October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and money for breast cancer. In order to raise awareness you may see many people wearing the color pink this month. The pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness. You’ll most likely see many people wearing pink this month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was first started in October 1985. The American Cancer Society along with a pharmaceutical department that produces anti-cancer drugs, joined forces and founded Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For those wanting to know more about the severity of breast cancer, and why we should raise awareness for it there are some statistics we should know. One in eight U.S women have or will develop breast cancer at some point in their life, and as of 2015 2.1 million people have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease can sometimes be fatal, as of 2015, over 500 thousand deaths have been reportedly caused by breast cancer. Treatment for the disease varies, but can consist of chemotherapy, radiation or even surgery and none of these treatments are a guaranteed cure.
Knowing these facts helps us have a better understanding of why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so important. Nationally there are many events that take place this month to raise awareness. Race for the Cure is an event that started in Dallas in 1983 and is now held in over 100 cities. The Susan G. Comen Foundation also hold a 60 mile fundraising “Walk for the Cure”. Additionally many people including NFL players will incorporate pink into what they are wearing.
We can help too! There are so many ways to help. One of these ways is by raising money for breast cancer. We can also attend local events that are held to raise money or awareness for breast cancer. We can help in smaller ways too. For example we can simply wear pink to spread awareness and spark conversation about breast cancer or even just get informed about the disease ourselves. Whatever we do is important to make this Breast Cancer Awareness Month a success!