About National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. More than 40,000 succumb to the disease every year. The foundation notes, however, that if breast cancer is caught early, there is a 96 percent five-year survival rate, making education, awareness and preventative screenings crucial. To further prevention, treatment and education, October has been named Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Goals
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Like many other causes and celebrations, breast cancer awareness is given an entire month in which to educate and inform not only breast cancer patients and their families, but also the general public and those who may be at a high risk for developing breast cancer. Education and awareness are at the core of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Fundraising
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Aside from educating those who may develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, Breast Cancer Awareness Month also publicizes fund-raising events that garner the attention of generous individuals and corporations. By dedicating a month to raising awareness about breast cancer, its dangers and how many people it affects, organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) can raise money for research, treatments and future awareness events. The most popular forms of breast cancer fund-raising events include runs/walks, silent auctions and bicycle races.
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Pink Ribbons
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Pink ribbons are universally associated with breast cancer supporters. Throughout the month of October many individuals and companies find ways to promote the ribbon and its infamous color. Some hold bake sales that feature pink-colored treats. Others organize office-wide casual dress days for those who wear pink. Numerous companies also change the backgrounds of their websites to the color pink during October.
History
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created in October 1985 when the American Academy of Family Physicians teamed up with Cancer Care to publicize how essential it was for individuals to undergo mammogram screenings and how the government and private sector needed to do more to make these screenings available to everyone. To achieve their goal the two organizations distributed awareness flyers, appeared on the nightly news and testified before Congress. National Mammography Day was added to breast cancer awareness month in 1993. It is now held on the third Friday in October and is a day where many clinics and radiology departments offer free or discounted mammograms.
The Organization
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Though Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated in October, there is an organization of the same name whose goal is to educate women about breast cancer year-round. The organization brings together government, public service and medical officials to promote awareness, dispense information, publicize screenings and otherwise empower women to take their health into their own hands. In 2009 the organization, celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.
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Resources
- Photo Credit babble.com
