At this time of year, the world is awash in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). This annual international campaign was begun to encourage women to take steps to detect the disease in its earliest stages as well as to raise funds for research. The goal of BCAM, which was founded in 1985, is to promote mammography as the gold standard for detecting the disease and to eradicate breast cancer within our lifetimes. We can thank Evelyn Lauder, who as Senior Corporate Vice President of Estee Lauder Companies in 1993, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol.
Since it’s inception, BCAM has raised many millions of dollars for research into the disease’s cause, detection, treatment, cure and prevention. For all the good it’s done, it is also surrounded by controversy as more and more companies jumped on the BCAM bandwagon with the promise of donating a portion – or all – of its sales for a specified time, often for the month of October, to a pet breast cancer awareness charity. Naysayers point to the fact that some of these companies, while raising funds and awareness, manufacture products that contain cancer-causing agents. Others point to the fact that every day of every month should be devoted to breast cancer awareness. I don’t quibble with either side of the issue. I get both. The number of mammograms spikes during October and companies raise big bucks for the cause even though some of the products involved contain ingredients that have been linked to cancer. It’s an imperfect world and an imperfect campaign.
Want to get involved during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Try these …
Book your appointment for your annual mammogram, if that’s what your health care practitioner recommends, and keep it.
Donate to your favorite charity. A suggested list follows below.
Donate your time by volunteering at a local cancer center.
Buy pink. There are thousands of “pink” products available this month that donate all or a portion of their proceeds to charity enabling you to shop and do something good at the same time.
Participate in one of the many organized walks or runs to raise money for the cause.
Help out a friend who may be afraid to go alone to her mammogram appointment.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. They also note that “death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990” due, in part to increased awareness, early detection and improving treatment options. Breast Cancer Awareness Month has made great strides towards educating women about the importance of early detection and treatment but the fight continues. Keep fighting. Here, as promised, some organizations to which you can donate.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Please note that this is just a partial list. A quick Google search will reveal many more.
You May Also Like:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2014
An Open Letter Re: Breast Cancer
Skin Cancer Facts from Dr. Michael Tomeo
