Breast Cancer Awareness Month

History of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It's a harsh reality for a lot of women out there, but with proper knowledge and safety precautions, we can prevent it and get treatment faster for these people. It is October, which means it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is crucial to be informed and to raise awareness about breast cancer. Knowing the risks and how to stay safe can help reduce cases and improve survival rates through early treatment. 

In October of 1985, the first organized effort was made to bring extensive attention to breast cancer, founded by the American Cancer Society and the Imperial Chemical Industries Pharmaceuticals. This inspired other organizations to start up, and existing organizations to speak up. Since then, campaigns, organizations, government agencies, and so many other organizations have worked to spread awareness worldwide. 

The Pink Ribbon

The pink ribbon is a well-known symbol of breast cancer awareness. In October of 1993, an editor-in-chief for SELF magazine named Alexandra Penney wanted to put the magazine's second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue over the top. She created a pink ribbon with Evelyn Lauder, who was the senior corporate vice president of the Estée Lauder Companies (a global cosmetic corporation), and they worked to have the ribbons distributed throughout their stores along with self-exam instruction cards. The pink ribbons made a big impact on bringing women together and spreading awareness about breast cancer. It also serves as a reminder for women to go for their regular exam and mammogram screening.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)

Evelyn Lauder, the vice president of the Estée Lauder Companies who helped create and put out the pink ribbon, had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 1989. At the time, breast cancer screenings, treatments, and prevention strategies were very limited. Evelyn Lauder and her husband Leonard had made it a mission to have that changed. In 1993 Lauder founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which has helped dramatically in the treatment research, prevention, diagnosis, and so much more. Evelyn Lauder passed away in 2011, but the BCRF is ongoing. The BCRF is a very impactful organization towards women's health, it continues to advance and fund our knowledge and understanding of breast cancer, prevention methods, and so much more.

Staying safe

Between 5 and 10 out of 100 breast cancers are inherited faulty genes. Though the chances aren't high, it's good to know if someone in your family has experienced breast cancer. This can help you be more cautious in the future when it comes to screenings.

Screenings

By the age of 40, women should start getting breast cancer screenings. Finding it early and getting treatment can save your life.

Healthy lifestyle 

It’s basic, but keeping a healthy diet, exercising frequently, and even limiting alcohol use can help decrease your risk of breast cancer.