Marlo Fontenot
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is near and dear to many people’s hearts because Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers for women in the United States. So most people know someone who has been affected by the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, it accounts for 33% of all new female cancers each year .
The event started as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) in October of 1985 through a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. This partnership aimed to promote mammograms as the leading method for early breast cancer detection and prevention. A mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast. It is a critical tool used to detect and diagnose breast disease in women who are experiencing breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump, or pain.
Breast Cancer has also hit close to home here at Meridian, Madame Ryder, DP French teacher said, “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of last year, A few days before school started. I was going for my yearly mammogram and that’s when they discovered that I had something. So they asked me to come back for more testing and then I found out that it was cancer and since then, I’ve been doing treatment and I’ve had several surgeries.”
This was hard for her students but everyone did an amazing job at rallying around her in support. As well as the Meridian students who did a good job at supporting Madame Ryder. She stated, “ The students were supportive, they were very understanding and I felt they worked really hard when I wasn’t there and they had a sub. And the teachers and admin were super, super supportive.”
On October 29, Meridian recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month by dressing in all pink. The National Breast Cancer Foundation published, “ Wearing pink symbolizes hope and community for many who’ve been impacted by breast cancer.” This is special because having a supportive community can help with the hard journey that comes with breast cancer.