Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections How to Balance School and Mental Health Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 6 Issue 3 Image Provided by EdNC.org As a VSN senior, I have had six years of experience navigating middle school and high school. Academics, extracurriculars, social circles, relationships -- I have seen everything. With so much compounded together, so much to experience in just 6 hours and 53 minutes, it is hard to keep track of everything. It is easy to let your mental health slip through the cracks. What is not easy is maintaining a healthy school-home balance, especially when you are at school more than you are at home. As someone who has struggled to maintain her mental health and is just now understanding what is healthy and what is not, here are some tips to survive high school and maintain your mental health. Do not Procrastinate.                                         In giving this advice, I am hypocritical. Hence, why I am passing it on now. Procrastination is one of the main reasons why school can seem more difficult than it is, mentally and otherwise. The stress of knowing you have work to be done but feeling too exhausted to work creates a cycle of procrastinating on an assignment, finishing at the last minute (if at all), then procrastinating even more. Give yourself some extrinsic motivation to get your work done, like ‘If I do my project now, I can buy myself that new game after’ or ‘Once I finish, I can play with my friends for a bit.’ Rewarding yourself after you finish rather than before pushes you to start. This requires discipline, but as you continue to develop this skill, it becomes much easier. Prepare From picking out your clothes the night before a new week to making flashcards to study for a test, even a little preparation before school makes the day feel much smoother. Tackling your workload piece by piece lessens the amount of schoolwork left at the end of the day, with minimal interference with any extracurriculars. Join an Extracurricular Although adding to your schedule might seem counterproductive to reducing stress, joining an extracurricular activity gives you something to look forward to outside of your scholarly schedule. Whether it be a club that meets once a month or a sport requiring everyday practice, extracurricular activities serve as a great way of improving your life. Developing a social circle with others who share your interests can boost your comfort level in and out of school. Do Your Research Early (Junior Year Specific) The first semester of Senior Year is the most stressful part of your high school career. You have about 3 months from when your senior starts to apply to your colleges of choice, and many colleges have supplemental essays – additional essays written to showcase further interest in a certain college or to emphasize parts of your application outside your personal statement- that are about the same length as your college essay. These supplemental essays become much easier to write when you have in-depth reasons for attending a specific college. Researching colleges by location, major/aspirations, extracurricular options, and class size adds specificity to your college applications, making you stand out from other generic applicants and putting you ahead of your peers. 5. Take Breaks The most important aspect of caring for your mental health while excelling in school is knowing when to rest. Working continuously, without breaks, can lead to “burnout.” Burnout is characterized by extreme exhaustion and a distinct lack of motivation. To stop burnout before it starts, take breaks away from your work. Taking a 30-minute walk outside or setting aside a day to hang out with your friends are great ways to step away from your schoolwork. Your mental health should take precedence over schoolwork, especially if it is declining because of school. If you are ever struggling to balance your school life and mental health and feel overwhelmed, North has amazing guidance counselors who are eager to talk through your feelings with you and help. School can be stressful, but inserting some of these tips into your daily routine can help relieve stress and make school seem much less daunting. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Life is a contest By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images Life is a contest that never ends, of course And with every loss you wonder how’ll you’ll win The overseers with their expectations High to a lifetime But what you give is so short Here with all your nuisances that cling You see your scrapes You see your dumps You see your cracks Compared to people who seem a thousand feet tall And you keep on losing Keep on losing Until you seem a thousand times small Life is a contest that never ends, of course Giving out mirrors you’ll always stare at until you’re gone Mirrors that’ll give you struggle Then strike Until the rules of the contest Move on. