By Prince Omoruyi

The Poke Press

Breast cancer may feel like a distant concern when you are busy with classes, assignments and work. But knowing what changes to look for and when to ask for help matters, even during the college years.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For McNeese students, it is an opportunity to learn about breast health and consider how to support a friend or family member affected by the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most breast cancers are found in women ages 50 and older, but younger women can also develop breast cancer. Men can get breast cancer as well, though it is uncommon.

Knowing what is normal for your body is a place to start. A new lump in the breast or underarm, a change in breast shape, skin dimpling or unusual nipple discharge should be checked by a health care professional.

The National Cancer Institute notes that most breast changes are not cancer. Still, an unfamiliar change deserves attention instead of being ignored or explained away. Early breast cancer can also develop without noticeable symptoms.

Students may hear about mammograms and wonder whether they need one. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every other year for women ages 40 through 74 at average risk. Those recommendations apply to people without symptoms. Someone younger who notices a concerning change should seek care rather than wait until 40.

Family history is worth discussing, too. Certain inherited genetic changes can increase breast cancer risk. A health care professional can help explain what that family history may mean for a person’s risk and whether additional screening or genetic counseling should be considered

Checking in, bringing a meal or helping with an everyday task can show care without expecting someone to talk about their diagnosis. Sometimes, being available to listen is enough.

For students unsure where to begin, awareness can start with one question at a medical appointment or a conversation about family health history. Those conversations matter long after October ends.