Breast Cancer Awareness Month means more to me than simply wearing pink. It reminds me of someone who had a huge impact on the person and artist I became.

In high school, I was that student you could almost always find in the art classroom. Art was where I felt most comfortable, and before long, I developed a close friendship with my art teacher, Ms. Abrams, also known as Anne. She became so much more than a teacher to me. She was a mentor, a friend, and someone who encouraged my creativity and helped me believe in myself. Her influence stayed with me long after I left her classroom.

Sadly, she battled breast cancer twice, and the second time, she lost her life to the disease. She left behind two children, a husband, friends, students, and so many people whose lives she had touched. I will always be grateful that I was one of them.

That is why breast cancer awareness is personal to me. It is also why I believe conversations about early detection matter. Breast cancer can affect anyone, and knowing what is normal for your body can help you recognize when something has changed. Warning signs can include a new lump or mass, swelling, changes in the skin such as dimpling or redness, changes to the nipple, unusual nipple discharge, or a new change in the breast that simply doesn't feel normal. Any new or unusual change should be checked by a healthcare professional.

In the United States, about 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. In 2026 alone, an estimated 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and approximately 42,140 women are expected to lose their lives to the disease. When breast cancer is found while it is still localized, the five-year relative survival rate is about 99%, showing just how important screening and early detection can be.

So this October, I want to do more than just wear pink. I want to help start conversations. Know your body. Pay attention to changes. Talk with your healthcare provider about when screening is right for you. And most importantly, don't ignore something because you think it's probably nothing.

For me, spreading awareness is also a way of remembering an incredible teacher, mentor, and friend whose impact on my life will never be forgotten.