THE HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The event began in 1985 as a week-long awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in collaboration with British company Imperial Chemical Industries, which made tamoxifen. It later expanded into a month-long commemoration. The pink ribbon became synonymous with breast cancer awareness in 1992, when Alexandra Penney, Editor-in-Chief of SELF magazine, collaborated with Evelyn Lauder, Estée Lauder’s Senior Corporate Vice President and breast cancer survivor, to distribute pink ribbons. In recent years, several versions of the pink ribbon have evolved to emphasize various forms of breast cancer, such as metastatic breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE OF AWARENESS MONTH
- Raising awareness: To raise public knowledge about breast cancer, highlighting its importance and the need for continued awareness and support.
- Educating the Public: Providing individuals with information on breast cancer symptoms, risk factors, preventative techniques, and causes in order to ensure early detection and action.
- Honoring Survivors: To recognize the strength and fortitude of breast cancer survivors while remembering those who have lost their lives to the illness.
- Celebrating Progress: Recognizing advances in breast cancer research, therapies, and survival rates, which fosters optimism for a cancer-free future.
- Encouraging Early diagnosis: Promote frequent breast cancer screenings, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis for effective treatment and better outcomes.
- Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Encourage people to adopt healthy habits like exercise and balanced meals in order to lower their chance of acquiring breast cancer.
- Stressing the Importance of Mammograms: To emphasize mammograms as the most effective method for early breast cancer detection, which is critical for improving survival rates.
THINGS TO DO DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
- Check in with loved ones. Reach out to family and friends who are impacted by breast cancer to show your support and check how they’re doing.
- Mammograms: Schedule your annual mammogram and encourage friends and family to prioritize frequent breast cancer screenings for early detection.
- Learn more: Breastcancer.org provides educational information, news, and podcasts to help people understand how breast cancer affects their life.
- Join Discussions: Community forums and virtual gatherings where you may get support, information, and interact with others.
- Consider giving to organizations dedicated to breast cancer research and initiatives that assist patients with the disease.
