On Wednesdays, we wear pink. Not solely the domain of Mean Girls, pink is for supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at North Atlanta High School and across the United States. Women and men, young and old, sick and well don pink ribbons and clothes in solidarity with the sick, the survivors, and their families and caretakers.
Breast cancer is both the second most deadly and the second most prevalent cancer afflicting American women. One in eight will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to Breastcancer.org. However, incidence rates are on the rise, increasing by 0.6% each year overall, but by 1% in women younger than 50. The chances of dying of breast cancer for women are roughly one in 40, or 2.5%. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024 alone, about 310,720 women will be diagnosed with the disease and 42,250 will die. Regardless of their background, most Americans can name people they know who had or have the disease. North Atlanta students and teachers are no exception.
Come October, some, like junior Carmen Anderson, feel gratitude for relatives that have survived breast cancer. Others solemnly honor those they have lost and strive to bear witness. “My grandmother had breast cancer. She died from it,” said senior Zaniyah Johnson. “I think it’s important to show breast cancer awareness so people can do something about it.”
Fortunately, thanks to advancements in medical knowledge and technology, breast cancer has never been more preventable. Today, doctors are more equipped than ever before to treat the disease. “It’s not a death sentence anymore, like it used to be,” said Business/Tech teacher and FBLA advisor Althea Collier. “Technology and science have given these women a fighting chance.”
Though amazing, resources such as mammograms, chemotherapy, and new drugs are useless if no one knows about them, making breast cancer awareness even more crucial. When fighting cancer, education is half the battle.
North Atlanta’s own Future Business Leaders of America, or FBLA, organized a program to raise awareness and facilitate participation. Every Wednesday of October, students are encouraged to wear pink outfits and submit photos of themselves to the FBLA google classroom, for a chance to win a prize. The FBLA has also set up boards where people can sign the names of survivors or those who have passed on, and it will have a candlelit service and pink cupcakes at the close of the month.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps save lives, shedding light on daunting statistics and providing support for women and their families. It is a time for both reflection and action, celebration and mourning, but especially, for unison in the face of a harsh, undeniable reality.
