by: Asata Bamba

DSU’s very own MAASM (Making Academic Affairs of All Students Matter) organization hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness event on Thursday, October 15 from 11 AM to 1 PM in the MLK. The event served as an informational session on how this disease can and does affect not only women, but men as well.

MAASM has been up and running on campus for a year now; Keda Dorisca one of the members who hosted the event said, “MAASM is an intellectual organization where we really try to focus on what’s happening in the world, and how it’s affecting us as humans. But also as we leave college, how it’s gonna affect us out there, also. We just want to expand your knowledge.”

Because of ignorance about the disease, MAASM figured that Breast Cancer Awareness would be an excellent event to inform students and everyone on campus about the truth of breast cancer.

Keda Dorisca and Falesha Thompson expressed common misconceptions that people have like: breast cancer only strikes older people, men don’t have breasts, so they can’t get it, or if it runs in the family that increases the chances to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

MAASM member Keda Dorisca handing out Breast Cancer information and wrist bands to passersby. (Photo: Asata Bamba)

They constantly stressed that starting from the age of 15, it is extremely important for both women and men to check themselves monthly for any abnormal lumps or pain in the breasts.

Thompson shared, “The disease is 100 times more common in women than men, and I know men get it when they have oversized bosoms. Like if they’re overweight, they have a higher chance of getting lumps in that area.”

Dorisca added, “Men 60 to 70-years-old get breast cancer. Women at all ages, at all times in their lives can get breast cancer.”

Make sure to keep your eyes and ears open for MAASM’s next eye-opening event on Tuesday, October 22, 2015 at 6 PM where they will be discussing how to survive violent relationships for any sex or gender.