I was five years old when I lost my grandmother to breast cancer.

I barely remember that day because I was young and didn’t understand what was happening. I knew whatever was going on was sad, but I couldn’t understand why.

Then I remembered her wig.

How she was sometimes too weak to walk outside and play with my sister and me. Three years later, it hit me that she was gone forever.

My grandmother knew something wasn’t right, but she was too afraid to say anything for a while. By the time she worked up the courage to say something, it was too late. The chemo only slowed her death.

She would probably be here today if she hadn’t waited to see a doctor. Some people say times have changed and women aren’t scared to tell the doctor they might have breast cancer. I beg to differ.

Ladies, when we’re out and about and see the pink ribbon merchandise yes, we buy it. Money spent is a donation to help research for breast cancer.

I try to buy anything relating to breast cancer research because it’s for a great cause. But is buying a ribbon keychain making us more aware about the dangers of breast cancer?

There is no doubt that any abnormality in our health is scary. But we should never be scared to tell the doctor when we think something is wrong. You know your body better than anyone, so why would you wait until it’s too late?

The Ribbons of Pink Foundation has myths and truths on their website about breast cancer awareness.

One myth is that women in their 20s or 30s shouldn’t get checked because they aren’t 40. Well that’s a lame excuse. Ribbons of Pink Foundation says, “young women are not immune to breast cancer…if you are 20 years old, the probability of developing breast cancer in 10 years is 1 in 2,500.”

Now I personally have never had a mammogram, but you can do your own self-checks at home. Susan G. Komen’s website breaks down the statistics and also has breast cancer self-awareness videos.

They also recommend you know your risks, get screened, know what is normal for you and make healthy lifestyle choices.

I know the last thing us college girls worry about is getting breast cancer. We are young. We are busy getting our degrees, making life-long friends and having fun.

I think if we all take some time and understand this isn’t a one-month issue but a constant issue, we will be more aware about breast cancer. No one is immune, especially not us.

Understanding your family’s medical history is the first step in becoming more aware of breast cancer. I know my chances are higher than others, but I know I am strong enough to seek help when something is wrong.

We shouldn’t be scared. We should be thankful there are people out there dedicated to finding a cure for this silent killer.

The more informed you are the better chance you have of understanding the severity and what you can do for yourself.

The more we understand about breast cancer, the better we are at preventing it from happening.

I don’t want to scare you ladies, but according to the Susan G. Komen website, “by the time a lump is large enough to feel, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years.” If that’s not enough to get you to have a yearly check-up, I don’t know what will.