Members of the Ohio University Southern community don their pink for the campus’ Pink Out Day.

IRONTON, Ohio – Normally a sea of green OHIO gear, pink was definitely the color of choice the week of Oct. 9 at Ohio University’s Southern Campus. Go Pink is a national education campaign in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Ohio University Southern dedicates a week to Go Pink and hosts a variety of activities, including Pink Out Day and speakers. 

Patricia Jarrett shared her intimate journey as a breast cancer fighter with faculty, staff and students on Oct. 12 as part of the I Am Speaker Series. Earlier this year, Jarrett learned that she had triple negative breast cancer. She always lived a clean lifestyle, worked as a healthcare professional and even led fitness classes, so the diagnosis was quite a shock. 

“I could ask myself a hundred times ‘why me,’ but I’ve learned that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It has no concern of person,” Jarrett said. 

She described her treatment with chemotherapy and her current radiation sessions. She also explained her very personal decision to not pursue additional chemotherapy treatment despite her oncologist’s recommendation. 

“Life is so precious,” Jarrett said. “I want quality of that life and not quantity. Pursing more harsh chemotherapy treatments will likely impact this quality, so I’ve decided not to do it.” 

Student Jesse Grubbs attended the session because he has had family members who have fought breast cancer. “Anytime I can learn, I try to take the opportunity to do so,” Grubbs said. “This topic was really personal and it was refreshing to hear a speaker that is so positive about her experiences.”

Patricia Jarrett shares her battle with breast cancer during the Oct. 12 I Am Speaker Series.