Students in the Women’s Issues Awareness Club (WIAC) planned a day of education and action at Trinity College School on Thursday, October 12th, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Senior School students and staff were able to show their support by wearing the colour pink, or donning pink ribbons provided by WIAC.
The day began with a chapel announcement, which was followed up with an email to students and staff providing information about breast cancer and ways to support breast cancer research and education. WIAC shared data from the World Health Organization (WHO), including that breast cancer led to 685,000 deaths globally (2020), with roughly half of all breast cancers occurring in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age. They noted that approximately 0.5–1% of breast cancers occur in men.
The group highlighted that Black people and people of colour are especially affected by breast cancer as they may face racism within the health care system. Creating cancer screening programs that are open to marginalized people and addressing the biological variations in breast cancer across racial and ethnic groups are two methods to reduce inequities in cancer care, according to the National Cancer Institute. Black women-specific health services and organizations include the African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Black Women's Health Imperative, Sisters Network Inc. and Sisters by Choice.
WIAC concluded: “Breast cancer affects many people every year, so it is important we continue to acknowledge and educate.” They encouraged students and staff to consider a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
Thank you to the WIAC team for their work to educate and advocate on this important global issue: Anni Campbell Nikolovksy, Charlotte Belanger and Nya Fludzinski.
