What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
-Author Unknown
October is a month that can be defined by many variables … it’s bright, blue fall weather, pumpkin spice everything, apple picking, Halloween, Libra and Scorpio szn … the list goes on and on. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. In honor of this month, VALLEY is bringing a brief history of breast cancer to the table to honor those who have endured this disease.
History
The earliest case of breast cancer can be traced back to 1600 B.C. in ancient Egypt. In 460 B.C. it was believed by the father of western medicine, Hippocrates, that breast cancer stemmed from excessive black bile. Other theories of where breast cancer came from included curdled milk, pus-filled inflammations in the breast, etc.
It was not until William Halstead of the mid-nineteenth century introduced the radical mastectomy. In 1996, Bernard Fisher executed radiation and chemotherapy practices after surgeries were performed.
Present
Today, in 2018 alone, the number of invasive breast cancer cases expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. is 266,120. For men, that number is 2,550 new cases according to breastcancer.org. There are many ways to try and prevent symptoms of breast cancer. Aside from scheduling annual checkups with your gynecologist and attending yearly mammograms, it is vital that women and men perform self-breast examinations. If one ever feels an unusual lump or pain in the breast, it is best to bring it to the attention of one’s doctor.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
There are various organizations that raise money toward breast cancer and increase awareness each year. The American Cancer Society is one of the largest cancer organizations in which their efforts raise funds yearlong in the fight against cancer.
In 2000, Ralph Lauren launched their Pink Pony Campaign. A pink version of the company’s well-known Ralph Lauren Polo Pony symbol was created with a mission to “reduce disparities in care across a wide range of cancers.” Thriving on personal donations, corporate partnerships and Pink Pony product sales, this campaign is designed to guide cancer patients through the first stage of screening until the last stage of recovery.
Cancer is a disease that has effected every one of us in some way. Whether we have been affected by family members, friends, or being a part of THON here at Penn State, it is important that we stand for those who have fallen to this disease and stand strong by those who have knocked it to the ground. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month; let us kick it out the door this month and every month in search of a cure.
