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WrittenbyNicoleSpangelo
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Written by Nicole Spangelo
For many people, October is a month to celebrate fall, participate in fall activities, take photos and go to county or city fairs. For others, it’s a time of remembrance, support and pink ribbon allies and warriors.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place in October. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. It is estimated that 30% of women will develop breast cancer. In addition, the ACS estimates around 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed. It is more common in women than men, but breast cancer can affect both genders.
What is breast cancer and how does it develop? As your body makes new cells, old and abnormal ones die. In the absence of death, old and abnormal cells crowd out the new ones. Cancer occurs when your body is unable to fight off the cancerous cells. One or both breasts can develop breast cancer when these cells overgrow.
A lump will form in the breast as a result of the cells. The lumps can be benign or non-cancerous or they can be malignant or cancerous. Early detection is key to finding breast cancer stages and starting treatment.
Stage0
Stage1
Stage2
Stage3
Stage4
means precancerous and is located in the breast ducts and has spread to the surrounding tissue.
means the cancer is small and found only in the tissue or the lymph nodes. This is also known as early stage breast cancer.
means the cancer is in the breast or nearby lymph nodes.
means the cancer has spread from one breast to the other breast, breast lymph nodes, or the skin near the breast or chest. This stage is also known as locally advanced breast cancer.
means the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. It’s known as advanced cancer, secondary or metastatic breast cancer. Cancer that has returned to the breast, armpit or chest is known as local recurrence.
The grading scales for these cancers are based on the cells in the biopsy.
Grade1
Grade2
Grade3
Breast cancer is ranked based on stages and grades. The stages range from 0-4 and the grades from 1-3. or low grade means the cells look similar to normal cells and are slow growing. or intermediate grade means the cells look different than normal cells. or high-grade cells mean the cells look vastly different from normal cells and are fast-growing. Moreover, high-grade cells can come back after treatment.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage and grade and other health conditions of the person. Most often, a breast cancer diagnosis can come as a devastating blow and it’s important to utilize support resources for patients.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or you haven’t had your exam this year, these resources can provide a wealth of support on this journey.
Susan G. Komen
Susan G. Komen is one of the most popular names in breast cancer. The website offers financial assistance, a podcast, questions for your doctor, clinical trial information and interactive learning.
Susan G. Komen also hosts fundraiser events to fund medical research for breast cancer cures. You can find a local event near you. These events are usually held in October, but some are year-round.
LivingBeyondBreastCancer(LBBC)
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) has an extensive library of resources ranging from a helpline to conferences, financial help, transportation, legal, education and help for people of color.
CancerCare
Cancer Care offers education workshops, support groups, counseling and financial support.
NationalBreastCancerFoundation,INC
National Breast Cancer Foundation, INC provides educational resources and exams for qualified underserved individuals. They offer ways to help individuals overcome the financial barrier of breast cancer.
Breast cancer can strike anyone at any time. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer. Your healthcare provider can provide you with additional resources and information about breast cancer and when you should start mammograms.
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- FALL SESSION B
- National Shawarma
- National Sports Day
- Black Poetry Day
- International Legging Day
- National LGBT Center Awareness Day
- International Sloth Day
- International Nacho Day
- National Make A Difference Day
- iPod Day
- United Nations Day
- International Artists Day
- National Pumpkin Day
- National Black Cat Day
- National First Responders Day
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20 SONGS FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST
Written by John V. Ferringo
Halloween season is heading our way! When it comes to Halloween, people usually think of candy, along with costumes and horror movies. The holiday is associated with all things spooky and supernatural. Unfortunately, what is less often associated with Halloween is music. This is a shame because there are a large number of songs that fit right in with horror or Halloween.
Whether you are hosting a fright-filled Halloween party, driving late at night, or just need to add some spookiness to your life, here are 20 songs that just might send some chills your way.
“Welcome to my Nightmare”
Alice Cooper
No list of Halloween songs would be complete without at least one song from Alice Cooper. Rock’s original villain seemingly lives Halloween every day of his life. One of the first musicians to invent a persona to go along with his songs, Alice is actually in costume playing a character when he performs. The title track from this classic album sets the mood off right with the subtle yet unsettling guitar before launching into the song that prepares you for what is to come.
“Thriller”
Michael Jackson
Let’s face it, as cliché as this choice is, leaving it off the list would be impossible! In some ways you could even say it’s the ultimate Halloween party song. Everybody knows it, the subject matter is appropriate, it has a classic music video, and it’s way better than you remember.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
Bauhaus
This song is so closely associated with Goth culture that it has almost become a parody of itself at this point. However, if you strip away the associations, you are left with a killer track that is an underground classic for good reason.
