The Women’s Center is publicizing widely for national breast cancer awareness month, according to Assistant Director of the Women’s Center Laci Weeden.

Weeden said the primary reason for this is because Jenny Chang, the most recent female student body president, died at 28 due to stage-four break cancer.

The month of October is national breast cancer awareness month. Both women and men, though predominantly women, are susceptible to the cancer which spreads in the flesh of chest tissue, Weeden said. According to the Susan G. Komen Web site, a breast cancer site, the disease is the number-five killer of women in the United States.

The primary method of curing breast cancer is chemotherapy, but early detection allows for treatments to remedy the condition over time preventing growth of cancerous cells, according to the Web site. When in remission there is still a chance to be diagnosed with reoccurring cases.

Early detection in the form of regular self examinations and regular breast examinations (once a month) performed individually or by doctors are reliable means of early detection, Weeden said. Locally, breast examinations can be performed at Wake Medical Hospital by professionals, according to officials from the Health Center.

“Everyone knows someone — we ourselves as the Wolfpack family know that coach Yow has been battling the disease and unfortunately our former Student Body President Jenny Chang passed away.”

Ellen Lentz, junior in biochemistry, said especially with coach Kay Yow battling the condition, breast cancer hits the Wolfpack family.

Matthew Steffen, sophomore in aerospace engineering and naval science, said he is glad early diagnosis and chemotherapy treatments still allow for people diagnosed with breast cancer to live out their lives.

“[Breast cancer] does affect me personally because my grandmother has just started having breast cancer treatments,” Steffen said. “She’s about 72 now; she started the treatments a little less than a year ago. She’s still able to function… but it has taken its toll on her.”

Lentz said because of breast cancer awareness month she is reminded to regularly check for signs of breast cancer and regularly donate to breast cancer research.

“[National breast cancer awareness month] definitely makes me open my eyes,” Lentz said. “I always have cancer in general in the back of my brain. It runs in my family, which is unfortunate. [National breast cancer awareness month] puts it in my face…it makes me realize what’s going on.”

Weeden said because people of all ages, sex and ethnicity are at risk for breast cancer it is critical for all people to be well aware of breast cancer.