By Boris Pavlov
The month of October is recognised by many as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During it, campaigns try to raise awareness about breast cancer, its symptoms, and the stigma around it.
Breast cancer is a common form of cancer that forms in the breast, and roughly 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with it within their lifetimes.
Breast cancer mainly affects women, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends a screening every 2 years for women between the ages of 50 and 74.
Studies have been conducted which have outlined some of the possible influences on the likelihood of developing breast cancer, and can include: genetics, obesity, smoking, drinking, age, as well as many others.
Some of the signs of breast cancer can include a lump, a change in shape, skin dimpling, fluid, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin. If any of these are observed, a mammography test or biopsy can be conducted to diagnose the situation based on its histological appearance, grade and stage. In the case of a diagnosis, surgery or chemotherapy is usually required
The sheer number of cases and effects of breast cancer makes it important to raise awareness about the issue, and pool efforts in treating it.
This past week, LGB joined in these efforts with the pink balesale.The bakesale raised a total of 1,180 CHF, which they donated to Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG) to help with research.
As Shirin F (Y12) explained, the importance of the event could not be understated: “Events such as Pink Day are crucial for raising awareness for breast cancer. For example, many students at LGB had no idea that breast cancer even existed until Pink Day.. or learned something new about it, such as how common it is. It also reminded us of loved ones who suffered from breast cancer, for example: my grandmother, who cried from happiness after seeing photos of the event! Furthermore, a student at LGB told us about how her mother suffered from breast cancer, and that she thought what we were doing was amazing. It also reminded teachers to get a check up!”
A special thanks to Shirin F and Ana Sofia Reyna for all their hard work organising the bakesale, Annabelle Veith, Carlota De Inza, Josefina Sardou, Simoine Maylor, Sneha Doda, Tatiana Mouravieff-Apostol, Victoria Dodd, Viveca Hall and Zoe Zinser and all the other people who helped bake and sell the delicious treats!
The number of students who participated in Pink day by wearing pink or the pink ribbon have increased over the years throughout LGB, Geneva and have even spread to Nations, proving how much we can accomplish in helping combat breast cancer when raising awareness.
