October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
https://www.breastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month
The month is about more than pink ribbons. While some feel inspired, many people living with breast cancer feel like the month overlooks their experience with the disease.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s a trigger — 31 days in the fall of pink-ribbon reminders of a disease that forever changed them. For others, it’s a chance to show their support for the more than 2 million women around the world who are diagnosed with the disease each year.
Understanding the goals behind the global campaign and the emotions felt by the many different people living with the disease may help you decide if and how you want to commemorate the month.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers — aimed at:
supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer
educating people about breast cancer risk factors
encouraging women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk
fundraising for breast cancer research
Within the month of October, there are also specific dates designed to raise awareness of specific groups within the breast cancer community.
Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week (October 17–23) Although breast cancer is much more common in women, breast cancer affects men, too. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated October 17 to October 23 Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. According to the American Cancer Society, 2,790 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and about 530 are expected to die from the disease. But lack of awareness and stigma can be barriers to detection and care in men, trans men, and non-binary people.
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.