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections An Athletic Humanoid Robot Named “Atlas” By Carolina Grace Figueroa Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by I will Always Write Back Boston Dynamics, a robotics company in Massachusetts, developed a bipedal humanoid robot, meaning with two legs, named Atlas. Atlas is 5 feet tall, weighs 190 pounds, is very athletic, demonstrates human agility, and was unveiled to the public in July 2013. Since its reveal, Atlas has learned to run, walk, leap, jump over logs, and even haul 25 pounds. Atlas uses sensors to balance on one leg, can navigate rough and uneven terrain including grass and snow, can climb independently using its arms and legs, and can turn 180 degrees while jumping. In September 2019, Atlas demonstrated the ability to perform a fluid floor routine in gymnastics, including handstands, cartwheels, tumbles, and somersaults. In December 2020, Atlas exhibited agility and balance while performing a dance routine to the song “Do You Love Me” and showed it can even do “The Twist” dance move. And most recently, in August 2021, engineers have taught Atlas to do parkour, which is the art of moving from one place to another using obstacles. Atlas was taught to do many parkour tricks including backflips, jumps on slanted platforms, and routines on balance beams and vaults. You can catch sight of Atlas in action by watching videos of the robot’s routines on YouTube. Atlas is a research platform for whole-body robotic mobility. Its advanced control system and state-of-the-art hardware make Atlas the world’s most dynamic humanoid athlete robot. Lead engineer at Boston Dynamic Scott Kuindersma and his engineering team taught Atlas how to pick itself up from a fall and how to dance to a pop song. However, Kuindersma believes that Atlas is still at a disadvantage compared to a human, claiming “if you or I were to vault over a barrier, we would take advantage of certain properties of our bodies that would not translate to the robot. For example, the robot has no spine or shoulder blades, so it doesn’t have the same range of motion that you or I do.” Amazingly, this team has created robots with human-like 3D printed body parts whose movements mimic humans with a high degree of accuracy, grace, and agility. To teach Atlas its new tricks, a set of rules, called an algorithm, was created by the team for the robot’s onboard computers to follow. The algorithms reason through complex dynamic interactions involving the whole body and environment to plan movements. The team then watched how the robot performed and tweaked the algorithm as a result. There were many failed attempts before Atlas successfully completed the parkour course for the first time. According to Wikipedia, Atlas is “custom battery-powered and hydraulically activated with 20 degrees of freedom. It has RGB cameras and depth sensors [that] provide input to its control system. All the computation required for control perception and estimation [happens] in three onboard computers.” Atlas has an advanced control system that enables highly diverse and agile locomotion; however, the team has not yet found a suitable power source to fuel this robot. In the future, robots like Atlas could one day be used for search-and-rescue missions in places where parkour moves are useful for navigating obstacles. These robots will be intended to aid emergency services in search-and-rescue operations, performing tasks such as opening doors, shutting off valves, and operating powered equipment where humans could not survive. Atlas robots are evolving every year. It is fascinating, yet frightening, to know that robots can now dance like humans, climb into and drive a utility vehicle, connect a hose to a pipe, open a door, and climb a ladder. Who knows what Atlas robots will be able to do in 2030, but I am excited to see! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Nayab Raja - Prism By Nayab Raja November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections College Finances: Money Talks Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 Image Provided by Noa Cordova Post-application process, college expenses factor into picking a college after you receive all your acceptances and schools send out their decisions with merit scholarship offers. If you’ve started looking at numbers, you’d agree college costs an arm and a leg, or two. Fortunately, colleges offer financial aid to help alleviate the financial burden on families with college students; however, financial aid differs from student to student depending on their financial situation and the college they plan on attending. Most colleges offer students four types of financial aid: grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Grants typically fall under “need-based” aid, which colleges offer students based on the information provided on the FAFSA and CSS profiles, which provide colleges with an overview of a family’s economic situation. (Not all schools require a CSS, but in order to take advantage of any financial aid, students and families must fill out and submit a FAFSA form). Scholarships usually count as merit-based aid and colleges award students money based on achievements. Some colleges automatically consider you for merit-based aid with your application and some may require you to apply for them separately with an additional essay by an earlier deadline for consideration. Schools may offer students a work-study opportunity where they can work on campus to cover college expenses. If you do not qualify for financial aid or the aid does not suffice to cover all costs, you can take out a federal loan. Students can generally borrow a maximum of $5500 a year under a subsidized loan, where the government covers the interest while students attend school (U.S. Department of Education). Ideally, families should avoid Parent