On September 20, 2017 at 6:08 pm in the James L. Bolden Student Union Building, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Gamma Phi chapter, hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness event.
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event, which hosted over 50 guests, was specially held in conjunction with these two months to emphasize its crucial importance. The presentation was sponsored by Bright Pink which is an organization that helps to inform women of breast and ovarian cancer. This organization holds forums in local communities to teach women about preventative measures that can be taken to lower their chances of acquiring these dreadful diseases.
During the presentation the participants learned that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime and 1 in 75 will develop ovarian cancer. They were also informed on the risks, symptoms, self assessments and ways to get tests done by a physician. The spectators also got the chance to sign up on their mobile devices for monthly text reminders for self checks.
The ladies were engaging and found the event to be very beneficial. Karli Broussard, a Sophomore Biology and Pre-Nursing major from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana stated, “The presentation was extremely beneficial. As young women, we often fail to realize the importance of taking care of our bodies now because it can ultimately effect us in the future. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean that we are not closed off to things like breast or ovarian cancer.”
Breast caner can be found in women ages 40 and under not just those over 40. Having events such as this helps to keep women aware and knowledgeable about such cancers. Ariel Catchings, a Sophomore Biology and Pre-Dentistry major from Brookhaven, Mississippi said, “We must embrace this power and let it fuel us on our journey to better health and more success.”