The volleyball team held its third annual “Think Pink” night Wednesday, Sept. 12.  Spectators were asked to wear pink to help show support to those who are fighting breast cancer, celebrate the survivors, and honor those who have passed from this disease.  As the ceremony took place fans from the bleachers were asked to come forward if cancer had affected their family, and five citizens from the community stepped out from the crowd. 
    “This night was very special to me because my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer,” freshman Emma Jones said. “When I went to get her out of the stands I was crying with so much emotion because cancer hits so close to home.  Every family has some one in it that has been affected by cancer and it is a life changing situation.”
    Statistics show that one in every eight women will develop breast cancer.  In 2011 there were an estimated 230,480 new invasive cases diagnosed along with 57,650 non-invasive cases.  Even though people think of women when they hear breast cancer, many do not realize that men can also be affected.  Over 2,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed just in men in 2011 and the likelihood of a man getting the disease is 1 in 1,000 (American Cancer Society).
    In 2011 there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors alone in the United States.  Most survivors had their cancer treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or bone-directed therapy. The goal of each treatment is to shrink the tumor before surgery in hope that it will be a less extensive surgery (American Cancer Society).
    “I have had to completely trust in God for my health and healing,” breast cancer survivor Susie Colley said. “I have grown so much more grateful for my family.  It changes your life, that’s for sure, causing me to not take my life or health for granted.”
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women but it isn’t the only cancer out there.  Relay for Life helps provide money to many different cancer organizations and provides awareness not just for breast cancer but childhood cancer, Leukemia, and colon cancer.  Montevallo participates in Relay for Life every year.  This year they hope to help raise money by holding a decathlon.