Think of the women you know: Their faces, their smiles, and their laughs. Now look at the statistics. 1 in 8 women in the US will develop breast cancer over their lifetime. In the year 2010, 209,060 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,230 lost their battle.

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the US and its effects reach campus.

“I was scared [when my mom had cancer] and she was in the hospital. And I was scared she was going to die,” freshman Alexis Breazeale said.

Personal encounters with the cancer have led some students to become a part of “Locks of Love!” This is an organization where people donate their hair to cancer patients who have lost hair in the process of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

“Alexia’s mom had cancer, and so did my cousin. They inspired me to do it,” freshman Kelly Kauf said.

Some students have had a long family history of breast cancer, or had family members who have had cancer.

“Every 3rd generation in my family gets breast cancer,” freshman Elle Traweek said. “I am the 3rd, and any of my siblings can inherit it.”

For more information visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org.