Students dressed in pink tops and blue jeans Friday chanted "find a cure" as they paraded around the Southwest campus playfield in commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The children from Early Childhood Education were later joined by similarly-dressed students and staff at the Southwest campus. They watched as pink balloons were released in signifying hope for a cure of the disease, which is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc., one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, an estimated 2,470 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 460 will die each year.
In recent years, however, experts have seen a gradual reduction in female breast cancer incidence rates among women aged 50 and older. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part due to better screening and early detection, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options.
"Students are encouraged to urge their parents and loved ones to get checked for signs of breast cancer," said Ms. Karen Allen, health and wellness specialist. "Early detection is key."