“I
Put a Spell on You”
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
This song has been covered countless times. Some of the best versions of it are beautiful and play the song straight opposed to how it was initially recorded. However, the manic, deranged and at the time wildly controversial original by Hawkins is the perfect version for Halloween.
“Ghostbusters”
Ray Parker Jr.
One of the most iconic comedy/horror movies of all time, Ghostbusters has a very underrated soundtrack. This title track is infectious, filled with upbeat energy and delivers an infusion of fun.
“Superstition”
Stevie Wonder
Horror movies work because they play on our fears and thoughts that may not be the most rational. Our superstitions lead us to a dark place and make the impossible seem plausible. While this song has never been thought of as a scary track, its subject matter, like some of the best horror movies, is all about our fears.
“I Want Candy”
Bow Wow Wow
What’s Halloween without at least one reference to candy, whether it’s a double-entendre or not?
“Psycho Killer”
Talking Heads
Psycho killers are a staple of horror movie franchises. This song is a natural choice to be played on a late Halloween night. The song even implores you to “run away” like all those victims tried to do.
“Halloween Theme”
Celldweller
Normally, I am not a fan of remixes, but Celldweller’s interpretation of John Carpenter’s all-time classic movie theme is filled to the brim with feelings of paranoia and hysteria.
“Pet Sematary”
The Ramones
Pet Sematary is not a movie often known for its soundtrack, but the closing credits of the horror film play over this fan favorite track by the Ramones. In concert, the Ramones were famous for ending a song yelling “one two three four!” and then launching into the next one with no break or banter. One of the only exceptions was the introduction to this song. Joey Ramone would inform fans in attendance that the venue they were performing in was built on top of a Pet Sematary. A surprisingly upbeat song for such dark subject matter. It’s a great contradiction between music and lyrics, while also capturing the spirit of Halloween: the combination of fun and terror.
“Red Right Hand”
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This song will forever be associated with Halloween due to its inclusion with the Scream movie franchise. However, the song on its own is a perfect addition to any Halloween playlist. The unnerving music accompanies a horrific tale, while the title is a reference to the vengeful hand of God in Milton’s Paradise Lost. This song is a horror classic on multiple levels.
“The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
The Charlie Daniels Band
Any Halloween playlist should include at least one reference to the Devil, and this classic rock staple is a great choice. Virtuoso musicianship accompanies lyrics depicting the “deal with the devil” scenario, a tale as old as stories themselves. Halloween is all about stories, and this upbeat bluegrass tune tells one everyone is familiar with.
“People Are Strange”
Echo and the Bunnymen
While the original version of this song by “The Doors” is a classic, I actually prefer the cover by “Echo and the Bunnymen.” It was recorded for the soundtrack to The Lost Boys, giving it more of a Halloween connection due to its inclusion in the popular vampire film. Also, I feel that Echo and the Bunnymen do a better job of expressing the song’s aura of depression, isolation and paranoia. That makes this version the better choice for your Halloween playlist.
“The Monster Mash”
Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
Halloween is the perfect subject for novelty songs, and this is probably the perfect example of that. A catchy camp-classic, this song will be stuck in your head until well after all of the candy has been eaten.
“A Nightmare on My Street”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
While horror and Halloween-based songs are normally in the rock or metal related genres, there are some rappers who have dropped some great tracks as well. Perhaps the most famous is this hit single, which tells the story of Prince’s nightmare about Freddy Krueger.
“Time Warp”
From The Rocky Horror Picture Show
While Halloween is known as a time to celebrate horror and all things scary, it is also not shy about embracing camp, which means this song from the ultimate cult classic midnight movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is an absolute must.
“Witchcraft”
Graveyard Club
References to witches or witchcraft are a staple of Halloween! While the popular standard of the same name made famous by Frank Sinatra, is the more obvious choice, this track by the Graveyard Club the more fitting musical style.
“This
is Halloween”
Danny Elfman
The unofficial theme song for the entire holiday season, this song was a nobrainer for inclusion on this list.
“Mr. Crowley”
Ozzy Osbourne
This playlist obviously needs a track by the Prince of Darkness! While “Bark at the Moon'' would also be at home here, this song about the famed English occult figure Aleister Crowley is what most deserves inclusion both for its subject matter and its more spooky keyboard introduction. Crowley is a name forever entwined with magic and the dark arts, so a song in his honor is right at home on Halloween.
“Halloween
Parade”
Lou Reed
For almost 50 years, New York’s Greenwich Village has been home to the world’s largest Halloween parade, an event that is nominally the subject of Lou Reed’s song. One of the recurring themes in horror is using the otherworldly as a vehicle for social commentary in that same spirit, Reed uses the backdrop of the annual parade to lament the loss of so many of his friends to AIDS. It is a sad song, with subtle glimmers of hope and a fitting epilogue to Halloween night.
