October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and NSU sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, whose philanthropy is breast cancer awareness, has been raising money for the cause throughout the month. It has held dinners and galas, hosted talks with survivors and loved ones, as well as partnered with the Shark Cage business Kat’s Asian Cuisine.
The sorority gives proceeds to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.
“We’re really big on raising awareness and money to help fund [breast cancer] research because a lot of our sisters are affected by it, and one in every six women are affected by breast cancer,” said sorority vice president and junior communication major Yasmeen Hughes.
One such affected woman is G “Gay” Landreth, a breast cancer survivor and step-grandmother of NSU freshman and communication major, Sofie Daiberl. In November 1997, when Landreth was 43, she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. Upon diagnoses, the doctors told her she had already had the disease for seven years.
With the love and support from her husband, parents and daughters, Lauren and Lindsay, Landreth was able to endure the “aggressive” Monday through Friday, two-to-three-hour chemotherapy procedures, surgeries and the 32 radiation treatments.
While she suffered some physical impacts, including the loss of some hair and some scarring from chemo ports, she views the experience as a faith-filled and strengthening journey. It deepened her appreciation for her life, her family and her faith.
“The Holy Spirit [was] still awake within [me],” Landreth said.
After her chemo treatment, even though she was not yet cleared by the doctors, Landreth said that she knew in her heart that she was fine.
Breast cancer does not only affect women, however.
Dr. Appu Rathinavelu, executive director of the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, said breast cancer also affects a small percentage of men because of the mutations they may carry or inherit from their family history. He said everyone should be aware of the disease.
“It is highly recommended that if there is a family history, if someone in the family had cancer, that individual should be going for a breast examination every year or as quickly as is recommended by doctors so that they can catch it early,” Rathinavelu said.
He said common symptoms of breast cancer include any kind of swelling, lump formation, or pain in the breasts.
He also mentioned that breast cancer can affect an individual’s lungs and brain, even after they complete chemo treatment.
Landreth advised trusting the medical professionals, but not being afraid to get a second opinion.
She said the most important thing for those who are going through breast cancer treatments is to have gratitude for the little things in life, to acknowledge they are strong and to not make decisions based on fear.
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