All over the world, October is the known month to celebrate different events such as Halloween, International Day of Non-violence , Proclamation of Portuguese Republic, Leif Erickson Day, Reformation Day and even transfer awareness month at San Diego Mesa College. But, it is also Breast Cancer Awareness month; it is the time to recognize the victims affected by the disease. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this disease is the second leading cause of death among women.
Contrary to popular belief, men can also develop breast cancer because they are also born with breast cells and tissue. Although men can certainly have the disease, there is a higher chance that this will occur with women than with men. But, the men that have breast cancer, have a higher mortality rate than women because of their ignorance to the fact that men can develop it as well . As a result, they refrain from getting checked. As stated by the American Cancer Society, some of the risk factors are related to sex hormone levels in the body. They also include age, family history of breast cancer, testicular conditions, inherited gene mutations, radiation exposure, alcohol consumption, obesity, and even certain occupations. Some work environments are known to have high temperatures that can cause testis to overheat. After continuous exposure to this temperature, the hormone levels of the body can be affected. Having risk factors does not mean that it caused the disease, but that there was a high correlation between developing breast cancer and the risk factors.
Many people perceive certain objects to be related to breast cancer development. The National Breast Cancer Foundation asserts that caffeine, deodorant, microwaves, cell phones, and having contact with people who have the disease do not cause breast cancer.
In order to help fight breast cancer, there have been many walks including the Susan G. Koman 3- Day, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and San Diego Walk for Breast Cancer. These organizations schedule yearly walks to fundraise for the cause. These walks offer hope for all victims of breast cancer; these include people who currently have breast cancer, family members, and survivors alike. It gives people a voice in the community as well as a sense of power for taking a stand against breast cancer. People can see the pink ribbon everywhere, especially in October.
