The TXWES community encourages awareness for breast cancer during the month of October. 

This month, students can learn about early screenings, cancer prevention and general awareness. They can also participate in fundraising. 

“My grandma had [breast cancer] and I didn’t really know her,” Katelyn Phillips, first-year psychology student, said, “but I heard that she was like a really great person.” 

Phillips said she did not get to know her dad’s late mother since she died of breast cancer when Phillips was young. 

Ella Brown works in the Martin Center gift shop. Two of her aunts and a few of her cousins had breast cancer, which makes her passionate about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

“[Her aunt] had her breast removed, and it still spread to her brain,” Brown said. “So, I don’t know what we’re going to do but [there] needs to be more research.” 

Oct. 13 is known as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day and Oct. 17-23 is recognized nationally as Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. 

TXWES Spirit Week organizers are asking that students wear pink on Monday, Oct. 16 to raise awareness about breast cancer. 

Ancilla Wasonga, senior psychology major said, “my friend, her mother, she suffered from breast cancer, and then she was free after surgery.” 

She was not aware that it was breast cancer awareness month, but she plans to participate after learning about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.