Plus loans. Although you can borrow more money under a Parent Plus loan, it leaves parents locked into those amounts and interest rates. (Parent Plus loans cannot be paid off using any other loan source or combination like refinancing). The loan accumulates extremely high interest, leaving families with a heavy charge after four years of undergraduate schooling. Naturally, you can opt for non-federal loans from private organizations or banks. Considering the type of schools you’ve applied to, you could gauge the type and amount of aid they could offer. For example, private schools give aid more generously than public schools due to their smaller size and greater funding. If you’re applying to an in-state school, colleges charge a lower tuition than if you’re applying out of state. You can find college expenses on the school website; they outline tuition, room and board, fees, and the difference between in-state and out-of-state expenses. With your acceptance, colleges send out a financial aid offer detailing any need-based or merit-based aid they will award you. Some colleges may include it within the acceptance letter and others might send you an offer separately, so stay attentive to your email inbox. After receiving all your financial aid offers, you can begin weighing your options to make the wisest choice financially. You can appeal a financial aid offer from a school you’re set on attending. You could appeal based on financial need or merit to negotiate for extra money per academic year. Some students ask colleges if they can match another university’s financial aid offers; however, you should evaluate the colleges’ comparability. For example, consider their sizes, whether they are public or private, and their states. Viable options include emailing, calling, or visiting the college’s financial aid office to get yourself in contact with a financial aid officer. Outside of the financial aid office, you can apply for external scholarships to try and earn financial aid independently. You can find countless websites with scholarship information for upcoming college freshmen. Of course, look for reputable sources like websites ending in .org or .edu and avoid “no essay” scholarships as they tend to scam applicants. Mrs. Mansfield, one of our senior high English teachers, recommends checking other local schools’ guidance websites for scholarship information for her senior students. Look for local scholarships as well. While they might award less money, you may be more likely to win them in a smaller applicant pool and several small scholarships add up! Take advantage of your resources to give yourself a financial boost as a prospective college freshman. Sources: Counseling / Financial Aid Federal Student Aid BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Holiday Sweets By Christina Ossa Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Original photography by Christina Ossa As we continue settling into the New Year, it’s always a good idea to reflect on what made our year and the passing holiday season special. Holiday desserts are a pinnacle of Christmas for me since I bake many different desserts during every winter break for my family to enjoy. Even during a more underwhelming Christmas season (in my opinion at least), I looked forward to baking different varieties of holiday-themed cookies as well as pies and other desserts. Here, I’ll share a couple of my favorite recipes you can enjoy either in passing for the rest of this cold winter season. While these recipes are perfect for the holidays, you could also cook them on a rather cold winter day, or at your leisure when you’re in the mood for something sweet! Linzer Cookies: This recipe is one of, if not my favorite cookie recipes since you’d never be able to imagine the perfect combination sweet raspberry jam creates when spread atop a buttery Linzer cookie, sandwiched perfectly between another Linzer cookie. Also referred to as a Linzer Tart, this cookie is made with two components: 2 powdered sugar-coated cookies to be sandwiched atop of each other, holding a homemade raspberry jam in the middle. The cookie itself is almost like a sandwich, its size perfect for one-serving but that slight acidity from the lemons to the raspberry jam offsets the more sweet and rich flavor the cookie itself holds. This variation of Linzer tarts contains poppy seeds which set it apart from many other Linzer cookie recipes, which I find is a beautiful touch to the cookie. When you first bite into it, the cookie is buttery and soft, almost melting in your mouth, and the addition of poppy seeds gives the cookie an extra crunch that isn’t particularly necessary but adds to the overall flavor profile of the cookie. The dough lasts up to 2 weeks when kept in the refrigerator, and can even last 1-2 months if you choose to freeze it, making it a perfect cookie to make in passing for whenever you have a craving for something sweet. Linzer cookies are a perfect, less-complicated treat to enjoy and share with your family during the holidays, and you could even make for your friends to give them a small gift to show your appreciation for them if you can’t think of any gifts to give to them. Ingredients: Raspberry Jam : -2 cups (or 1 large package/2 small packages) raspberries -½ cup sugar -1 tsp lemon juice -3 tsp lemon zest Cookie Dough : -1 cup flour (possibly more needed for kneading) -1 cup almond flour -½ cup + 