By: Lizzy Lankford
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — October is commonly associated with Halloween and fall, however, it’s also used as a month of creating awareness and starting conversation around breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer that will affect women, in fact, according to breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop some form of breast cancer in their lifetime.
While it is rare for college students to develop breast cancer, it is still a possibility.
According to the CDC, “About 11% percent of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.”
The Pat Walker Health Center offers a women’s Health Clinic that offers yearly wellness checks where women get their breasts checked, but also offer services for those who are concerned about their breast health.
Dr. Kathleen Paulson is the staff gynecologist and director of the women’s health clinic with Pat Walker Health Center
“Every time you have a wellness exam, we do a breast exam, and in young women, there’s some argument over how valuable it is” Dr. Paulson said, “Even if the pickup rate for abnormalities is extremely low it’s a fabulous opportunity to teach a woman how to do a breast exam”
Dr. Paulson urges both men and women to know their bodies and to pay attention in case something doesn’t feel right.
“It’s important for everyone to be familiar with their own bodies no matter where it is and know what changes are going on” Dr. Paulson said, “Women should be the most familiar person with their breasts so if there’s a change noted, they’d be the first to notice it.”
Due to COVID-19, the women’s clinic isn’t scheduling as many in-person appointments, but students are able to make tele-visits through the Pat Walker patient portal.
UA junior, Quinn Maston’s grandmother was diagnosed and underwent treatment for breast cancer in the midst of COVID-19
Maston said her grandmother’s doctors caught her breast cancer in the early stages of development.
“They caught it right as it and so they just did a simple surgery and then a couple weeks of intense radiation” said Maston.
Maston struggled with not being able to see her grandmother as she lived in Florida while she was undergoing treatment.
“I have been calling her a lot more than I usually do” Maston said, “she opened up about it a lot and we talked about it a lot more that I thought she would want to.”
Maston said that even though this was a tough time for her and her family, it ultimately brought them closer together.
If a student is concerned about breast issues, they are able to contact the Women’s Health Clinic at the Pat Walker Health Center online or on the phone to make an appointment virtually or in person