News
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday November 2, 2011
05
Pavlik Speaks Out on Breast Cancer
Photo by Luis Rivas/Collegian April L. Pavlik leads the breast cancer awareness forum in Da Vinci Hall from the perspective of a breast cancer survivor and an assistant professor psychologist.
By Luis Rivas April L. Pavlik, assistant professor of psychology, has four small red and orange stars tattooed on her wrist, each one marking a year of being breast cancer free. There is one green star closer to the base of her palm that represents not having any genetic markers for passing on the cancer. Students and faculty gathered in Room 305 in Da Vinci Hall for a public forum on breast cancer awareness led by Pavlik. Although the audience numbered no more than 10, each person attending listened with rapt attention and asked several questions. Pavlik explained the warning signs of breast cancer and the subsequent treatment such as chemo therapy, hormonal treatment and medication. Additionally, an important factor in breast cancer patients is their mental and emotional well-being and self-image. “Your breasts are associated with your femininity and being a woman, and being able to have children,” Pavlik said. “And all of this … affects your image as well your emotionality, or your emotional state, so the treatment can cause body image issues.” Pavlik was diagnosed at 33 with breast cancer with no family history of breast cancer except for her grandmother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the later part of her life—something that is common for
older women. Mothers, siblings and relatives diagnosed at an early age with breast cancer are important genetic markers, according to Pavlik. Pavlik had a habit of putting her hand underneath her armpit during phone conversations. Once during a phone call with her husband she noticed two small pea-size lumps near her armpit and breast area. The next day she went in to see her doctor and got a physical exam. After a mammogram and an ultrasound she was diagnosed with breast cancer in stage 1A, which means the cancer was two centimeters or smaller and had not spread outside of the breast. Christine Park, Department Director of Staff and Development, helped organize the breast cancer awareness forum. She plans on continuing more health events on campus. “We’re having a program for the entire campus for faculty and students—to build awareness for health, so this is just the beginning of it,” said Park. “We’re going to have different events or workshops throughout the year, not just breast cancer [awareness].” There are many different types of therapy available for cancer patients and survivors. What works for some may not work for others, according to Pavlik.
“I did group therapy with other breast patients,” Pavlik said. “That did not work for me. I didn’t like it. It wasn’t helpful, but then I went and saw my own therapist and did a completely different type of therapy ... I did drama therapy. And basically what it is is you kind of act out your anger and your aggression and it was amazing. It helped me a significant amount.” Most breast cancer patients experience symptoms of depression and often do not ask for help. Some of the most important things you can do to a breast cancer patient is to cook, clean, take care of their kids, pick up their mail and just be helpful, according to Pavlik. According to breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Approximately 40,000 women in the U.S. are expected to die this year from breast cancer. However, there were 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. this year. “It’s treatable,” Pavlik said. “The earlier you find it, the better off your chances of increased survival. That’s one thing. And the other thing is, just know your breast structure. Feel your breast, that’s it. Men can also be diagnosed [with breast cancer]. It tends to diagnose a little bit later in life for men but they still need to know, they have breast tissue just like we do.”
District Halts Construction Allegations from Page 1 Marez said that she and her team had 25 years experience “specifically in public works type construction.” One of the firms that Marez had worked for was Gateway Science & Engineering, Inc., a company that donated money to the re-election campaigns of Board member Mona Field and Board president Miguel Santiago – two of the people who decided to hire Gateway’s former employee Marez. Marez claims that she was unaware that her employer had donated money to the Board of Trustees election
funds, saying that she only learned about it much later, through news reports. “I had no idea,” Marez said. “I worked for Gateway over two years ago. ... They hired me to work with specific clients, I never actually worked for them in their offices.” Instead, Marez said, she worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District on construction projects. “My relationship with that company was that they processed my time cards … There was no real relationship, there was very little
interaction.” The Los Angeles District Attorney has opened an inquiry into the District’s hiring practices for the office of Inspector General. In a public statement dated Oct 11, 2011, Dr. LaVista said: “It’s clear that the District is coping with a lot right now. Nonetheless, I believe we are turning the proverbial corner and that we will emerge from a very difficult period all the better for having addressed the challenges we’re facing.”
