April '13 Issue - DIG Magazine

Breasts. Boobs. Tits. Funbags. Milkjugs. Tatas.
Knockers. Puppies. Racks. Hooters. Melons.
You know them, you’ve seen them, but how
much do you know about the cancer that can
take the fun out of the bags?
Breast cancer is a devastating disease that
affects one in eight women and more than 2000
men annually.
Cal State Long Beach, a campus that is 58
percent female and 42 percent male, should be
100 percent aware of breast cancer basics. So
it’s about time we got down and dirty with the
details behind that pink ribbon we’ve come to
know so well.
It’s been several months since National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, so why bring up the
boobs in April?
On April 1, California jumped on the breast
cancer legislation bandwagon behind New
York, Texas, Connecticut and Virginia, requiring
mammographers to inform women if their breast
tissue is dense.
Dense breast tissue in women under 50 is
common, said breast surgeon Dr. John West,
M.D. of Breastlink Center in Orange.
When a woman is getting an annual
mammogram, dense tissue can make the results
more difficult to evaluate. In other words, it can
be a contributing factor to delayed diagnosis in
breast cancer.
“This new legislation is great,” he said. “There are
three caveats and it will help to change things. It
will let you know if your breast tissue is dense,
inform you that you’re at an increased risk, and
with that information you and your physician can
decide on alternative imaging.”
Aside from dense tissue, there are many more
contributing risk factors you can identify in order
to be proactive with your own health.
10
GET TO KNOW
YOUR BREASTS
New legislatioN
may help early
detectioN
By ariella rams and alison truax
The biggest risk factor is a family history of
breast or ovarian cancer.
“A first-degree relative is a red flag,” Dr. West
said. “A male relative is a huge red flag too.”
However, if a first-degree relative has suffered
from the cancer, it doesn’t necessarily mean you
carry the gene. New genetic testing has allowed
doctors to detect the presence of a cancer gene.
Having previous biopsies, chest radiation, longterm
and high-estrogen birth control use, alcohol
consumption, and obesity are linked to the risks
of breast cancer. So how can you be proactive
as a college student in keeping up on your
breast health?
The health center on campus offers well-woman
exams for anyone looking to stay on top of their
health, which includes a clinical breast exam. In
addition, the free and confidential Sexual Health
Awareness Workshop is offered at the Health
Resource Center on Mondays and Thursdays
throughout the spring semester.
“The SHAW workshops include a short
component on the well-woman exam,” explains
Emma Hawes, a student assistant for health
services. “Attendees are instructed on how to do
their own self-exams at home using a model and
short video.”
Photo by Karina Cornejo
Women of any age are susceptible to breast cancer and the scars that come with
it, but new legislation offers a greater chance of early detection.
Students who can’t make the workshops can
also download information that is presented at
the workshop from the Heath Resource Center
section of the CSULB website.
Since the 90s, breast cancer mortality rates
have continuously decreased. Prevention,
detection and awareness are all key in the push
to make those pink ribbons obsolete.
So as legislation and advancements move
forward, don’t hesitate to get to know your
breasts. Who knows, touching yourself could
save your life.