During October, you may see pops of pink everywhere and wonder why. This is because of Breast Cancer Awareness, where we recognize all those who have had to deal with this horrible sickness and those who have lost loved ones to it. When doing this, we can offer support and prevent this disease from happening to more women around the world. The current statistic is that 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. It is very important not to overlook this cancer and make sure you are always checking your health and others as well.
Many of Rosary’s sports teams highlight pink in their uniforms to show awareness. The cheer and dance teams wear pink bows and use pink poms during football games to show their support. Paula Dominicis ’28 shared how special wearing pink during the games is to her: “My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago and is now 10 years cancer-free. Getting to wear pink for football games is empowering. I am proud to show my support and spread awareness for my aunt and other cancer fighters.” Many people know or have heard of someone who has fought breast cancer, so it is very important to gain knowledge and spread awareness.
Our school nurse, Melissa Doyle, also shared how important it is to recognize this cancer, especially for older women: “Breast cancer awareness is important because it can help you understand your body and your health. Awareness means knowing what is normal for your body and not being afraid to speak up if something feels off. After all, we must be our own best advocates when it comes to our health! The earlier you can catch breast cancer, the better the chances of survival are. Speaking of catching it early, mammograms are the most common diagnostic test used to do that. Women typically start getting mammograms between the ages of 40-50, unless there is a strong family history or there are other risk factors. Right now, the best thing you can do is learn about your body, be aware of your family history and know that taking care of your health is a lifelong responsibility. Knowledge is power!” Taking care of your body and being aware of whether something is off is very important for your health.
Overall, being aware of the risk of breast cancer and other things concerning your health is crucial. It is important to understand and gain knowledge about your body to know early on if something is going on. Rosary is having a full-school pink-out day on Oct. 14. Make sure to participate to spread awareness and show your support.
