October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every October, people all over the world show their support for everyone affected by breast cancer. For nearly four decades now, the country has recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “No one should face breast cancer alone,” serves as a reminder for providers to consider the many ways they can partner with patients and families in the prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer.
It is a time annually devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer—including metastatic breast cancer (MBC)—and the importance of early detection and timely, high-quality care. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month dates back to October 1985. This is when the first organized movement to bring attention to the dangers of breast cancer occurred in the United States. Since then, campaigns to educate the public about this disease have continued to thrive and multiply. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and throughout the year—people wear pink ribbons to honor survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and to support the progress we are making together to defeat breast cancer. The first nation-wide campaign that utilized the pink ribbon was back in 1992 by Estée Lauder cosmetics. They handed out an impressive 1.5 million of them and ushered in the pink ribbon as the premier visual reminder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The NFL has become one of the largest supporters of breast cancer awareness month and nearly all players, coaches, and referees don the pink ribbon each October to show their support.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance for all Americans to take time and acknowledge those men and women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
Things to do this Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
- If you delayed your annual mammogram because of COVID-19, schedule your appointment now and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
- Learn more about breast cancer and how it affects people’s lives from our podcast, videos, and medically reviewed educational content on Breastcancer.org.
- Join our community discussion forums to ask questions or connect with others. You can also attend a virtual meetup for support related to your diagnosis or if you are a caretaker for someone who’s been diagnosed.
- Support the work of breast cancer advocacy organizations, and consider making a donation to Breastcancer.org. Millions of people turn to Breastcancer.org to make sense of a breast cancer diagnosis. We’re here to help people understand complex medical decisions and get the best care possible. Donations are an essential part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our website content and community forums free for everyone.
If you would like to learn more about the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our information was sourced from https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ , https://www.cancer.org , https://www.komen.org , https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/announcements/2023-announcements/breast-cancer-awareness-month/ , https://www.breastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month