The ‘pink’ movement by students

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Department of Nursing took action to raise awareness about 'breast cancer', which is the most common type of cancer in women and which killed 685 thousand people in the world last year. A booth was established on campus in cooperation with IUE Health Club, where students were informed with models and posters. IUE academics and student volunteers walked around the campus wearing pink clothes, the symbol of breast cancer, throughout the day. Students were given pink masks and ribbons; leaflets were distributed. While it was pointed out that breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too, information was frequently shared with male students at this point.

24.7 PERCENT WOLRDWIDE

Prof. Dr. Özgül Karayurt, Department of Nursing, IUE Faculty of Health Sciences, pointed out that October is 'breast cancer awareness month'. Stating that raising awareness among young people is very important for a healthy future, Prof. Dr. Karayurt said, “Breast cancer ranks first among the top 10 types of cancer seen in women. Although the incidence of breast cancer is high in developed countries, breast cancer death rates are higher in developing countries. According to international data, breast cancer has a rate of 24.7 percent among all female cancers. In 2020, 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer. 685 thousand women worldwide died from breast cancer. The average incidence of breast cancer in women worldwide is 47.8 per hundred thousand. In Turkey, this figure is 46.6 per hundred thousand.”

MEN MUST BE ON THE OUTLOOK

Noting that breast cancer is also seen in men, Prof. Dr. Karayurt said, “500 men in our country were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. Because men have very little breast tissue, it is easier for men to feel small masses. This is an advantage for men, but they must be on the outlook for breast cancer like women. Breast cancer is known to some as a female disease, but that is not the case. The lymph nodes under your arm are the first place breast cancer is most likely to spread. It is very important to be able to recognize and catch cancer at an early stage. Awareness has increased considerably over the past years. Early diagnosis is the most important step in the treatment of the disease. Early diagnosis methods are mammography, clinical breast exam, and breast self-exam.”

BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS

- Painless mass initially, pain in any area of the breast in advanced stages

- Pulling in of the nipple

- Nipple discharge

- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.

- Dimpling of breast skin

- Growth in the lymph nodes (underarm)