Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Do you have a personal connection to breast cancer? If you or someone you love has ever had the disease, you may already know the facts. You may know that 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, or that this year over 250,000 new cases will be diagnosed.

However, those of us in good health may not take time to think about the issue -- after all, it's easy to forget about when you're already in good health.

Every October we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Why? Breast cancer is a widespread issue that merits national consideration. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in October 1985 to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services.

You may be seeing the color pink on pretty much everything this month. From professional athletes donning pink cleats, to grandmas in pink T-shirts or hoodies, to any celebrity on social media, people take pink to the next level in October.

When did the pink ribbon come about? The first to do it was the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the fall of 1991 when they handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol.

Symbols aside, there remains a long way to go in the fight against breast cancer. Jeanne Croteau wrote in Forbes about some of the most important things you can do:

  1. Know the Signs
  2. The signs and symptoms associated with breast cancer can vary widely from person to person. For this reason, it's important to make note of any changes and discuss them with a healthcare provider. If something doesn't seem right, have it checked out. The American Cancer Society has a list of symptoms that warrant a trip to the doctor.

  3. Get Screened
  4. It can't be stressed enough: This is the most important thing you can do. It starts with a self-exam, but another proactive method of screening is to have a mammogram. This can help detect the disease early before symptoms even occur. The earlier you find the disease, the easier it is to treat.

  5. Share Your Story
  6. Raise awareness! Whether it's a personal story, one from a family member, or even a post you see on social media, please share it with others to show the amazing people who have battled this disease. Don't feel like your story won't matter to someone else -- everyone's voice can make a difference.

You can support the search for a cure with this practical first aid kit filled with essentials. The First Aid for Life First Aid Kit is perfectly sized for the home, car, or office, and contains supplies for everyday first aid needs as well as additional injury treatment items.

Features include:

  • Pink plastic hard-sided case that keeps supplies readily available and neatly stowed.
  • Comprehensive kit that contains first aid utilities, medications, additional injury treatment and bandages
  • American Red Cross Emergency First Aid Guide
Get Product Updatesincluding Sales and Deals
TOP Free currency converter