 "Photo: Jessica Swartz")
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics predict more than 40,000 women in the United States will die of breast cancer in 2004.
This number can be reduced by increasing the awareness of the disease and educating women on the dangers of untreated breast cancer, according to the center.
October was designated as Breast Cancer Awareness month by the American Cancer Society. An organization called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer worked together with ACS to raise money for, "breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient service programs," according to its Web site, www.acsevents.org.
Business management senior Hana Cushu suggested the walk for a social change project requirement in her Business Ethics 356 class.
Along with five other classmates, Cushu participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Oct. 17 at Balboa Park. The walk promoted breast cancer awareness.
Cushu said she and her classmates set up a booth on campus twice a week before the walk to raise money, which they donated to Making Strides.
Laura Neubert, one of the Cushu's classmates who participated, said the money raised went mainly to research and finding breast cancer treatments.
The day of the walk was also the first day of rain this season in San Diego.
"It was great to see so many people there considering the weather conditions," Cushu said. "It was great to see so many people come together and get involved for such a great cause."
Neubert said the turnout was amazing.
"It was kind of fun, and really motivating," she said. "It makes you want to do more." Neubert said her team was able to raise $550, while Making Strides raised a total of $550,000 to support breast cancer awareness.
Student Health Services offers a Gynecological Orientation open to all female students.
Rita Ruhter, health educator at SHS, said women can come to the orientation to obtain information about pap smears, birth control methods in additon to learn how to perform a breast self-examination.
"We definitely promote breast health," she said. "We offer clinical breast exams, and if breast cancer is detected, we will refer you to a specialist."
Ruhter stressed the importance of breast self-examinations to detect any early signs of breast cancer.
The ACS lists gender, age, genetics, family history and race as inherent risk factors for breast cancer. The factors that can be controlled, however, include having children, taking birth-control pills, breast-feeding, alcohol, diet and exercise.
Cushu chose to participate in the Making Strides Walk because her mother was affected by breast cancer. This puts Cushu at risk, according to the ACS.
"Genes are one of the factors, but not a major factor," she said. "I think everyone has an equal chance of getting it."
Cushu said this is why women should make sure they know the proper way to conduct breast self-exams and get regular checkups.
She also said breast cancer is not a problem exclusively for women.
"Men can get breast cancer too," Cushu said.
The NCHS reported 470 men in the United States will die from breast cancer this year alone.
The ACS states it is a rare cause of death among men, but is still a risk.
Ruhter said breast cancer is also a concern for men.
"Clinical breast exams are part of a man's annual checkup," she said.
Breast-cancer research is currently an ongoing process, with the latest developments being in the field of radiation treatment.
NBC News Chief Health and Science Correspondent Robert Bazell reported Nov. 16 there is a new procedure "to shorten the length of radiation treatment after the initial surgery," according to www.msnbc.com.
He stated the new therapy is preformed immediately following the operation while the patient is still asleep, giving one large dose instead of the traditional six weeks of treatment. The procedure is still experimental, but so far has worked well when tested in California and Italy.
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