What is Breast Cancer Awareness.

Breast cancer awareness is a serious international effort to increase awareness about breast cancer in the minds of people. This is done by making people aware of the symptoms, risk factors, treatments and  prognosis of breast cancer. The importance of early breast cancer detection is emphatically stressed. Breast cancer awareness also aims to reduce the social stigma that is associated with this disease.

Aim of Breast Cancer Awareness.

The aim of breast cancer awareness from the beginning has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon to detect breast cancer early and fight it.

By making people aware, the people associated with breast awareness hope that the public will realize the importance of going in for breast screening mammogram regularly for an early diagnosis and a better survival rate.

People who advocate breast awareness also help raise funds for research with the hope that a reliable and permanent cure is found.

How is Breast Cancer Awareness Spread.

Campaigns are organized periodically to increase awareness. Media coverage for breast cancer is the maximum amongst all cancers though more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer. Governments in many countries help and contribute significantly to this program.

Breast cancer walk is held by many organizations with one purpose of uniting the people to put an end to breast cancer.

Pink lights light up the street, people wear pink clothes, hoardings with messages in pink are seen, rallies and bicycle rides with pink dressed people are organized to remind people of the importance of mammogram screening.

Susan G Komen.

Susan Goodman Komen was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33 years.  She died three years later in 1980. her younger sister Nancy Goodman Brinker felt that her prognosis would have been better if the cancer was detected earlier. She made a promise to her dying sister that she would do everything to end breast cancer.

She started the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982. In 2007, the name was changed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and trademarked a new logo which was the pink ribbon. The pink ribbon resembles a runner in motion and symbolizes Komen’s signature for Race for The Cure event. This event is the largest fund raising event for breast cancer education and research.

Picture of pink ribbon.

When is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The month of October every year is recognized as breast cancer awareness month. Campaigns are organized in this month and these are supported by most governments, breast cancer survivors and the media. There is a national effort to promote mammograms as breast screening procedures to facilitate early diagnosis.

Certain events concerning celebrities too helped to spread awareness. 1974 and 1987 saw significant spikes as these years coincided with the announcements of breast cancer of first ladies Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan.

The results were seen in the month of November where the incidence of mammograms saw a spike. Now due to spread of awareness, it is not just November which sees extra mammograms being conducted.  There is a uniform spread all across the year which is indeed a good thing. Not only that, but there has been a significant increase in the number of women who regularly undergo mammogram screening.

Why is October the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The reason for October being the breast awareness month seems to be purely historical. It was in the month of October of 1983 that the Race for the Cure was first held in Dallas, Texas, in which 800 people participated.

Image showing Race for The Cure.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

There does not seem to be a breast cancer awareness day as such and it varies. Searches on google failed to give any definite result, but an answer on ask.com mentions it as the 4^th Monday of October.

The Carleton University Ravens (Canada) host Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday, Jan. 29, in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Similarly, The SAAS Foundation, NYC, held the Annual Breast Awareness Day on 2^nd of October in 2010. In 2011, it held the day on 22^nd October.

Breast Cancer Awareness Merchandise.

Pink is the feminine color and the color of breast cancer awareness is pink. Sales of

• breast cancer awareness ribbons,

• breast cancer awareness bracelets,

• breast cancer awareness shirts and

• breast cancer awareness waistbands

(all pink in color) contribute to the breast awareness fund. Manufacturers of these products honor their commitment to contribute for research and to facilitate free mammograms. These products are worn to remind people of the necessity to undergo breast cancer screening.

Picture of breast cancer awareness merchandise. ( Click on image to enlarge)

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Organizations.

There are quite a few organizations active in spreading breast cancer awareness and garnering support. Besides educating the public, they donate millions of dollars for research and free screenings and treatments. To name a few:

• Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest organization.
• National Breast Cancer Coalition.
• Breast cancer Action.
• National Breast Cancer Organization.

Related posts:

1. Pink Ribbon.
2. Breast Cancer Statistics for U.S.A.
3. Breast Cancer Symptoms with Breast Cancer Pictures.
4. Breast Screening to Detect Breast Cancer.
5. Breast Cancer.
6. Breast Cancer Statistics Worldwide.
7. Breast Cancer Survival.
8. Diagnosis and Testing for Breast Cancer.