Treasure your chest

How often do you examine your breasts?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the University's Health Services wants Tufts students to ask themselves this important question. Health Services has provided a myriad of events, informational pamphlets, and posters encouraging awareness and advocating an optimistic future for breast cancer victims, survivors, and the research necessary to make the illness a part of history rather than a current tragedy that takes thousands of lives each year.

Health Services promotes not only awareness of breast cancer, but also its early detection and prevention. A four foot by six foot banner, currently posted in the Health Services building reads, "MOTHER, DAUGHTER, FRIEND, OR WIFE _ MAKE EARLY DETECTION A HABIT FOR LIFE."

In addition to the banner, the breast cancer ribbon, shower hangers with instructions on conducting a self breast-exam, and helpful hints for early detection comprise a showcase that decorates a nearby wall.

On Oct. 6, ten members of Health Services advocated breast cancer awareness by taking part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 10th Anniversary 5.1-mile walk along the Charles River. They raised between $1,200 and $1,500 for as they walked alongside almost 40,000 other people fighting breast cancer.

"If I have the chance I'm happy to do it," Physician's Assistant Kathleen O'Dea of Health Services said, proudly sporting a crystallized version of the red ribbon. "Several staff members have family members with breast cancer," she added with sympathetic tears in her eyes.

On Oct. 16, Health Services nurse Carole Maltase, nutritionist Pat Engel, and secretary Grace Fronduto staffed an outreach table at the campus center. They displayed cards with instructions for the self-breast exam, shower cards with helpful tips, information about mammograms and breast lumps, and a breast model to practice the self exam on.

"The student population is much younger, but at age twenty it is recommended to do self breast exams," O'Dea said. Not only is Health Services willing to help, but it also welcomes feedback to make the educational process far-reaching and effective. Health Services also has information about breast cancer awareness on their website.

The month of October is nearly over, and many students have overlooked the chance to take advantage of Health Services events. "Breast cancer is a battleground where young women need to fight also _ too many young women go day by day without realizing breast cancer is blind to age, freshman Edith Elliott, the niece of a cancer survivor said. "Caution needs to reach the younger generations."

Men are often overlooked when it comes to breast cancer education, which can lead to deadly consequences. "It is a social misconception that only women can be affected by breast cancer," freshman Jonothon Gais said. "American society as a whole approaches breast cancer with preconceptions that need to be broken through education and outreach." Gais believes that breast cancer in America is viewed in the similar, one-sided way that AIDS was in its early years, with many Americans believing it to be simply an African or homosexual disease despite the fact that it is contracted primarily by heterosexual Caucasians.

Breast cancer can become a devastating reality for everyone. However, scientists around the world are working to make it a disease of the past through their research, and health clinics are advocating early detection and suppression in the meantime. At Health Services, an informational card reads, "Here's to breast cancer awareness...Hope. Progress. Answers.