Students UKnight in pink for game

Pink is the new black and gold in the UCF community this month.

With the help of the UCF Athletics Association and its UKNIGHT in PINK campaign, UCF and its students found new, unique ways to UKNIGHT together for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and support an end to breast cancer.

The Central Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure partnered with UCF Athletics to create the first-ever UKNIGHT in PINK campaign in celebration of its 15th Annual Race for the Cure, which takes place on Oct. 16 at UCF.

The campaign united the university with the Central Florida community in support of Susan G. Komen's mission – to save lives and end breast cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the U.S. during 2011; about 2,140 new cases are expected in men. Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women.

An estimated 39,970 breast cancer deaths (39,520 women, 450 men) are expected in 2011. Breast cancer ranks second as a cause of cancer death in women.

Purchasers of a UKNIGHT in PINK Race Package received a football game ticket, a commemorative Pink Patch, access to UCF and Komen's Pink Patch Tailgate Party and discounts to local restaurants and retailers. The package also included a Race for the Cure entry and a race T-shirt and bib.

More than 400 UKNIGHT in PINK packages were sold and more than 500 additional discounted football tickets were bought through Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Three dollars from every package purchased went directly to the Central Florida affiliate of the foundation.

Stefanie Steele, mission manager for Susan G. Komen of Central Florida, said that to see the local football stadium "pink out" is an accomplishment in and of itself.

"Pink has become the national symbol of breast cancer awareness," Steele said. "The fact that we can bring this symbol to the local community and university shows that we are able to help our cause and spread awareness."

Steele said the overall goal of the UKNIGHT in PINK campaign was to target a younger population and educate men and women.

"This helped us to bring awareness so that when it comes time to do things with breast health, the younger population will already be ready," Steele said. "We want to put this generation in a better position for future health."

The UCF Alumni Association and Florida Hospital also teamed up to offer mobile digital mammography screenings on campus. The screenings, which are offered on Oct. 10 and 11 at the UCF Fairwinds Alumni Center, are they key to early detection of breast cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, on average, mammography will detect about 80-90 percent of breast cancers in women without symptoms.

Angie Shaw, associate director of outreach and engagement for the UCF Alumni Association, said this is the first event of its kind for the UCF Alumni Association.

"Since this is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, it is important to support our community with events that promote awareness," Shaw said. "This provides a benefit to the campus community, students and alumni and promotes an overall longevity."

Shaw said the mobile screenings are conducted with digital technology. This advanced technology improves the accuracy of images and leads to a higher detection rate, which in turn leads to a higher rate of success. The machine can scan between 30 and 50 women a day and only takes about five to 10 minutes to complete.

Women imaging specialists and radiologists from Florida Hospital will read the images on site, and an extensive report will be mailed to the participant within three days after the screening.

Monica Lowry, community outreach coordinator for mammography at Florida Hospital, said that mammograms are the easiest and most effective test to detect breast cancer early.

"All women have some kind of lumps or bumps, but it is important for you to know what is normal for you and what isn't," Lowry said. "Attention to your own breast health is the key to catching problems early."

Lowry said that there has been an increase in younger men and women coming into their facilities with issues.

"This stresses the importance of why you really have to pay attention to your body," Lowry said. "The earlier we can detect cancer the more effectively we can treat you and the better the outcome."