Annual Boobie Bash raises breast cancer awareness

Truman’s Women’s Resource Center hosted its annual Boobie bash to help with their goal of spreading awareness on women’s health and breast cancer. Students working for the WRC helped teach female students how to perform a breast self-examination. The table was filled with educational materials on women’s health and provided students with the opportunity to write positive letters to breast cancer patients at the Northeast Regional Medical Center.

Women’s Resource Center student worker Lakin Nobis helped organize this year’s event. She said the WRC hosts this event yearly to raise awareness. She said getting access to women’s healthcare can be difficult.

“[Women’s healthcare] can be a bit of a challenge since it’s a rural community,” Nobis said. “I just think it’s the small town aspect. It can be difficult to reach out, and people aren’t always aware of the treatments that they offer.”

Nobis said Kirksville has Northeast Regional Medical Center, which has gynecologists. She also said the Student Health Center also can perform well-women exams.

Sophomore Evie Blue, who tabled at the event, said because of the limited resources, students may opt to go to Columbia for specialized treatment. She said that women’s healthcare is often stigmatized, ignored and neglected.

“I think a lot of people just don’t [go to the doctor] in general, not just women,” Blue said. “Women have issues going [to healthcare professionals] because they don’t get the answers they need or the resources they need. Going to the doctor right is really expensive for everybody, and then they’re not giving you a lot of the resources you need or a lot of the care you need.” 

Blue said many women’s symptoms are dismissed during health appointments and are often prescribed medicine to manage symptoms instead of the root issue. She said making follow-up appointments can also be hard due to insurance coverage. 

Bella Russell, who began working at the WRC this year, said she is worried about the political discourse around women’s health. 

“I think [women’s health] is an important thing that we need to keep addressing and keep talking about and keep going at because you’ll never know what will happen,” Russell said. 

Russell said colleges and universities are becoming better at addressing women’s health issues, while it is globally becoming more difficult.

Both Russell and Blue said all WRC student workers are trained to help students during a crisis. Blue also said student workers have access to a database with information that can help guide students with questions or concerns.

Blue said the Women’s Resource Center is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays and is open to everyone. Russell said they provide healthcare products, as well as a space for students to come visit and even do homework.