BROOKHAVEN — Deborah Costilow led a throng of Brookhaven Elementary students and teachers carrying a sign which said “I kicked breast cancer’s butt.” Students walked a block for Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

She is a survivor and Brookhaven Elementary School Administrative Assistant. Pink bows adorned her sign made on poster board, a pink shirt and pink bracelet on her right wrist. October is the month to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness month. 

Costilow is a recent survivor. 

“I was diagnosed in April and had the surgery in May. I’m happy to be here,” Costilow said. “I’m just glad we caught it and glad I had a good result. I didn’t have to do any treatments. I’m doing great.” 

She said it was the first time the school has done a breast cancer awareness walk in recent memory. In previous years, they would do a health walk. Preventive screening helped catch the cancer. 

Doctors found suspicious spots and monitored them for two years. A biopsy came back as positive for breast cancer in April. 

“I was just in shock. I was shocked. You think this can’t happen to you. It can happen to anybody,” Costilow said. “We caught it through screening. They had watched the suspicious spot. I encouraged others to get screened and I told my two daughters to get screened. Get screened. I encourage anyone to get screened.”