Pink is not just a pretty color. It’s the color of love, it’s the color of lives, it’s the color of survivors. It’s not a secret that October is breast cancer awareness month and Georgia State students are taking it into their own hands to raise awareness.
Fit 4 The Cure For Mama Combs
A Georgia State junior and founder of Be You! (a fitness organization), Sydney Combs, started Fit 4 The Cure in October 2014. Fit 4 The Cure was created in memory of Comb’s mother, Cynthia Combs, who passed from her second diagnosis of breast cancer in March 2015.
“Fit 4 The Cure is a breast cancer awareness workout,” Combs said. “Breast Cancer risks are elevated when women are not active and have increased levels of estrogen, which can be caused by being overweight or obese.”
The goal of Fit 4 The Cure is to bring awareness and teach college students about the importance of fitness and how it relates to breast cancer. The program also raises money during the events for the American Cancer Society.
“Fit 4 The Cure symbolizes being strong by not just being fit but acknowledging the fighters and survivors of this illness,” said Combs.
Be You!
Be You! was Combs first fitness project before expanding to Fit 4 The Cure. The purpose of Be You! is to help students better their health and fitness. But this program also allows students to network and learn new skills.
“This is not a fitness organization or just somewhere where students work out,” Combs said. “It is much more than that.”
Members of this program have also help with community service projects and have even gained internships and job opportunities. Combs goal was to help create a program where students could work through self-esteem issue and better themselves.
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Fit 4 The Cure is running through the entire month of October. There will be different events for students to be a part of and support breast cancer awareness.
Be You! October Events (Breast Cancer awareness)
Oct. 14 : Zumba Party In Pink. In collaboration with Her campus GSU and College Girls Rock( First Congregational Church. 105 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta Ga, 30303
Oct. 24: BeYou! Walk For The Cure, Making Strides For Breast cancer Walk (Centennial Olympic Park at a.m.)
Oct. 26: Be You! Food For The Cure (Urban Life, West Exhibit from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
If you are interested in joining Be You! you can email Sydney Combs at beyou.gsu@gmail.com.
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Mother Daughter Ties
Georgia State junior Emma Koenig’s mother, Danile Koenig, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. After a month of Chemotherapy and radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks she became breast cancer free. She then was diagnosed with kidney cancer that was removed and now goes yearly for mammograms.
Words of a Survivor:
- Q) What was it like when you found out that you had breast cancer (thoughts, feelings)?
- A) “Absolute fear!”
- Q) What kinds of fears did you have while going through everything?
- A) “I was terrified. I had children in elementary school, middle school
and high school. I was afraid I would be too ill to care for them. I was
also really afraid of chemo. I remember sitting down at the oncologist’s
office waiting for the first treatment being frozen with fear. Oddly
enough, I tolerated it very well. I was so lucky!”
- Q) What was the hardest part about going through everything other than the physical aspect?
- A) “The toll an extended illness takes is hard to quantify. It affects not only your health, but every other aspect of your life. You realize how much some people love you, some of whom you really didn’t know felt that way about you. Others, you become aware are not the friends you thought they would be. As well, you learn that some people are simply not able to stand by you because they already have too much on their own plate.”
- Q) What was it like finding out that you were cancer free?
- A) ” ‘Cancer Free’ are the two greatest words you can hear. Oddly enough, in a fairly short time I felt anxious. My oncologist explained that it’s not an uncommon feeling. After almost 10 months of taking action to actively fight for your life, inaction is difficult to manage.”
- Q) What would you say to people who are going through it now or know someone who is going through it?
- A) “Please become your own best advocate. Fight for what you need medically. I was dissuaded from getting a biopsy after a mammogram showed an irregularity. I insisted, and needed to be quite assertive. If the biopsy wasn’t performed my cancer would have advanced for at least 6 months before being detected.”
- Q) Is there anything else that you would like for people to know?
- A) “Please don’t ask ‘what can I do to help?’ Just do something, Send a card, flowers, bake a cake, buy a gift card, or simply give a hug. Most importantly, be there through what might be the most difficult time of a person’s life. Call and extend invitations with no expectations. Be happy if the person answers or attends, but don’t feel hurt if they can’t make Perhaps they simply aren’t up to it. I promise they will appreciate being treated just like everyone else!”
A Daughter’s Point Of View
- Q) What was it like when you found out? (thoughts, feelings?)
- A) “My mom did a very good job at keeping a positive attitude. She waited until she was very informed and comfortable with the news before exposing her kids to the news. I was pretty young so with my mom’s calm hopeful, can do attitude it was much less scary or intense as most times kids find out their parents had cancer.”
- Q) What were some of the fears that you had while she was going through chemo and remission?
- A) “I was very worried about my mom feeling more comfortable while she was balding and getting used to her wig. As a young child that was a big change that most kids my age noticed, therefore it was what I cared about most. I knew that she was uncomfortable with losing it so that was my main concern.”
- Q) What kinds of struggles did you face during the process?
- A) “The biggest struggle I went through was talking to my peers and explaining what was going on with my mom. Not very many kids my age understood.”
- Q) What would you say to someone who is or knows someone who is battling breast cancer?
- A) “A positive attitude and a good support system is the most important part of it. My mom had endless positive energy and support and it kept the entire experience a good one.”
- Q) Is there anything else that you would like people to know?
- A) “Cancer can be beat and it doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. Anyone can do it.”
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How to give a self-examination:
- Start your examination by looking in the mirror with your shoulders straight and hands on your hips. Look for any irregular size, shape or color. Also check for any swelling or distortion.
- Next raise your arms and look for the same things.
- Also check for any fluid leaking from the nipples.
- Next, while lying down, use small circular motions to check your breasts for any lumps. Use your right hand for your left breast and your left hand for your right breast. Once you have circled your entire breast moved up and down vertically in rows.
- Repeat the same movements while sitting or standing. Make sure that you check from your collarbone to your abdomen and along the ribcage.
October is the time to empower people to spread awareness about breast cancer. It is a chance to support the people that have been lost and the survivors that live. It is the time to be strong, be brave and be pink.
