Breast cancer is found in 1 in 8 women. 1 in 8. This means 3 moms in your child’s school class. This means in a family of sisters, moms, aunts, and grandmas, chances are one of them will have it. It is virtually impossible to escape from it. Cancer attacks our lives like a demon no one could have ever predicted. It is no surprise that with so many of our loved ones suffering from such a horrible disease, it makes sense to have a massive marketing month to bring breast cancer awareness to the cause and hopefully find a cure.
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2010. There is absolutely nothing that can take away that feeling. I remember the silence. The hug. I remember the expletives I typed on social media. I remember completely falling apart at work. It happened to us. Since my mom’s diagnosis, she has had two surgeries to remove the growth and several rounds of chemo and radiation. She has now been in remission for 4 years. Prevention and awareness mean a lot to us. Here are five ways you can get involved with breast cancer awareness:
Breast Cancer Awareness
- Donate financially to organizations researching the cure. There are many options including Susan G. Komen, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Cars to Cure, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Network of Strength and American Cancer Society. Do your homework on these organizations and give anything you can to the one you are most passionate about.
- Acts of kindness. For friends and family affected by breast cancer, consider being their support person. Sit with them during chemo. Drive them to appointments (there are a lot!) Bring them fresh fruit or home-cooked meals. Offer free babysitting.
- Be active. Our family walked many Race for the Cures together. When I ] started running, the first 5k I set my sight on was in support of breast cancer. There is nearly nothing more moving than seeing literally thousands of people in a sea of pink all together to fight the same battle. Other events include bicycling, flag football, volleyball and softball tournaments and more. Many national sports leagues also change their uniforms and even donate a game’s worth of pay throughout the year. (Mother’s Day is another big breast cancer awareness moment for obvious reasons.)
- Talk about it. Do your monthly self-exams. Go to your annual checkups. Let people know you did so. Is it TMI? Maybe. I’m not saying to post pictures of it. I am just saying the more it becomes commonplace to do your due diligence in early detection, the more women will get on board and the less deadly this cancer will have to be. You never know. Maybe you post a short little quip about being all clear again this month and your friend from high school will realize she forgot to do her own exam.
- Pink is powerful. These days, pink is everywhere. Do more than just wear pink. Choose products that donate a portion of their proceeds to research. These sales can be on anything and everything: jewelry, clothing items, electronics, and even beauty products. (Just because a product has a breast cancer symbol or phrase on it doesn’t mean that any money will go to breast cancer research. Check the details before jumping in.)
Cancer awareness and research need everyone. No matter how little or much you can do, everything matters. We have to fight this killer together. What are some other ways you have supported breast cancer awareness this month?
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