October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and many students and organizations are opening up to the cause.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer effecting women in the United States.

The women of Zeta Tau Alpha and the Collegiate Women of VSU are doing their part in making sure that VSU is aware of the effects of breast cancer. And how early detection is key in breast cancer awareness.

“We want to stress to the campus that it’s never too early to start examinations and that breast cancer can affect anyone,” Sloane White, member of ZTA, said.

ZTA has hosted a number of activities to show support and make students more aware of breast cancer and its hazards.

On Sept. 29, the sorority hosted their annual Pink Out Game, held during the Blazer football game.

Oct. 2, ZTA also hosted Big Man on Campus, a male beauty pageant.

The men compete to look their best in hopes to winning the title Big Man on Campus.

“It is probably our most entertaining event because the boys competing put on such a good show,” White said. “Our chairs for the event have worked really hard this year to make it bigger and to raise more money for the fight against breast cancer.”

The American Cancer Society said for 2012, there are 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer is the U.S. alone.

Breast cancer not only affects one in every eight women in the U.S. every year, but one in every 1,000 men.

“For me personally that is why I joined Zeta Tau Alpha,” White said. “My senior year of high school my aunt was diagnosed and it really affected our family. When I came to college and saw that ZTA helped women like her—and that by me joining, I would also be helping—I knew it was my home. I know a lot of our sisters feel the same way.”

Hannah Smith, a freshman undecided major, would like to see more informational pamphlets being passed around to show the severity of the issue.

Smith has had multiple members of her family struggle with breast cancer.

The Collegiate Women of VSU have also joined the fight against breast cancer by providing information for students.

“We had a breast cancer informational table on Oct. 2 to raise awareness of breast cancer in men and women and to provide the public with information about the Susan G. Komen foundation,” Arianna Deans, public relations chair of CWVSU, said. “We also sold many items to help fundraise for the cause and donated our proceeds to Susan G. Komen.”

Philanthropy tables set up by ZTA will be out during the month of October.

These tables will include information about breast cancer as well as a distribution of pink ribbons. Although the ribbons are handed out, White said that the ribbons are not everything the sorority is about.

“We take these opportunities to stress that it isn’t just about wearing a pink ribbon,” White said.

ZTA and CWVSU want the community to take the information provided for them and help them spread awareness of the severity of breast cancer.

“I hope the campus takes the information we hand out throughout October and run with it,” Dean said. “We want women and men to do self-examinations and get checked-out annually, because it could mean all the difference in the world if the cancer is caught early.”

The American Cancer Society summarizes that breast cancer has no cure as of now, but taking part in regular physical exercise, eating healthy and limiting alcohol intake can help serve as a preventative—all of which help people keep extra weight off and keep their hearts strong.

A forum will be held Oct. 9 with CWVSU and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. to spread awareness of breast cancer.