The Eureka Community is sadly been familiarized with the cancer that has killed around 294,000 so far this year. Breast cancer is a disease where cells grow uncontrollably in the breast tissue commonly forming a tumor. According to the American Cancer Society, the amount of breast cancer cases has risen 1% per year since 2012. However, the death rate has decreased 44% between the years of 1984 and 2022. 

“It is estimated that out of 100% of all breast cancers, about 8% are due to genetic mutations that are passed down from family members, about 2% is due to exposure to radiation as a child or adolescent or young adult, then about 25% of breast cancer is thought to be familial, and so that’s like three members on one side of the family or more, but we don’t know the link, the genetic testing is negative, or that is it something environmental, such as some sort of an exposure like, where they live, the water source, maybe air quality, that’s something. Finally, about 65% of breast cancer is thought to be environmentally induced, so something that the patient has come in contact with, so that can be alcohol, that’s a very big thing, because it has been typically a socially accepted drug, obesity, it can be like I said earlier, potential exposures from our water sources, air sources, potentially,” said Stacy Selbert

Selbert is a nurse practitioner for breast cancer at WashU and sees many patients with varying stages, ages, and lives. With multiple strands of breast cancer, every case is different and requires different treatment plans. 

“It’s individualized based on the type of breast cancer, your own body, your weight, that kind of thing, so depending on the dose of radiation that will affect things. It’s a lot of mental image, body image, inability to lose weight, maybe the thought of not being accepted by a partner because of body image changes,” said Selbert

The mental battle is what makes Breast Cancer and really any cancer such a hard battle. While the radiation leaves the skin feeling like a sunburn and causes fatigue, the thought of death that nearly every patient has can make it so much worse.

That’s why every year during the month of October, Eureka has a pink out football game in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Along with the pinkout game, many sports teams such as football, volleyball and dance wear pink for games in the month of October. 

“Wearing pink while I perform makes me feel like I’m doing my part in bringing awareness to the disease and makes me feel like I’m helping support the women suffering from it,” said Goldenline member Lily Paule, 10. 

During the game, there is a donation bucket passed around to help fund a member of the Eureka-Rockwood community’s cancer treatment. In many years past, the money has gone to Carolyn Baremore, a beloved science teacher at Eureka who battled with breast cancer for 15 years, but she sadly passed away over the summer. Thus, this year the proceeds went to Meagan Schreiter, a hairdresser working in downtown Eureka. Schreiter has three boys, all in Rockwood schools with her oldest son also being involved in Eureka junior wildcat football. 

Back in March she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Metastasis Invasive Ductal Coracana which is more commonly known as Stage 3C Breast Cancer. She got a double mastectomy and reconstruction in April and has continued to do treatments like

“Our health insurance has covered a majority of it, we have good health insurance but we dropped down to one income. Thankfully, we had some savings  like an emergency fund that we’ve that we’ve been able to use, and then we’ve also had help from family and friends and the community, like the cats for cause game,” said Schreiter

While cancer has caused so much unannounced change in her life Schreiter feels that she has had so much support from everyone around her.

A study showed that 55% of women reported high stress about losing their hair during chemo. Of course, as a hairdresser, Schreiter says that one of her most asked questions is if she misses her hair.

“I knew that even before I lost it, I kept saying, I don’t think the hair is gonna bother me. I guess but when it did, it didn’t bother me. But I will say the eyebrows really freaked me out, I did not want to lose my eyebrows, so I had them tattooed on; I had them micro bladed,” said Schreiter 

Schreiter’s oldest son McCoy was even the one who shaved her head for her and she described it as sort of a “funny moment” for them. 

Breast Cancer is never easy but that doesn’t mean it has to take over someone’s life and Schreiter is an example of that. She continues to be grateful for everything else in her life and finds so much good in her situation.

Nonetheless, as mentioned in the beginning, Breast Cancer patients rise by 1% every year and it is as important to support those with breast cancer as it is to take preventative measures in day to day life.

“Prevention is key, but also early detection. So following recommended guidelines like make sure you’re getting your mammograms and practicing breast self awareness,” said Selbert

The American Cancer Society is always accepting donations and by donating it helps fund cancer research for all types, including breast cancer. One of the best ways to fight cancer is by helping in how to defeat it whether it is by directly working on a cancer testing site or by helping fund one. Breast Cancer is slowly becoming someone that people are familiar with when they shouldn’t be. While Breast Cancer will always be in the world, it doesn’t have to affect so many.

“There’s a new perspective on life that cancer has given me. It’s changed my priorities and what really matters. It’s caused us to slow down and prioritize family, friends, health and time, and realize how valuable time is, and that, you’ll never get that back. So, yeah, no, I won’t be working the long hours that I worked, or, stressing about little things, it’s definitely changed our way we live. In the future, it’ll look different than it does now, but it will continue like, it’s always kind of going to be there,” said Schreiter