Breast Cancer Awareness

Maria Esther Ponce

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual health campaign facilitated  by major breast cancer charities worldwide to promote awareness about this illness. 

Breast Cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world; it happens when cancerous cells mutate and become tumors in the breast. This cancer can affect both males and females, but it mostly affects females from age 50 and older. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985. It was a partnership made between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Betty Ford, wife of former president Gerald Ford, helped promote this wonderful campaign, as she was a survivor of breast cancer herself, and her participation in this campaign helped advocate awareness about the cancer. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began with informing the public, especially women, about breast cancer and providing help with early detection of the disease. The first campaign to utilize the use of the pink ribbon was in 1992. According to the United Breast Cancer Foundation, “In the fall of 1991, Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to the runners in the NYC race for breast cancer survivors, inspired by the red AIDS awareness ribbons.” With the help of Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of Self Magazine and Evelyn Lauder, Vice President of the Estee Lauder companies, who is a breast cancer survivor herself together, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation two years later. They established the pink ribbon as its symbol.

Nowadays, Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrates those who have survived and those who continue to fight breast cancer, promoting their stories and experiences. Throughout the month, donations are made to help contribute to breast cancer research, and provide education about cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month dedicates time to acknowledge the people whose lives have changed due to this cancer. Let’s celebrate the survivors and victims of this illness and spread awareness about breast cancer.

Works Cited

Dev, Rps. “A Brief History of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Brevard Health Alliance, 17 Oct. 2019, brevardhealth.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-breast-cancer-awareness-month.

Reichart, Beth. “History, Evolution and Marketing of the Pink Ribbon - United Breast Cancer Foundation.” United Breast Cancer Foundation, 29 July 2014, www.ubcf.org/history-evolution-marketing-pink-ribbon.