October brings many colors to our large, spirited campus. As football season continues, students will be bursting with the usual color of red to support our fellow Terps, and with the leaves changing, typically we see more shades of red, orange, and yellow. However, don’t be alarmed if you spot shades of another vibrant color this month — pink. Lots and lots of pink.
This month we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness. Therefore, it’s not just any October, but a pink October.
Most college students are aware of just how many people are affected by breast cancer, whether they have experienced it firsthand or not. However, many don’t realize that collegiettes just like us are also at risk for the disease.
Every year, about 70,000 men and women ages 15 to 39 are diagnosed with cancer, and about 15 percent of that group accounts for breast cancer. Out of all women diagnosed with breast cancer, those between the ages of 15 to 34 and 35 to 54 die more often from breast cancer than any other type. Yes, I did say age 15. Even women as young as 15-years-old can be diagnosed. Sure, statistics say that just under 7 percent of breast cancer victims are under the age of 40, but this is still something that we should be aware of.
When speaking with Dana Solge, a UMD sophomore kinesiology major, I was not surprised to hear just how shocked she was to discover that some women our age and even younger are faced with breast cancer. “Even though breast cancer is something that effects practically everyone, I tend to think of it as something that occurs in women older,” Solge said. “It’s hard to imagine that someone my age can be going through radiation or getting a mastectomy when the issue I’m most worried about is getting a low grade on an exam.”
It’s true; most of us are worried about the smaller things in life as we go about our daily lives. Will I pass today’s exam? When will I have time to write my paper that is due tomorrow? Does my hair look okay today? What will I wear to that party this weekend? It is these little things that seem like a big deal to us at the time, but it is also these things that we should do our best to look past and not stress about as much this October.
Instead, let us focus on something more important — spreading breast cancer awareness. This month at the University of Maryland, the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha is helping to promote breast cancer awareness by holding different events and fundraisers to get students involved.
One major event was the “Think-Pink Blowout” which was held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in front of ZTA’s house on Fraternity Row. There was a “best chest” competition where male students flaunted their chests to help raise and donate money towards breast cancer.
There was also a Yoplait yogurt eating contest to see who could eat the yogurt the fastest. Yoplait does a philanthropy program called “Save lids to save lives.” Each lid saved donates 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and can be done online or by mail. Boxes to collect lids will be distributed throughout campus so students can participate and help make a difference.
Keep a lookout for more breast cancer awareness events going on this month around campus held by different clubs and organizations. We must remind ourselves that breast cancer strongly affects many people, even at our young collegiette age. This month isn’t just any October, it’s a pinktober.