Listen to the playlist
THE MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN AMERICA
Written by Nicole Spangelo
While haunted houses can range from mild to near panic inducing, there are some homes that are open to the public year round. They don’t have fancy special effects, fog or people dressed in costumes and wielding weapons. What they have is a deep, macabre history laced in death and strange encounters.
From the Whatley house to the Waverly Hills Sanitorium, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most haunted places in America. Continued From Cover Page
Houses aren't the only places that can be haunted. From Pennsylvania to Kentucky, haunted hospitals have a long history in America. A hospital is supposed to be a place where people can heal and feel well. The hospitals of the past were often overcrowded and patients were often left in hallways while the wealthy were treated first. Those who survived were usually sent to a sanitorium to live out their days. Sanatoriums were specialized hospitals, usually located in the countryside, that treated specific diseases, ailments and convalescence. In the sanatoriums, many unjust treatments were given and unethical procedures were done, including electroshock therapy, lobotomy (or prefrontal lobe surgery using an ice pick), trepanation (or skull drilling) and bloodletting. These procedures often left the patient comatose, disabled or dead.
WINCHESTER HOUSE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
In 1886, Sarah Winchester became a very rich woman after the death of her husband. She built an elaborate 160 room mansion filled with mazes. It was said that Sarah built the house due to a curse.
SALLIE HOUSE
ATCHISON, KANSAS
This house was built during the 1800s. It’s said that Sallie, a 6-year old girl, died during surgery and still haunts the house today.
MYRTLE’S PLANTATION
ST. FRANCISVILLE, LOUISIANA
Built in 1796, Myrtle’s plantation housed slaves on the property. Today, visitors say they see the apparition of a slave girl named Chloe in their photos.
WAVERLY HILLS SANITORIUM
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Once home to patients seeking medical treatment, Waverly Hills is said to be haunted by the patients and a nurse that hung herself on one of the floors.
CECIL HOTEL
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Rebranded as the “Stay On Main” hotel, the Cecil hotel opened in the 1920s. Over its 100-year-old history, the hotel has had a string of violent deaths and suicides within its walls.
ASUGLOBALFLEX
ABROAD ABROAD STUDY
6WEEKS | 12WEEKS | 18WEEKS
EXPLORETHEWORLDONYOURTERMS
With the new ASU Global Flex program, you can remain a fully online student and explore an exciting European city. You can even take incountry courses or complete an internship. Choose a block option that works for you today!
Student Student Loan Loan
Relief Relief
Taking out a student loan is the one college “activity” that no one wants to participate in. However, we all know how hefty tuition can be especially for those who have a low income or come from a low-income family. Luckily enough, these students, in addition to middle-income borrowers who have had no option but to partake, are being offered loan relief if they fit a certain criterion.
Before getting into what guidelines need to be met, what is a student loan? A student loan is defined as, “money you borrow and must pay back with interest.” When it comes to these loans, there are also different types of ways to obtain them whether it be through the government or a bank. Normally federal government loans are offered to you after your school approves your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), if you qualify. While bank loans are considered “private” and take more time to obtain due to the time invested, research and application processing. Private student loans can be found with a simple search on Google or through the lender’s website.
Student Loan Types Student Loan Types
SUBSIDIZED UNSUBSIDIZED PARENT PLUS CONSOLIDATION
Additionally, there are also different types of these loans: Parent Plus, Unsubsidized and Subsidized and Consolidation. Usually, universities and colleges will teach you about the differences between the three before beginning any courses. Arizona State University offers Loan Entrance Counseling once enrolled as a student, part time or full time. This counseling can help students understand what loans they’ll want to accept or decline. The university also uses ELMSelect to provide students with a list of lenders that their students have used in the past.
We all know how much of a burden taking out loans can be, especially if you don’t have the means to pay them back until graduating and getting a degree-earned job. Even then, you might wound up spending most of your early career paying back these loans instead of being able to live the life you want. Fortunately, President Joe Biden agrees with this as he believes that “a post-high school education should be a ticket to a middleclass life, but for too many, the cost of borrowing for college is a lifelong burden that deprives them of that opportunity.” Therefore, he has decided to announce a three-part plan to help borrowers relieve some of the burden.
President Biden’s plan consists of cutting payments in half, meaning that annual payments will likely be less than $1,000. He also plans to give loan forgiveness credit to those who fit a certain criterion, as well as fighting to maximize the amount that Pell Grant.
The 2022 loan relief is available to a variety of recipients, including current students if they took out their loan before July 1, 2022. All other borrowers can qualify if they meet income requirements of earning less than $125,000 or $250,000 if married. Those that meet the guidelines and are eligible will have up to $10,000 of federal student loans forgiven meaning the said individuals are “no longer required to repay some or all of your loan.”
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John V. Ferrigno
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Nicole Spangelo
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