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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. Andrews chapter.

Hello October, and hello pink! October is getting a rosy makeover for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time marked by solidarity, awareness, and support for millions of women and men affected by breast cancer. Involvement by wearing pink, donating money, attending events, and checking your chest helps everyone and makes awareness and education more accessible. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with one in eight women being diagnosed in their lifetime (National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2024). Therefore, the importance of regularly checking for lumps and abnormalities saves lives!

There are four key principles to checking your breasts: firstly, check every month. It is important to notice changes early, and, by checking your chest often, you will become more confident and breast aware! Secondly, know what is normal for you. Everyone’s body is unique, including our chests. Getting to know your breasts and what they feel like is vital for early detection. Remember, if you get periods, your breast tissue may feel different around this time; get to know these cyclical changes and take pride in understanding your body! Thirdly, look and feel. Many of the effects of breast cancer are things you would only notice by seeing your chest. Thus, remember to look (and feel) all the way up to your collarbone and under your armpits every time. Lastly, if in doubt, get checked out!  If you notice something that does not go away within a week, see your GP who will refer you to a specialist if something is wrong. These steps save lives and are invaluable to early detection!

You can easily make chest-checking a monthly routine by remembering to “Feel on the First” (check your chest on the first of every month). You can also opt in on  monthly reminders by texting ‘CHECK’ to Coppafeel at 82228.

Setting up a routine will not only keep you in good habits but empower you to take control of your health through regular awareness of your breasts. Taking ownership of checking your breasts is powerful, and knowing what you’re looking for is essential to truly understanding your body.  Remember, you know your body better than anyone, so if something does not look or feel right, trust your instincts!

Core symptoms of Breast Cancer include: lumps in the breast tissue, change in size and/or shape of your breasts, discharge from the nipples, lumps or swelling under the armpits, skin dimpling, and rashes. If caught early, the survival rate of Breast cancer is 99%; so cop a feel, it can save your life! 

In honour of Breast Cancer awareness month, as well as donning pink, Hope Simpson and Tilly Hamer (two fourth year students) are hosting an art exhibition to aid Coppafeel – a charity founded by a Breast Cancer survivor and her sister, aimed to stress the importance of early detection and self-checking. 

Centred around the theme ‘Feel,’ Hope and Tilly’s aim is to raise money for Coppafeel and spread key educational messages to the St. Andrews Community. Their exhibition will involve an auction, an art exhibition showcasing paintings and drawings by local artists, and live music.

Please head along to their fantastic exhibition in Parliament Hall on the 8th of October between 17:30 and 20:30, to support and spread the word of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Your participation cannot be stressed enough as fundraising events like these have altogether funded ground-breaking research increasing life expectancy rates and improving treatments for those diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Ultimately, Hope and Tilly’s event reminds us awareness can be fun, creative, and impactful. The possibilities of fundraising and awareness are limitless. Art, like awareness, challenges us to feel, see, and think differently. Thus, art becomes the perfect means to encourage conversation regarding Breast Cancer Awareness and early detection! 

This October, let us purposely wear pink with pride to fight Breast Cancer and raise awareness in style. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to educate ourselves, celebrate survivors, and remember the strength of those who are sadly no longer with us. Solidarity is vital. Beyond pink fashion statements, you can volunteer for local Breast Cancer charities, participate infundraisers, and even share educational posts or messages on social media. For more information on Breast Cancer fundraising and detection visit Breast Cancer Now, Breast Cancer UK, and CoppaFeel. 

Together we will make a difference.