Students on campus can acknowledge October as Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing pink ribbons provided by the office of Student Life, said Jill Lindblad, coordinator of service learning and student life programs.

“What we are doing is called a silent protest. People have the opportunity to come and pick up pink ribbons in [the Student Life] office throughout the month of October,” said Lindblad.

Lindblad said silent protesting is not necessarily participating in breast cancer awareness fundraisers, but by wearing this pink ribbon one can show their awareness of breast cancer and how prevalent it is.

 

OCCC will not hold a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness month.

“It does get a little tricky with money,” Linblad said.

“We wanted to at least do something where people could be aware and show support.”

Lindblad said as the service learning coordinator, OCCC does recognize and support students who participate in breast cancer awareness fundraisers such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

“Students are welcome to do service hours with Susan G. Komen to do the run,: Lindblad said

“They could count that as service hours. We definitely support people getting involved in that cause,”

According to the organization’s website, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization that is the global leader in breast cancer awareness formed in 1982 by Susan’s sister, Nancy G. Brinker, as a promise to her sister to find a cure for the disease.

The website boasts events like the Race for the Cure and the 3-Day for the Cure. Contributions from their partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has become the largest source of nonprofit funds contributed to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Dr. Richard Falk, of the Oklahoma Breast Cancer Center, has been practicing medecine in Oklahoma City since 1983. He provided information on breast cancer from a doctor’s point of view.

“The best preventative method is to detect early. Perform monthly self-breast exams.

“Once you reach 40, an annual mammogram has been proven to increase the likelihood of catching the cancer early on,” Falk said.

He said the main symptoms of breast cancer are localized areas of pain, a painless lump and skin and or nipple retraction.

Women have more breast tissue than men, but that does not rule out the possibility of men getting breast cancer.

According to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website, less than one percent of breast cancer cases are reported in men generally between the ages of 60 and 70 years old.

“I have diagnosed three men with breast cancer in my time practicing,” Falk said.

“For males who form breast cancer, it is a secondary genetic mutation that occurs and, like I mentioned, very uncommon.”

On Oct. 15 there will be a Race for the Cure in Oklahoma City.

To participate, contact the Central and Western Oklahoma Affiliate at 405-526-RACE (7223), or email race@komencentralwesternok.org.

For more information on the silent protest held by Student Life, contact Jill Lindblad at 405-682-1611, ext. 7697, or email her at jlindblad@occc.edu.

 

To contact Sarah Hussain,

email staffwriter3@occc.edu