Members of the Missouri Southern student senate hosted an event on Tuesday 30 September, to honor breast cancer survivors and for breast cancer awareness month which is the entire month of October.
Along with members of the student senate speakers, Michelle Wood and Mary Van Galen shared their stories about their own experiences with breast cancer.
“Breast cancer research has been underfunded and under studied,” Dr. Lisa Toms, MSSU Provost, said.
Wood, the MSSU Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Director of the Missouri Southern Foundation, shared her own story at the event. Wood, a breast cancer survivor, spoke about how 1 in 8 women is diagnosed with breast cancer. She also detailed her struggles with life during and after her diagnosis.
Van Galen, wife of MSSU President Dr. Dean Van Galen, is also a breast cancer survivor and board member of Hope 4 You. She shared her story with breast cancer and how she is still working on being able to share her story with others.
According to the Mayo Clinic, after skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. But breast cancer doesn’t just happen in women. Everyone is born with some breast tissue, so anyone can get breast cancer. Many men and women have been affected by breast cancer in some way in their lives.
Both Wood and Van Galen are members of the Hope 4 You breast cancer foundation. The foundation, which is composed of twelve members, strives to help those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the local four state area who may have little or no access to resources. Hope 4 You hosts over thirty events throughout the year to raise awareness for those in the local community who have been affected by breast cancer. You can find more information on their organization online at hope4youbcf.org.
