than death, or more deserving of funding because of greater numbers in new cases?
Maybe funding for breast cancer treatments aren’t so bad, even if it seems to get a whole lot more money in donations, direct or indirect, than any other disease.
I’m no medical expert, but any step towards a cure for breast cancer will lead to a cure for other forms of cancer. There are a lot of other forms of cancer.
Benjamin Baxter • Oct 29, 2007 at 1:34 am
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
How about this one, found on page five:
“In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to increase to 454,000 new cases a year by 2010.”
Breast cancer can end in death. Is Alzheimer’s worse on the families than death, or more deserving of funding because of greater numbers in new cases?
Maybe funding for breast cancer treatments aren’t so bad, even if it seems to get a whole lot more money in donations, direct or indirect, than any other disease.
I’m no medical expert, but any step towards a cure for breast cancer will lead to a cure for other forms of cancer. There are a lot of other forms of cancer.
Whatever • Oct 28, 2007 at 6:08 pm
This is a sensitive subject for me as I lost my mom to breast cancer in July at age 47. However, Baxter referenced some good data, and while I’m not sure mine is the most accurate research, I noticed definitely more women than men at my numerous visits to cancer centers in Fresno.
Also my aunt, my mom’s sister, has cervical cancer and is given only a 50% chance for survival in the next 5 years, so it’s extra sensitive.
It’s not a pet cause or being trendy when you or someone you know actually has the disease. We can all talk about world hunger and AIDS but it’s different when you lose a loved one.
My tone in my last comment is because it seems petty and childish to make this an anti-feminism topic when thousands and thousands of moms daughters and grandmothers are dying at an alarming rate.
The funding issue is about impact. You can’t compare suffering but you can compare instances. It seems pretty reasonable that if breast cancer is the most common form of cancer, it should be funded as such. Obviously other cancers are just as bad for the victims and family members, but again they’re just not as common.
Mad cow disease is a much more awful way to die but that doesn’t mean it should be treated on par with breast cancer.
It’s easy to get high and mighty about lifestyle choices when you’re not diagnosed. Plenty of vegetarians, athletes and general health nuts are victims too.
Whatever • Oct 29, 2007 at 1:08 am
This is a sensitive subject for me as I lost my mom to breast cancer in July at age 47. However, Baxter referenced some good data, and while I’m not sure mine is the most accurate research, I noticed definitely more women than men at my numerous visits to cancer centers in Fresno.
Also my aunt, my mom’s sister, has cervical cancer and is given only a 50% chance for survival in the next 5 years, so it’s extra sensitive.
It’s not a pet cause or being trendy when you or someone you know actually has the disease. We can all talk about world hunger and AIDS but it’s different when you lose a loved one.
My tone in my last comment is because it seems petty and childish to make this an anti-feminism topic when thousands and thousands of moms daughters and grandmothers are dying at an alarming rate.
The funding issue is about impact. You can’t compare suffering but you can compare instances. It seems pretty reasonable that if breast cancer is the most common form of cancer, it should be funded as such. Obviously other cancers are just as bad for the victims and family members, but again they’re just not as common.
Mad cow disease is a much more awful way to die but that doesn’t mean it should be treated on par with breast cancer.
It’s easy to get high and mighty about lifestyle choices when you’re not diagnosed. Plenty of vegetarians, athletes and general health nuts are victims too.
Joey Gladstone • Oct 28, 2007 at 11:43 am
Whatever, I don’t know if you can compare and contrast suffering. Cancer is cancer and all research and funding should probably be accumulated as such. When I see someone with the ribbon car magnet, I wonder, what? That’s your pet cause? You don’t want to see AIDS eliminated and don’t feel that heart disease or cervical cance is a noble cause?
What I can hardly understand is when a breast cancer luncheon is held and tri-tip is served (i’ve seen first hand). I’m pretty sure a link exists between cancer and meat consumption.
I’m not sure about the new trend of fundraising for ‘women’s cancers’—-breast, cervical, etc. A woman’s life is of more value than a man’s?
Joey Gladstone • Oct 28, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Whatever, I don’t know if you can compare and contrast suffering. Cancer is cancer and all research and funding should probably be accumulated as such. When I see someone with the ribbon car magnet, I wonder, what? That’s your pet cause? You don’t want to see AIDS eliminated and don’t feel that heart disease or cervical cance is a noble cause?
What I can hardly understand is when a breast cancer luncheon is held and tri-tip is served (i’ve seen first hand). I’m pretty sure a link exists between cancer and meat consumption.
I’m not sure about the new trend of fundraising for ‘women’s cancers’—-breast, cervical, etc. A woman’s life is of more value than a man’s?
Whatever • Oct 26, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Tell all the women with breast cancer there’s a disparity. They know all about disparity. If you’ve spent any time at a cancer treatment center, you’d see for yourself.
Whatever • Oct 27, 2007 at 1:30 am
Tell all the women with breast cancer there’s a disparity. They know all about disparity. If you’ve spent any time at a cancer treatment center, you’d see for yourself.
Benjamin Baxter • Oct 26, 2007 at 3:01 pm
The Collegian Staff Writer
Here’s something.
“It is estimated that 178,480 women will be diagnosed with and 40,460 women will die of cancer of the breast in 2007.”
Prostate cancer is about half that.
“The American Cancer Society estimates that 27,050 men in the United States will die of prostate cancer in 2007. Prostate cancer accounts for about 9% of cancer-related deaths in men.”
One could argue that breast cancer is much more damaging to the victim when the victim survives, considering our society’s emphasis on physical attractiveness of women.
I’m not sure I agree, but that’s the argument.
Benjamin Baxter • Oct 26, 2007 at 10:01 pm
The Collegian Staff Writer
Here’s something.
“It is estimated that 178,480 women will be diagnosed with and 40,460 women will die of cancer of the breast in 2007.”
Prostate cancer is about half that.
“The American Cancer Society estimates that 27,050 men in the United States will die of prostate cancer in 2007. Prostate cancer accounts for about 9% of cancer-related deaths in men.”
One could argue that breast cancer is much more damaging to the victim when the victim survives, considering our society’s emphasis on physical attractiveness of women.
I’m not sure I agree, but that’s the argument.
Willy Mo Denda • Oct 26, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Why is so much more money seemingly raised for breast cancer research versus every other form (prostate, cervical, colorectal, skin, etc.)? Does anyone have stats? I love breasts just like the next guy, but there appears to be a disparity.
Willy Mo Denda • Oct 26, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Why is so much more money seemingly raised for breast cancer research versus every other form (prostate, cervical, colorectal, skin, etc.)? Does anyone have stats? I love breasts just like the next guy, but there appears to be a disparity.