Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The month of October is more than just the color pink. It is a time to recognize and honor the many people who have been affected by breast cancer. Though the month is dedicated to anyone who is or has fought breast cancer, many people also take the time to show support for family members of fighters. 

The purpose of the month is to educate people about breast cancer, encourage early detection through screenings, and raise money for research. It also highlights the risk factors of breast cancer and promotes prevention. 

“I think it's important for everybody to recognize any cancer awareness because it impacts everybody at some point in their lives. The younger we are to learn the better,” NHS school counselor Deidre Croce said..

October also includes a day specifically focused on Metastatic Breast Cancer, on October 13. In the United States, more than 170,000 women are currently living with metastatic breast cancer. This form of the disease occurs when cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body. Unlike early-stage breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured, only treated.  10% of women with breast cancer have metastatic cancer.  Though that's a large amount, a large portion of the money raised for breast cancer does not go toward researching this advanced stage.

“Metastatic breast cancer is not talked about enough. There are so many women who suffer every day. They do not get enough recognition and support. I think we should put more money toward research for it,” NHS sophomore Thomas Schalkham said.

Another powerful way to raise awareness is to talk about it at school. At Newtown High School, there are a couple of ways students help spread the message. Most fall sports teams host a pink out game where everyone wears the color pink. 

Newtown's volleyball team had a pink out game where they not only showed their spirit by wearing pink but also raised money by selling baked goods and raffle tickets. This event was dedicated to Assistant Coach Lisa Burbank's sister, JoAnn. They held raffles and bake sales to raise awareness and money for research funding. 

“Some simple ways students can spread awareness are by posting on social media and attending pink out games,” NHS sophomore Shayna Clark said. 

Posts about pink out games appear on all the sports teams’ Instagram pages. These posts often gain attention and boost attendance for these fundraising events. 

As students and community members, we have the power to make a difference. We can make sure that no one has to face breast cancer alone by increasing awareness now, funding research, and standing with those who are battling the illness. With every dollar donated and every voice raised, we move closer to healing, hope, and a future without breast cancer. Organizations such as https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/?form=donat and https://www.komen.org/ can be found online to find any additional information.