The cheerleading team wears pink on Homecoming for breast cancer awareness The Whetstone/ Rachael Nissim

By Collette O’Neal (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Students recently have been seen wearing “I heart boobies” wristbands.

But they have nothing to do with sex. They are in support of Breast Cancer awareness.

Wendy Newell, a board certified surgeon, gave a 30-minute lecture on Oct. 6. The talk was sponsored by the Wellness Center and the Black Student Union.

“Breast cancer in young women likes yourselves is the most dangerous,” she said. “This is because the body tissue is so dense that all forms of imaging have a difficult time detecting abnormalities.”

The cancer develops from mutations in DNA from either carcinogens or, in rare circumstances, an inherited defect, she said.

Only five to 10 percent of breast cancers are inherited.

“They do not cause the cancer, only increase the person’s chance of getting it,” Newell said.

The best forms of prevention and early detection are self exams, exams by health care professionals and mammograms, she said.

By not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, eating right and exercising, a woman can significantly reduce her chance of getting the disease.

Treatment for breast cancer depends on the kind of cancer that has developed, Newell said.

“By knowing your risk, knowing the preventive measures, getting screened appropriately, and knowing your treatment options, breast cancer can be cured,” she said.