The pink ribbons that many people have been wearing around campus is a symbol for breast cancer awareness. In October, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, celebrators have been decorating the campus with little pink ribbons that hold a big message.
Although many who are diagnosed with breast cancer are of older age, health officials are sending out a warning to Hopkins undergraduates about the potential dangers of this disease. Because the risk of developing breast cancer is 100 times greater in females than it is in males, it's important that it gets detected during its early stages.
"Every few years, women should have a clinical breast exam done by a health professional, and after age 40, annual mammograms should be conducted," junior Nancy Tray, from the American Cancer Society of JHU, said.
Breast cancer, if detected in its early stages, is much more beatable than if it goes undetected for a long period of time, she adds.
With regular examinations, it's important to lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating enough portions of fruits and vegetables daily in order to lower the risk of breast cancer.
There have been many events this month addressing the issue of breast cancer awareness. In addition to handing out pink ribbons and pins, the society decorated the campus with over 500 pink ribbons on lamp posts throughout campus. There were also various sales of M&M's, baked goods, and Breast Cancer Awareness bracelets last Monday and Friday. The events raised $200 in two days and raised awareness through pink pins and ribbons.
"I walk around campus now, and I still see lots of people wearing their pink pins and ribbons. Our goal was to raise awareness, and I think we did just that," Tray added.
The events were successful thanks to Kiran Valiani, President of Colleges Against Cancer. "We essentially wanted to remind the women on campus to get screened regularly and to encourage them to remind their loved ones to do the same since breast cancer can affect women at any age," she said.
The success of these events was sparked by motivational factors from the many organizers. Many students, faculty and staff on campus have been affected by cancer either directly or indirectly and it remains a very serious issue.
"Our motivation for these events stems from personal stories -- we want to reach out to others so that they wouldn't have to go through the painful ordeal themselves. We want to honor those who passed away and celebrate the survivors of the disease. We want members of the community to come together and eliminate cancer once and for all," Tray said.
Colleges Against Cancer was established with the sole purpose of eliminating cancer all year round. Primary goals of the organization are to raise cancer awareness across campus and to reach out to other communities. Along with bringing the community together, they funds for research, education, advocacy and patient services.
