It’s October! You know what that means…Breast Cancer Awareness month! The official, nationally recognized by the American Cancer Association, in partnership with the pharmaceutical division of imperial chemical industries, in 1985.
The biggest thing to do in October to spread awareness is to wear pink. It shows support for the cause and spreads awareness. The founders started the month to get the idea out there for women to get mammograms. A mammograms is a breast exam that checks for lumps in the breast, and signs of cancer. It is a women’s “best weapon against breast cancer” (according to the American Cancer Association). Now wome
n, and men, all across america wear pink throughout the month of October in honor of survivors, fights, those we have lost, and simply as a sign of hope and awareness. Even the NFL, one of the most popular sports communities in the world, dedicates the whole month to being pink! 
Now don’t forget the popular pink ribbon! That little symbol began to represent breast cancer in 1991, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization dedicated to research, treatment, and a search for the cure, began handing out pink ribbons to breast cancer survivors in Time Square. Cleary this symbol caught on and is still today used as the main symbol to represent breast cancer awareness.
In the United States alone, about 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer. That’s 12 percent of the female population. Since the disease is so strongly contracted in America, it’s no wonder we dedicate an entire month to spreading awareness for it and encouraging women of all ages to get checked. Death rates for women with breast cancer are higher than any other cancer, besides lung cancer. It’s seriously insane how one disease can effect so many lives. There are multiple ways to take caution from the cancer.
First, be sure to get mammograms at least once every few month, as well as weekly breast examinations yourself. Feel for unusual lumps and if anything out of the ordinary should appear, see a doctor immediately. You may also get tested for the BRCA gene. This mutated gene causes 5-10% of all breast cancer diagnoses. The gene is passed down from generations sometimes, so if you know of any ancestors who may have had it be sure to be extra thorough and cautious. That doesn’t mean if you don’t have the gene that you are in the clear however. About 85% of breast cancer patients have no family history of the disease. Thats a huge number!
Be sure to wear pink all month and don’t forget to try to do your part. Throughout the entire month of october, organizations have cancer walks, bake sales, and much more to raise money. Try to help out, give a little time, and do your part to pay respect for survivors and those fighting the disease.
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