“You have breast cancer.” A sentence no one is prepared to hear, but is more common than many people realize. Breast cancer, “occurs when cells in the breast divide and grow slowly. By the time a lump is large enough to feel, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years. Some tumors are aggressive and grow much faster,” Susan G. Koman website. According to the Susan G. Komen website, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime while for men the chances are reduced but still possible with 1 in every 833 men in the US being diagnosed in their lifetime. October has been known as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month for nearly four decades with billions being donated to those diagnosed, funding research and preventative measures, and more. One local clinic is trying to help those in our community who are currently in their fight against what the Mayo Clinic calls, “the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States.”
After giving away breast cancer awareness shirts at DeKalb Oktoberfest each year for the past four years, last year they decided to ask for donations for the shirts in efforts to join the DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department to help local women battling breast cancer. This year, the staff at DeKalb Physicians Clinic have decided to ask for a minimum $10 donation for each shirt. All donations given will be divided and given to two local women who have both been battling breast cancer.
When it came time for new shirts, the Clinic let the community vote on a design by creating a post on social media with three different designs to choose from. The design for adult sized shirts that was chosen by the majority was one that included the saying “Save 2nd Base,” joined with the breast cancer awareness ribbon and two baseball images. The design showcases the recognizable pink color with white accents on a black cotton t-shirt. They also have a youth sized shirt that is all pink and features a football with the saying “Tackle Breast Cancer.” Adult sizes include small through 3x while the youth sizes are xs though xl. All are available at Dekalb Physicians Clinic, 216 N Centre Street in DeKalb, Texas, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
