One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer in herlifetime.

Virginia-Snyder Hall Director Cristina Manieri was one of thoseeight when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of25.

Manieri shared her story of being a breast cancer survivor at”One in Eight,” an event sponsored by the Women’sCenter on Friday afternoon in Hughes-Trigg in honor of BreastCancer Awareness Month.

Manieri told the crowd that breast cancer “was not in myvocabulary.” When doctors found a tumor in her left breasther “dreams were interrupted.” She underwentchemotherapy and finally had both of her breasts removed. Manieriis now healthy and tries to reach out to young women by lettingthem know that breast cancer is present and can also be a danger tothem.

Junior dance major Elizabeth Treese, who witnessed three of herown family members struggle with breast cancer, choreographed adance to bring awareness to young women who may be a risk ofdeveloping the disease.

The dance, presented by students from the dance department,depicted the emotions of a breast cancer patient. All seven dancerswere outfitted in light pink tops with the breast cancer pin wornover their hearts.

Treese dedicated the piece to her family members, cancerpatients and breast cancer survivors.

Even though most everyone thinks of breast cancer as a diseaseone gets when she is older, the chances are rising in breast canceramong young women.

According to the Young Survival Coalition, breast cancer can bemore aggressive in younger women due to lack of awareness; mostbreast cancer studies involve women over the age of 45, thegroup’s Web site stated.

Although breast cancer cannot be prevented, it can be treatedwith early detection. The American Cancer Society recommends thatwomen in their 20s have clinical breast examinations by a doctorevery three years and should perform a breast self-examinationevery month.

Some symptoms of breast cancer are unusual lumps in the breast,irritation of the breast skin and nipple pain and redness.