Hues like orange and black usually come to mind when people think about October; however one color that’s often overlooked but is just as important is pink, representing the pink ribbon, the official symbol of breast cancer awareness. You may be busy planning your Halloween costumes and carving pumpkins this month, but there are plenty of simple steps you can take to help fight the cause, make yourself aware, and commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Shop Pink. There are dozens of retailers both online and in-store who donate portions of their profits from select items to breast cancer charities throughout October, and some throughout the year. Here are just a few:
- Target
- Sephora
- elf Makeup (eyeslipsface.com)
- Nine West
- Ulta
- H&M
- Aerie
- Puma
- Orly
For a more extensive list of companies affiliated with breast cancer fundraising visit http://ww5.komen.org/CorporatePartners.aspx .
Get Active. If shopping doesn’t interest you, or you just want to do more, there are lots of charities and organizations you can get involved in that are always looking for more volunteers for fundraisers, or people willing to do some fundraising themselves. One of the biggest, most well-known events actually takes place throughout the year, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. With over 130 5k & 10k races worldwide over the course of the year, there’s bound to be a location near you! And try to get everyone you know involved. My hometown’s Race for the Cure is on Mother’s Day, and we’ve made it a family tradition. (P.S. if you’re not much of a runner, there’s also a 5k walk held on the same day.)
Komen for the Cure holds other fundraising events as well, such as a three-day walk and marathon. You can get more info on their website, http://ww5.komen.org/. If you’d like to take a swing at creating your own fundraising event, the Breast Cancer Charities of America have a few unique ideas on their site.
Know Your Body. You’ve probably heard the saying “the best protection is early detection,” but you probably haven’t considered the possibility of breast cancer at a young age. However, it’s never too early to be proactive in prevention; the first step you should take is to learn about your risk factors, like family history, ethnic background, etc. that affect your predisposition to breast cancer. If you aren’t sure, sites like Komen for the Cure (see earlier link) provide statistics and information that can lead you down the right path. Once you assess your risk, the next step is to learn how to perform a breast self-examination, or BSE; Breastcancer.org provides an easy-to-follow tutorial (go to http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps).
You should get into the habit of doing a BSE once a month. The next step is even simpler: lead a healthy lifestyle. Though there’s no way to completely prevent breast cancer, treating your body right with a healthy diet and regular exercise can help ward off high risks such as weight gain. One of the most important steps, a mammogram, isn’t necessarily an immediate concern for young women, but should definitely be pursued if you encounter anything that seems irregular during a routine BSE. The common consensus among cancer communities and doctors alike is that you should begin annual mammograms at age 40. Though mammograms do not prevent cancer, and they have recently come under fire for possibly causing some strains of breast cancer, they are still the most effective method for detecting the cancer as early as possible.