April '13 Issue - DIG Magazine

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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.
The “Go Green” trend goes beyond the reusable water bottles, recycling, and beach clean-ups. It is a movement that launched on April 22, 1970 to fight for the Earth, raise awareness of environmental problems, and give people a sense of urgency to act upon them. Earth Day is a representation of the strength of this movement and the continuous determination of honoring and protecting the planet in order to make it a safe place to live. “Environmental problems do not go away like an illness,” Associated Students, Inc. Commissioner of Conservation Alben Phung said. “They will persist and will become a bigger problem if ignored.” Cal State Long Beach has recognized the importance of leaving a clean ecological footprint, and has made it a priority to make the campus eco-friendly. Refill stations are available campus-wide for water bottles, bike maintenance stations are available to encourage students to bike to school, and there are even solar panels that provide electricity to Brotman Hall, the Facilities Management Corporations Yard, and the Vivian Engineering Center. Projects and initiatives underway to make CSULB a “green campus” include more energy efficient lighting around campus, the implementation of drip irrigations systems, and the installation of more Electric Vehicle charging units in parking lots across campus. “The job towards sustainability is really never ever completed, so our efforts continue,” CSULB energy and sustainability manager Paul Wingco said. Each year, the Environmental Science and Policy Club on campus hosts an Earth Day celebration known as Earth Week. Last year, there was environmental information tabling, along with an eco-friendly fashion Earth day Eco-friEndly campus EvEry day at csulB By ViVian Gatica show called (Eco)uture. The opening event this year will be a Green Generation Mixer where various speakers will demonstrate their environmental projects, and show how the CSULB and the city of Long Beach have become more sustainable. The Earth Day celebration will take place on April 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a Recycling Information and Green Job Fair event on April 22. “These programs present students with information that will help them address environmental issues, and lessen the negative impact on the local environment and the planet as a whole, as well as opportunities to get involved and volunteer with local environmental organizations committed to sustainability and improving the local environment,” CSULB Environmental Science and Policy club president Nicholas Thibeault said. One of the highlights of Earth Week on campus will be the Green Technology Expo on April 29. Participants will display a variety of creative green technology projects in wind, solar, kinetic, and zero waste technology. According to Phung, the main purpose of the event is to expose students to environmental projects that they are not aware of. “Technology is a neutral item, if people do not know how to use it or know about the technology then it is useless,” Phung said. “We want to get students exposed to these future technologies, as well as inspire creativity in their everyday lives.” This year, Earth Day will take place on April 22, the day of the first celebrated Earth Day more than 40 years ago. It is a day to appreciate nature’s beauty and the environment that surrounds us. Phung said that CSULB’s Earth Day celebration is an opportunity to enlighten the people living on the Earth to take action to protect it. “Every aspect of life has a strong relationship with Earth,” Phung said. “We need to be stewards of this Earth, and to ensure that this natural beauty is not destroyed by its own guests.” “We need to be stewards of this Earth and to ensure that this natural beauty is not destroyed by its own guests.” Photo by Amatullah Guyot Senior communications major Mohammad Ahmad refills his water bottle at one of the many refill stations around campus. 11
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April '13 Issue - DIG Magazine

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