By CANDACE MIERS

clm049@latech.edu

 

October is a month for cooler weather, trick-or-treating, falling leaves and saving lives.

This month is breast cancer awareness month.

Cities all across the United States, including Ruston, are teaming up to help eliminate the misconceptions people have about breast cancer.

“Every year more and more college women are affected by breast cancer, and they need to be aware of the situation,” Corre Stegall, vice president of university advancement, said.

Stegall, who is also the Lincoln Parish coordinator of the Komen Race for the Cure, said awareness is half the battle of fighting breast cancer.

The annual event in Lincoln Parish to help raise awareness and combat breast cancer is Race for the Cure, Stegall said.

The race is part of a national series of 5K runs and walks designed and implemented by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, she said.

The race was held for Lincoln Parish Sept. 10, and Tech’s Panhellenic Council was an official sponsor.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the nation’s largest private benefactor of breast cancer research, Stegall said.

The Komen foundation has a national grant program fund which finances breast cancer research, education, screenings and treatment programs.

Their grants have extended to the Ruston community via Lincoln General Hospital, Stegall said.

The hospital, located at 1003 White Street, is sponsoring free mammograms to everyone interested in getting an examination for the month of October.

“There is a huge influx of people in this area, who cannot afford health care, so now they have the opportunity to get screened,” Stegall said.

“We encourage them to take advantage of those free mammograms.”

Tara Lemon, a junior psychology major, said she also believes women should get breast cancer exams regularly.

“Awareness is an excellent idea; all girls need to be checked,” Lemon said.

“If college girls, especially, become aware now they will most likely take precautions in the future.”

A wonderful future is what Stegall said she wants every woman to experience.

“One out of every seven women has breast cancer,” Stegall said. “That is pandemic portions of cancer spreading, and it can be stopped.”

She said early detection and awareness is how the epidemic will end.

“Eighty-five to 90 percent of early detected cancer has been completely cured,” Stegall said.

Stegall said she wants all women of all ages to get examined so they will be in the cancer-free percentage.

“Getting people aware is a great passion of mine,” she said. “I have been around college campuses my whole life and I want girls here to know they are not invincible to breast cancer because it’s not an old women’s disease; it can happen to anyone.”

Stegall said saving lives is what she and the Komen Foundation are striving to do.

“People at the Foundation are on the cutting-edge of some wonderful, wonderful research. I have no doubt that breast cancer will be eradicated in the future,” she said.

Carrie Hebert, a junior biology major, said she has never considered the possibility of getting breast cancer so early in life.

“I think it is a magnificent thing how people are coming together to raise awareness of the facts,” she said.

“These volunteers are truly a blessing, and I believe they will save someone’s life.”