October is the month for all things spooky.
It’s known for Halloween, pumpkin patches, apple cider, cozy movie nights, chilly evenings, crisp fresh air brought with the fall breeze, and also, breast cancer awareness month.
With all the fun, exciting things that come with October, we also recognize and hold with high regard those that are or did fight against breast cancer.
We have this subject on our hearts during this time of the year because of the huge effect it has internationally, nationally, and even in our own little communities. Lakeland is not an exception.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation about 30 percent of diagnosed cancers among women each year are breast cancer. Approximately 1 in 8 women will experience and have to deal with breast cancer some time in their life, and according to Breast Cancer Org an estimated 42,170 women will die from it in 2025.
This is why we honor it in October, for the mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, aunts, grandmothers, and everyone else whose lives are affected by it or changed forever.
The Lakeland community witnessed just how localized this cancer can be on Oct. 14. Just before the varsity volleyball game at Lakeland High School (LHS) that honored Breast Cancer Awareness, there was a ceremony.
During this ceremony, members from just the volleyball players’ families and friends that had survived breast cancer came down to the gym floor and each received a rose from their loved ones.
One of those players and loved ones was Anabel Bowie, acknowledging her grandmother DeAnna who survived breast cancer.
“It made me feel happy for her that she was supported,” said Bowie.
This admirable moment brought some of the survivors, players, and people among the crowd to tears.
There were six survivors on the court that day and two more that were noticed but were not able to be in attendance.
Some players had multiple people they were honoring, and some had one, but ultimately, more than half the team was indirectly impacted and had a family member that was hurt by breast cancer.
Others even had the burden of watching their own mothers experience and fight it. Having to witness someone so close and so loved go through that kind of pain or even just something that scary is a terrible thing.
“It was hard not being able to see her as much as we used to,” said sophomore Marissa Benson, “She didn’t want us to witness her go through it too much because we were so young.”
Even though these women were survivors, we as a community, nation, and people we come together to show our sympathy and sorrow for those that had to experience it or leave this world because of it.
As well as a breast cancer awareness night for volleyball, football has its own night to show their support too.
Student Council puts on multiple fundraisers for breast cancer research such as Buff Puff where boys are coached and compete in volleyball for a night. All admissions and payments to play go towards breast cancer research.
There is also a fundraiser called Waffle Fest. This where students can come and purchase waffles throughout the day and the proceeds also go toward research.
Besides fundraisers, LHS shows support for breast cancer awareness by wearing pink every Wednesday for the month of October.
It’s communities coming together, showing small acts of consideration and spreading awareness that help make hard times for families experiencing this cancer, more bearable.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation when cancer is caught in its earliest, most localized stages, the 5- year relative survival rate is 99 percent and there are currently over 4.3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States today.
A percent of these numbers is because of breast cancer awareness efforts.
According to the American Cancer Society, since the start of Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives in 1985, over 517,000 lives have been saved from better treatment and proactive screening.
“Spreading awareness helps people understand that it’s a serious matter that needs attention,” said Gracee Jamison.