2 tbsp (1 stick and ¼ stick) butter -½ cup sugar -Pinch of salt -1 egg -½ tsp lemon zest -1 tsp vanilla extract -4 tsp poppy seeds Directions: Raspberry Jam : -Take the raspberries and wash in a colander (wash your fruit before baking anytime attempting a recipe!) -Grab a medium-sized saucepan and add the raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest to the pot -Simmer the jam for about 30-45 minutes on medium-low, stirring very occasionally and tilting the top of the pan to ensure heat releases from it (the jam will overflow if the pot is completely covered) -When the jam is finished (it should be a blood-red type color that sticks to a spoon and is slightly syrupy), transfer it to a glass container and have it chill for 5-10 hours Cookies : -Pre-heat your oven to 350°F -Once the jam is done, grab a small to medium bowl and whisk; add the almond and AP (all-purpose) flour to the sift atop the bowl and carefully sift in the flours; once combined and finely sifted, set aside -In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar and begin to whisk them together until they’re completely combined -Once combined add the salt and egg, thoroughly whisking the mixture until combined again -Add the lemon zest by zesting a lemon with a lemon zester over the mixture, and after add the vanilla extract -After the wet ingredients are combined, add the flours to the mixture and fold them in with a spatula; after the flour comes together with the wet ingredients, mix the poppy seeds in with a spatula -Once the dough is completely combined, scrap the dough (which should be slightly thick but also a bit runny) onto enough plastic wrap to cover the dough; after you’ve gathered the dough into the plastic wrap, place it in the fridge to cool for 1-4 hours, overnight, or place it to freeze (if you’d like to preserve the dough for a later time) in your freezer -Once the dough is chilled, unwrap it and spread flour across a countertop or flat surface large enough to roll out the dough; begin to roll out the dough with a rolling pin to ¼ of an inch thickness -After the dough is rolled out, take a cookie cutter and begin forming cookie shapes, placing them aside from the dough as you go (take them out from the dough so nothing smushes together, I recommend forming them at the ends of the dough and work toward the middle/top) -Once you’ve formed your cookies, grease at least two baking sheets and place parchment paper atop them; after placing the parchment, put your cookies on top and spread them out equally so they have enough space to bake without one cookie baking into the other -Next, if you want the classic Linzer tart look with a hole in the middle of the top cookie, make a small hole with a smaller cookie cutter (I use the hole end of a large icing tip) in the middle of half the number of cookies you’ve formed -Once completely formed and cut to desired shape, chill the cookies in the freezer for at least 10-15 minutes; after chilling, place the baking sheets in the oven and bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes (you’ll know they’re done once the cookies begin to brown on their surface); store the cookies away if the jam is still not finished chilling -After your jam is done chilling and your cookies are cooled, place a generous teaspoon (use a small spoon) of jam onto non-hole-cookies (the ones that don’t have the holes in the middle) and top them with the holed-cookies -Once you’ve finished spooning the jam and constructing the cookies, set a display (optional) and enjoy! Blueberry Pie: Pie is another holiday classic dessert, as many families across the world enjoy many different varieties and flavors of pie. Each year, I make this recipe for my family and myself, and each year it’s always gone in only a matter of days - even hours if my extended family is over. This pie highlights the tartness of blueberries yet that same tartness is offset by the sweetness that’s brought out of the blueberries once the pie is left to cool. This pie contains a beautifully rich and sweet blueberry filling, mixing components like acidity from lemons and accentuating the sweetness that’s hidden in blueberries with sugar and spices. It also has a buttery crust that melts in the mouth, the same crust from one of my other pie recipes ( Fresh Pumpkin Pie vs. Canned Pumpkin Pie: Is it Worth the Time? ) which only adds to and supports the sweet and sour blueberry pie filling. It’s almost like combining a sugar cookie base with blueberry jam, and in theory that sounds very sweet, but when the acidity and spice level is controlled it amounts to a perfect combination of both sugar and tart flavors that mesh beautifully on the tongue. This pie recipe is a dish any family member would be ecstatic to try when it’s placed out on the dinner table or with the other desserts many others brought. The crust is beautifully browned, and the blueberry filling is perfectly set once the pie cools, creating an elegant display of blueberry pie. So, if you enjoy pie and sweets that are not too sweet and just a little tart, then you and your family or even friends will surely enjoy this recipe. Ingredients: Filling : -¾ cup sugar -¼ cup cornstarch -1 tsp vanilla extract - ½ tsp cinnamon -¼ tsp allspice -2 pinches of salt -Zest of 1 Lemon -Half a lemon, juiced -2 lbs blueberries -1 egg whisked (for brushing) -2 tbsp butter -Cane sugar (dusting) Pie Crust : -2 cups all-purpose flour (more needed for kneading) -2 tbsp granulated sugar -Pinch (about ½ tsp) kosher/fine salt -1 ½ egg yolks -4 tbsp ice water Directions: Crust : -First add the dry ingredients, whisking the flour, sugar, and salt together -Make sure your butter is COLD or frozen and chop it into cubes -Combine the butter with your dry mixture and rub the butter into your flour mixture with your fingertips (the coldest part of your hand) -Once combined, pour about a tablespoon at a time into your dough and combine it with a fork until it forms clumps in your hand when you squeeze a piece of the dough -Turn this mixture into a ball and put saran wrap over it and let it chill for 2-3 hours (or until hardened) -Once hardened, flour a counter/surface and a rolling pin, cut the dough in half (you’ll need half the dough for the base and half for the top), and roll out your dough to ¼ in thick -Lightly fold your dough over 4 times and place the tip, lined in the middle of your pie pan -Unfold the dough and make sure it’s lined up with the pie pan correctly -Optional: once lined up, make a design of your choice for the edges of the pie shell -Once done, put in the fridge to chill until your filling is ready OR -Use a pre-bought pie shell (you’ll need the one you roll out though, I recommend Pillsbury pie crusts) Filling : -Grab the blueberries and wash in a colander (wash your fruit before baking/cooking anytime attempting a recipe!); once washed, add the blueberries to a large bowl -To the bowl, add the sugar, cornstarch, salt, spices, and vanilla extract -Zest and juice the lemon as necessary, combine all ingredients with a rubber spatula -Grab your chilled, lined dough add the blueberries inside -Preheat oven to 350°F Preparation of the Pie : -Once the filling is evenly spread across the pie, roll out the other half of the dough and begin slicing into even, long, horizontal, medium-sized slices -Take each slice and carefully lay it onto the top of the pie, place the horizontal (or vertical) ones first if you’d like to crochet the top of the pie -(Option 1: Crocheted): Once the vertical/horizontal pieces are placed, one by one place the opposing pieces along the top of the pie -Act as if you are braiding the pie, crocheting the strip over one part of the opposing slice then putting it under the next one; continue this process for each slice, if you need further clarification look up Pie Braiding/Latticing on YouTube (it’s hard to explain the technique when you see it it’s easier to figure it out) -(Option 2: Non-Crocheted): Once the vertical/horizontal pieces are placed, drape the opposing pieces atop the vertical/horizontal pieces, making sure they are evenly spaced -Once you have the top of your pie situated and covered, place the pie pan atop a baking sheet to prevent overflow staining your oven -After placing the pie on a baking sheet, whisk 1-2 eggs, grab a pastry brush or spoon, and spread with your hands the egg wash onto the edges and top of the pie shell; sprinkle cane sugar (optional but tastes very good and adds to the flavor of the crust) atop the pie shell -Put the pie in the oven for 20-25 minutes until you notice the edges of the pie beginning to brown, take it out and place onto the stove; take either silicone pie crust shields or aluminum foil and wrap it around the edges of the pie (carefully, though, you don’t want to burn yourself!) -Once the shields/aluminum foil is wrapped around the edges, egg wash the top of the pie again and add another light dusting of cane sugar (the cane sugar part is optional) -Place the pie back in the oven for another 25-30 minutes, or until you notice the pie crust has browned in the middle and the filling is bubbling -Once you see the pie is done, remove it from the oven, allow to cool for 1 to 1 ½ hour (allows the filling to set and enhances the sugars in the blueberries), and enjoy! If you enjoy desserts during the holidays and overall during the wintertime as much as I do, these two recipes would be perfect to attempt if you have a craving for something both sweet and tart. The holidays are a time for giving and sharing, and though they may have passed, it’s never too early to start thinking about the next holiday season and how you would like to give back to those whom you care about. Even as a late holiday gift, these cookies or even a slice or whole pie would be a perfect late gift that no one would mind (and would even be happy about) receiving. So, though these two recipes are time-consuming and may not be for everyone, these desserts are delicious and if you’re looking to give late holiday gifts would be perfect to give to a family member or friend! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Kimberly Shresta - Memory Project - 2 By Kimberly Shresta March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Context Behind the Russo-Ukrainian War By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by CNBC If you have watched the news recently, you have seen something about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Whether it be informational, opinionated, or just fearmongering, you have seen something about this war. Exposed to it or not, it is important to understand what is going on around the world so that you may form your own opinions about it. