Letter to the editor: Tanning is a choice

Monday, September 28, 2009

The University of Kansas has many students and faculty members who have been affected by breast cancer, whether it be a friend, family member or their own personal battle. As we approach October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) it is important to continue to raise awareness across campus.

In a recent editorial, Salon Hawk was ridiculed for doing just that. Owner Emily Willis is holding a fundraiser in which proceeds to go the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Breast Center. Salon Hawk was not ridiculed for simply holding this fundraiser, but for somehow contradicting it by providing tanning beds that could lead to skin cancer.

Lying in that tanning bed is a choice. Developing breast cancer is not. Furthermore, the University does not own Salon Hawk.

If the University is to be included in this ridicule, we should acknowledge the fact that smoking is allowed across campus, exposing thousands of students to cancer-causing chemicals without consent. Raising awareness of breast cancer and promoting early detection are two of the most crucial things we can do for prevention — there is no cure.

Among cancer related deaths, breast cancer is the number two leading cause in women. While I agree that every form of cancer is worthy of being brought to our attention, according to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Only 1 in 58 will be diagnosed with skin cancer.

Survival rates are on the rise, and it’s because of people such as Willis who hold fundraisers to help raise awareness of the cause. Early detection screenings helped my great-grandmother win her fight against breast cancer. Salon Hawk is doing a wonderful thing for our community. Not only will I be wearing my pink ribbon next month, I will also have a pink streak.

Amanda Easley is a sophomore from Junction City.

Comments

oswaldorf (anonymous) says...

I think your stats are misleading. Your "1 in 58" is based on ALL women. How about finding a stat about women who tan? How about finding a stat about women who tan under the age of 30? skincancer.org has some fact sheets you should check out.

September 28, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kupeach (anonymous) says...

Skin Cancer, Breast Cancer. Not the same thing. One can be caused from sun, tanning, other factors. The other is unpreventable. Let's just applaud Salon Hawk for doing a good thing and realize that they're not the ones giving people skin caner; the tanning bed is and it is a choice to lay in that tanning bed.

Good job, Amanda!

September 28, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LawrenceGrown (anonymous) says...

Seriously, oswaldorf, just don't get in a tanning bed. It's not like someone's holding a gun to your head and forcing you into that toaster.

September 29, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

oswaldorf (anonymous) says...

Oh I am by no means defending tanning. I think its awful. I'M SAYING use a real statistic that is relative to the situation and the irony at hand, not one that reduces the issue.

October 2, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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