October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is an international campaign to raise awareness of the disease, fundraise, and provide resources for all women on cancer prevention, identification, and treatment. Currently, the projected risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer at some point in her lifetime is about 12%. This means that is quite likely for many of us in the U.S. to know someone with or affected by breast cancer in some way. Because of this, there has been a whole month dedicated to breast cancer. The month of October is a great time to get involved with raising awareness in a variety of ways. Here are just a few.
1. Donate. There are so many organizations doing great work in the field of breast cancer awareness and support for women and men affected by the disease. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. provides women with resources at all parts of the diagnosis and treatment processes. I love their donation system in particular because they clearly outline what resources are given for each donation amount. Another reliable donation organization is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation which raises money year-round for breast cancer research.
2. Walk or Race. In Maryland specifically, there are numerous events throughout the month. The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure is in Columbia, MD on October 13th. The race begins at 8am, and participants are free to walk or run at their own pace. The Think Pink Breast Cancer Family Fun Run is at the end of the month on the 26th and is being held in Severna Park. This event is FREE, but donations of any size are gladly accepted.
3. Attend a Fundraising Event. There are more ways to get involved than to walk or run. TITLE Boxing Club of Rockville, MD is hosting its Knockout Breast Cancer! event on October 24thwhere participants can register for a boxing class and 100% of the proceeds go to the Nurse Navigator program at Suburban Hospital. The Tyanna Foundation is hosting its signature fundraising event, Breastfest, at Power Plant Live! in Baltimore on October 17th. Throughout the month Charm City Run is holding Donation Yoga in Fells Point, Baltimore which benefits Keep a Breast. Registration is only $10!
4. Get Tested. Both women and men are capable of getting breast cancer. For women especially, it is important to conduct a breast self-exam each month to check for any irregularities in shape, lumps, and bumps. The exam is quick and very simple. There many resources for conducted a self-exam, and it typically be completed in just a couple of minutes. If you ever detect any irregularities, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible. No one test has been created that can detect all types of breast cancers early, so the best option is to stay aware of your own body and to hold your friends and loved ones accountable and aware of the importance of testing.