As the month of October concluded, only a small minority of UF students and faculty took part in a major occurrence. Marking its 25th anniversary, National Breast Cancer Awareness has worked to promote outreach to those living with breast cancer and influence the financing of research and grants toward a cure.
In light of this, such a cure remains elusive in spite of many organizations possessing some of the most brilliant minds ever to work toward a singular goal. As students, we all should give our time and effort to make breast cancer and all types of cancer the forefront of our own interest.
It would take only a rudimentary look into cancer to conclude that its prevalence can hit women of all genders, racial or ethnic orientations, financial standing, etc.
The American Cancer Society produced its yearly estimates for new developments of breast cancer in the United States.
As of 2011, over 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed. In 2008, the National Cancer Institute presented several charts showing the incidences and mortality of breast cancer. It found that "although the rate of diagnosis of breast cancer increased in the 1990s, it has decreased since 2000, and the overall breast cancer death rate has dropped steadily."
Before we all gather with celebratory banter and rejoice, this was only present in women typically over the age of 50.
To properly discuss how many different variables and factors could contribute to breast cancer, perhaps another guest column is needed.
There are a number of uncontrollable risk factors that put women at risk including age, genetic predispositions, family history and other things. Lifestyle choices, having children, conducting breast feeding, usage of hormone therapy, physical activity, etc. all play a role in the occurrence of breast cancer.
This does not even scratch the surface of environmental factors such as smoking, exposure to pollution, background radiation, etc.
Instead of listing facts and figures, let me keep this point succinct. There will be women who touch our lives who will develop some form of cancer, and we must remain both knowledgeable and vigilant in our health management.
In an overview of my own personal family history, I know the pain of losing others to cancer.
I never had a chance to meet my maternal grandfather, Stephen Milien. He saw his own life extinguished from prostate cancer about age 74 in February 1992. Despite having a bilateral orchiectomy (removal of both testicles), he withered away and died in the company of our family.
My maternal grandmother, Cleante Dupuy, passed away from breast cancer in 2000. On a Sunday in 1998, she had arranged for her church visit in Brooklyn with my mother. Noticing a hard spot on her right breast, she had a biopsy conducted the following week.
The test revealed that not only did she have cancer, but it had already metastasized. The next two years were horrible on my family as she became an empty shell.
She slowly faded away because of extensive chemotherapy, along with a double mastectomy. My grandmother died Sept. 25, 2000, from stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones and liver.
All of us have an obligation as students, teachers and family members to strongly take into consideration the long reach of cancer.
Women in their 20s and 30s should have a periodic clinical breast exam every three years. Women in their 40s onward should have a mammogram screening every year.
This is often prohibitively expensive for lower-income women, and much more must be done to reduce costs and cover screenings.
When the last day of October concludes, we should not rest in ambivalence or ignorance to the facts.
To the contrary, we must assume vigilance in doing everything to reduce the occurrences of breast cancer and remain on task in regard to our health.
Guillermo Pradieu is an English sophomore at UF.