By Richard Martinez conference two years ago. Members from all over the United States attended the event. Dr. Mary Callahan, vice president of academic affairs and John Freitas, president of the academic senate spoke at the opening ceremony on Friday morning welcoming Alpha Mu Gamma’s guests on behalf of the faculty at LACC. After the workshops, the group headed over to Korea town for a night full of entertainment. “Everybody enjoyed it [the dinner]. This is the 80th [anniversary], a very special occasion,” Chatel said. “I asked professor [Mickey] Hong, the Korean instructor, can we do some fabulous, festive occasion?’ So
College May Regulate Smoking Smoking from Page 1
Alpha Mu Gamma Turns 80 Alpha Mu Gamma celebrated its 80th anniversary with interpretations of foreign literature, a Chinese tea ceremony and the “Moroccan experience” among other cultural and educational experiences last week. Alpha Mu Gamma was founded by five members of the foreign language department at City College in 1931 and is the largest national foreign language society in the United States. The society has more than 346 chapters nationwide. According to the group, its primary purpose is to “honor students for outstanding achievement during their first year of foreign language study in college.” National Executive Secretary, Eiko Chatel began organizing the
Photo by Patrick Chong/Collegian
she came through. We took all [those who] attended to Koreatown and had a fabulous Korean dinner.” The dinner was soon followed by a musical performance of Korean inspired dance by UCLA faculty and student performers in full costume. City College President Jamillah Moore made an appearance halfway through dinner entertainment and gave a speech welcoming the out of state guests and congratulating Alpha Mu Gamma for its accomplishments. “People were very appreciative,” Chattel said. “[It’s] very important when you have the back up of the president and vice president.”
Although there are no penalties currently in place for smoking in non-designated areas, the possibility of fines and other reprimands by the school in conjunction with the campus Sheriff’s may be set in place in the future. As of yet there have been no reports of campus Sheriff’s taking disciplinary action against smokers. “This is so complicated,” Morrissey said. “Every time I brought the issue to shared governance council [they] said it wasn’t there purview to consider it. And it was passed right back, and this makes perfect sense because Work Environment Committee represents all constituents and we have representation from all guilds on campus including Administrative … Everyone is represented in the contract, and according to the contract we advise the president or consult directly with the president, and that is what we did … That is what we are waiting on.” Despite an increase in cigarette tax in California, smoking has remained
steady. According to the American Lung Association more than 15.2 percent of smokers are under 35 years of age. “Cigarettes don’t just contain nicotine,” said Lisa Shaw from the American Lung Association of Los Angeles. “The manufacturers put in over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 know cancer-causing chemicals and 400 other toxins, such as cyanide, arsenic, ammonia and carbon monoxide. A lot of people aren’t educated about the real damage they are doing to their body and those around them when they smoke.” A recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows personal consumption has increased 67 percent among smokers. In 2010, there were 25.1 percent of men smokers and 17.3 percent of female smokers. The study also concluded that 28.9 percent of smokers live below the poverty line, with only 18.3 percent of smokers living above the poverty line.
“I personally don’t smoke but I see students and even teachers smoke wherever they can ... I never see no smoking sings anywhere—other than by buildings where students should know not to smoke in front of anyway,” said Alejandra Menendez, an English major. Many campuses have already placed a complete ban on smoking, such as the University of Texas, Gainesville State University and the University of Florida. Currently, there are more than 500 college campuses that have an absolute ban on smoking. However, City has not been able to implement any smoking restrictions since construction has not been finalized yet and one of the proposed smoking areas is still under construction. In California, the Los Angeles Community College District campuses have designated smoking areas. There are no campuses in the district with an absolute ban as of yet.
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