Commonwealth Times

Media Credit: Christen Duxbury Audience members wearing pink to promote breast cancer awareness participate in a silent auction, raffle, and listen to speakers. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Christen Duxbury Nancy Harris shares tips for preventing and detecting breast cancer at Wednesday's brunch (ct/ Christen Duxbury) [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi hosted a brunch Wednesday to raise awareness, money and support for breast cancer and its survivors. The two-hour event featured guest speakers Nancy Harris from VCU's Office of Health Promotion and VCU student and 13-year cancer survivor Dora Callahan.

Harris spoke to the audience about steps students can take to keep themselves healthy, especially their breasts.

"You are the expert when it comes to your own body," she said.

She urged students to take preventative steps, such as performing a self-exam every month and having a doctor perform a clinical exam once a year.

This is important, she explained, because symptoms commonly go unnoticed for the first months. Harris said that although there are often no symptoms of breast cancer, there are things that can increase or decrease a woman's risk of breast cancer.

"White women are at greater risk than African- American women," she said. "But African American women are more likely to die if they get breast cancer."

Age, as well as race, can affect a woman's risk of breast cancer, Harris said. Of women 39 or younger, one in every 229 has breast cancer, Harris said. One in every 24 women in the 40 - 59 age group has cancer and one in every 13 women has cancer in the 60-79 age group, Harris said.

Ways to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly and performing regular breast exams.

Harris also exposed some myths surrounding breast cancer. Underwire bras, deodorant, birth control pills and breast implants have no effect on a woman's risk of getting breast cancer, she said.

Callahan recounted that her battle with breast cancer took all her will power, family and faith to overcome.

When she found out she had cancer, "I planned my own funeral," she said.

But because of her faith, her husband and three children, and that she "took it one step at a time," she said, she has recovered fully.

She urged anyone struggling with breast cancer to be patient and strong throughout the battle. Harris encouraged the audience to seek counseling at a free 24-hour hotline for victims of breast cancer as they recovered. The number for the hotline is (800) 221-2141.

Throughout the event, students bought raffle tickets and bid on items in a silent auction. The items were donated by local businesses, such as Yoga Source, King's Dominion and Kobe. All proceeds from the event went to the Richmond affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The event, held at the University Student Commons was part of Pink Week, a week devoted to distributing information and raising awareness about breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Age People with breast cancer 0-39 1 in 229 40-59 1 in 24 60-79 1 in 13

To prevent breast cancer: Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Steer clear of high-fat foods

If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer call (800) 221-2141. This free hotline is staffed by trained peer counselors and has access to translators of 150 languages.

- Information provided by Nancy Harris, women's health coordinator for the Office of Health Promotion

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Media Credit: Christen Duxbury Audience members wearing pink to promote breast cancer awareness participate in a silent auction, raffle, and listen to speakers. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Christen Duxbury Nancy Harris shares tips for preventing and detecting breast cancer at Wednesday's brunch (ct/ Christen Duxbury) [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi hosted a brunch Wednesday to raise awareness, money and support for breast cancer and its survivors. The two-hour event featured guest speakers Nancy Harris from VCU's Office of Health Promotion and VCU student and 13-year cancer survivor Dora Callahan.

Harris spoke to the audience about steps students can take to keep themselves healthy, especially their breasts.

"You are the expert when it comes to your own body," she said.

She urged students to take preventative steps, such as performing a self-exam every month and having a doctor perform a clinical exam once a year.

This is important, she explained, because symptoms commonly go unnoticed for the first months. Harris said that although there are often no symptoms of breast cancer, there are things that can increase or decrease a woman's risk of breast cancer.

"White women are at greater risk than African- American women," she said. "But African American women are more likely to die if they get breast cancer."

Age, as well as race, can affect a woman's risk of breast cancer, Harris said. Of women 39 or younger, one in every 229 has breast cancer, Harris said. One in every 24 women in the 40 - 59 age group has cancer and one in every 13 women has cancer in the 60-79 age group, Harris said.

Ways to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly and performing regular breast exams.

Harris also exposed some myths surrounding breast cancer. Underwire bras, deodorant, birth control pills and breast implants have no effect on a woman's risk of getting breast cancer, she said.

Callahan recounted that her battle with breast cancer took all her will power, family and faith to overcome.

When she found out she had cancer, "I planned my own funeral," she said.

But because of her faith, her husband and three children, and that she "took it one step at a time," she said, she has recovered fully.

She urged anyone struggling with breast cancer to be patient and strong throughout the battle. Harris encouraged the audience to seek counseling at a free 24-hour hotline for victims of breast cancer as they recovered. The number for the hotline is (800) 221-2141.

Throughout the event, students bought raffle tickets and bid on items in a silent auction. The items were donated by local businesses, such as Yoga Source, King's Dominion and Kobe. All proceeds from the event went to the Richmond affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The event, held at the University Student Commons was part of Pink Week, a week devoted to distributing information and raising awareness about breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Age People with breast cancer 0-39 1 in 229 40-59 1 in 24 60-79 1 in 13

To prevent breast cancer: Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Steer clear of high-fat foods

If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer call (800) 221-2141. This free hotline is staffed by trained peer counselors and has access to translators of 150 languages.

- Information provided by Nancy Harris, women's health coordinator for the Office of Health Promotion

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