Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Oct. 21, 2004
By Jody Ferres
Layout Editor

Many know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Many know that you can wear a pink ribbon to promote awareness.  But how many really know the statistics and implications of breast cancer?

Breast Cancer is becoming an American phenomenon.  With breast cancer being second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, the possibly deadly disease is not something to take lightly. And contrary to popular belief, is not something that just happens to ‘older women.’

Although seventy-five percent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer are among women aged 50 years and over, an estimated 215,990 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 40,580 women will die of this disease before the end of this year.

St. Ambrose nurse Nancy Hines says that breast cancer shouldn’t be just a middle age worry.

“It does happen to young people,” said Hines, who has been with SAU for 22 years.  “Young women should be getting familiar with their breasts so they know what they feel like normally.”

Hines said in her time at SAU, two women in their early twenties came to her with a concern about a lump in their breast they had found in a monthly exam.  After sending them to a doctor, they had a biopsy and had the lump removed.  Although both cases turned out to be benign tumors, the lumps could have eventually turned into cancer.

For that reason, Hines feels that traditional college aged women should regularly do monthly self exams.  Her office even has a breast model that has been used in residence hall programs.  The model, a rubber replica of a female breast, has seven different lumps.  Students can practice finding where and what the lumps feel like.

According to Hines, most females are nervous to do a self exam.

“Many women don’t know what they’re looking for,” said Hines.  “It’s a real hands on practice so you can know that you’re doing your exam properly.

For non-traditional and faculty members, she suggests a routine mammogram every one-two years.

Hines also has videos and many different pamphlets explaining breast cancer in her office. There are also hanging instructions to leave in the bathroom on how to perform the monthly exam, complete with small stickers to attach to your calendar to remind you.

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