October is spooky season, but it’s also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time when you can help spread awareness throughout communities to support the people who are facing a difficult and uncertain time in their lives.
Delta’s Women’s Basketball Head Coach and Health and Kinesiology Professor Gina Johnson who currently has a contract with the Play4Kay organization, provided me with a bunch of important information regarding breast cancer.
Play4Kay is a “national grassroots movement in sports” that “brings communities together” to “honor cancer warriors, survivors, and thrivers in the fight against cancer,” according to its website.
According to Play4Kay, in many places (including the U.S.), breast cancer diagnoses have been gradually increasing over recent decades. However, mortality rates have, in some settings, declined or stabilized due to better detection and treatment.
On Oct.15, Delta is hosting a Wellness Wednesday event called “In October We Wear Pink,” which runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
This event will recognize breast cancer awareness with activities such as crafting, resources, sweets and community.
In 2025, it was estimated that 316,950 women would be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S. During the same period, approximately 2,800 men are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
In other countries, the absolute numbers differ depending on population size, screening and registry quality, but the pattern of many more women than men holds.
The risk increases strongly with age; most cases occur in women over age 50, with a median diagnosis age in the early 60s. Men’s cases are rare and typically occur later in life.
“I think we should teach people on what to look for, it’s called primary prevention, so that way, early detection is the best form of treatment because as soon as you catch it, the better you can heal from it, the more likely you are to recover from it,” said Delta student Alexandra Khoury.
Some of the common warning signs include lumps, nipple changes, skin changes, discharge and breast asymmetry or swelling, according to Play4Kay.
On July 16, WSAZ-TV News Station did a story on 25-year-old Savannah Cardwell. During the spring, doctors did a biopsy on her and later diagnosed her with triple-positive stage four invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer.
“I was in complete shock. I remember staring at the floor, not knowing what to think and not knowing what’s next. That was a big worry and worrying about my family and worrying about my life, I’ve grown up faster in a week than I have in 25 years,” said Savannah Cardwell in an interview with the station.
Cardwell soon became a resource for women posting on her social media platforms, sharing all the good and the bad. She said she chose to do this because she couldn’t have any women going through the same struggles as her and as young.
Delta student Romana Shaheen said she would encourage those fighting to stay strong.
“Maybe just to stay strong, and I know a lot of people go through it, I don’t have any family members or myself personally but be strong and power through it,” said Shaheen.
