Breast cancer awareness is important for women of all ages

by Jennifer Devereaux staff writer

Annually, 183,000 cases of invasive breast cancer occur in the United States. One in eight American women are affected by this disease. Moreover, about 41,000 American women die of breast cancer per year. With the exception of lung cancer, breast cancer kills more women than any other cancer. In most cases, when the disease is found / early and treatment begins promptly, ~r~t cancer can be cured. Breast cancer, m its most common form, develops in cells lining the ducts of the breasts. The disease may remain within the breast for years. However, it may spread to lymph nodes that are nearby. In some cases it will move to more distant areas ,l};f9f~Jl\Al!9Ji>,:;~~ felt.

Seventy-five percent of all breast cancers will develop in women over the age of 50. The risk of breast cancer occurring increases with age. This is why it is recommended that women over the age of 50 have mammograms yearly. Women between 40 and 49 should have one every one to two years.

Women under the age of 40 should have their first mammogram between the ages of

35 and 39.

Approximately five to ten percent of breast cancers occur as a result of heredity. Some other factors that increase risk include late age of menopause, the onset of menstruation before the age of 12, giving birth to a first child over the age of 30, never giving birth and being 40 percent over one's normal weight.

There are three categories of breast cancer; early, invasive and metastic. They are categorized by location and how far they spread throughout the body. The first category, early, is confined to the ducts or lobules. The second category, invasive, has spread into surrounding breast areas beyond ducts or lobules. And the third category, metastic, has spread to other parts of the body, such as bones, lungs, distant lymph nodes, the liver or the brain.

Although it is not necessary for women to begin having mammograms until they are between 35 and 39, women of all ages should examine their breasts monthly. Moreover, women under the age of 40 should have a breast exam by their doctor at least every three years and women over the age of 40 should have an exam yearly

University of Florida

Four former women's basketball players filed a lawsuit against the university and the women's basketball coach, Jerry Ann Winters. The women claim that they were discriminated against because they were black.

When they confronted their coach about it, the four women were benched because of the accusations. One of the women asked for an assistant coach position after she bad graduated.

The student said that Win- • ters told her that there were no openings. A few days later a white woman was hired in that position.

Michigan State University

Students protested Columbus Day. The North American Student organization sees this day as a horrible day to celebrate. They changed the name of this day to Indigenous People Day. Speakers of Native American heritage came to talk about the hardships of their people and their struggle to survive when immigrants came over to this country. Also, singers and dancers were at this event to raise this ethnic mood.