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance, began spreading farther into Europe and closer to Russia’s borders. In 2008, plans had been made to add Ukraine into NATO. Putin sees NATO’s expansion as menacing and views Ukraine joining NATO as a major threat to his country because of the military alliance’s proximity. Throughout the expansion of the Russian military by Putin over the course of the last few years, his complaints about NATO have become more public and apparent. Putin also insists that Ukraine is still a part of Russia, culturally and historically, so it is not its own country and should not join NATO. Russia is determined to capture Ukraine and make the state part of Russia again. Russia even listed its demands to NATO and the United States to ensure its security. The demands include that Ukraine can never join NATO, NATO must withdraw its forces in Eastern European countries, and that a cease-fire be implemented in Ukraine. These requests were denied. Russia has troops in Ukraine and has sent multiple bombs over the last few weeks. Ukrainians have not lost hope and are continuing to fight for their home. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections All Eyes on You By Emily Dahl November 19, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 2 This piece was inspired by the feeling of everyone watching you, but not for the reasons you’d normally want to be seen. There’s a big difference between people watching you perform in a talent show and watching you after you’ve done something embarrassing, and my goal with this artwork was to capture the latter.

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sarah Velez Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by UAB News October represents Breast Cancer Awareness month, which tragically affects about 240,000 women in the United States along with 2,100 men annually. Of those 240,000 women, 42,000 pass away and 500 men pass away each year. It is important to take a month to spread awareness of this cancer and dedicate it to those who have passed. Breast cancer is a disease in which the cells in a breast grow out of control. The type of breast cancer you get is dependent on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. In most cases, breast cancer begins in what is called the “ducts” or “lobules.” The breast is split into three main parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. As the cancer grows, it spreads through blood and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have “metastasized.” Now, there are two common types of breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma is when the cancer cells start forming inside the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the tissue. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body. The next most common breast cancer is called Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. This is similar to Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, but it originates within the lobules instead of the ducts. This dangerous cancer can also spread to other parts of the body. Some of the less common types are Paget’s disease, medullary, mucinous, and inflammatory breast cancer. There are many ways to prevent breast cancer, but in some cases, there is nothing you can do to control it. Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can be effective in preventing breast cancer. If you are someone who takes hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives, it is best to talk to your doctor and see what may be safer for you. As healthy as you may be, breast cancer is occasionally inherited through family genes or changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 can also be inherited. With all of this in mind, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. Are there ways to notice breast cancer before it becomes a deadly issue? Screening is a way to check women for breast cancer before symptoms and signs are noticeable. A mammogram is an x-ray taken of the breast. Mammograms provide the benefit of noticing breast cancer early on, making it easier to treat. It is important to regularly get mammograms, to benefit both your health and be able to catch such a deadly cancer early on. It is significant to note though, mammograms do not help cure breast cancer, they only help recognize it to ensure the cancer gets taken care of early on. Thanks to the advancement in technology and the medical field, there are many ways to treat breast cancer. Depending on how far the cancer has spread the type of treatment you will receive can be determined. Surgery is one of the most common options. The doctor will simply cut out the cancer if it has not spread too far. Chemotherapy is a medicine that is used to shrink or kill the cancer cells. The medicine can either be given in shots or pills, although in some cases it may even be both. Hormonal therapy blocks cancer cells from receiving the hormones they need to grow. There are many other medical procedures that help treat breast cancer. It is extremely important to discuss what medical procedure may be best for you. There are many ways to support people struggling with breast cancer. You can donate to breast cancer foundations and even start fundraisers to donate the money. Wearing pink can also help bring awareness to this tragic disease. It is important to spread awareness to help those who need it and partake in actions that can lead people to live and brighter and healthier life. Sources: https://www.cdc.gov https://www.mayoclinic.org BACK TO TOP