October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is dedicated to celebrating and bringing awareness to those fighting this disease. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was brought to life in 1985 with the goal of educating and helping prevent the impact of this form of cancer. Breast cancer typically occurs in those who are female but can be seen in males too. This month and its efforts are represented by a pink ribbon.

     Typically being named the most common type of cancer, about one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. About 44,000 yearly die from breast cancer, making it the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women. With technology improving, doctors have been able to detect signs of breast cancer earlier, making the odds of death significantly less. With this though, there is still much more that needs to be done.

     Attending “pink out” events such as last week’s football game and volleyball game is already a way of bringing awareness to the impact of this form of cancer. Additionally, this upcoming Saturday, Oct. 22 is the Susan G. Komen- More Than Pink Walk; registration is  still open as a way to support our local community and raise money. Another way of helping is to simply do your research and be aware of the symptoms and your family’s medical history as you get older. 

     Almost everyone can recall a person they know who has been affected by breast cancer and if everybody continues to do their part to shed light on the impact of breast cancer, it puts doctors one step closer to figuring out a cure.