Get Involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every October, men and women across the United States kick the battle against breast cancer into high gear. Cancer is a problem during all months of the year, but we’ve dedicated one of them to really bringing information about breast cancer to the people. It’s a time to celebrate the fight, do some extra research, and learn life-saving tips.

NBCAM (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month) was created 25 years ago, and though October is the designated month for the cause, this program seeks to inform women and help them with their battle all year; this isn’t just a concern for the month of October alone!

There are many organizations that work with NBCAM to help raise awareness, and there are a variety of ways for you to get involved with them. Here are just a few…

1. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
2. AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation
3. Men Against Breast Cancer
4. Susan G. Komen
5. The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)

But the list is much longer, and these are only a few collaborators. You can visit their websites to find out how to get involved with these specific organizations.

You can also visit NBCAM’s online store to make purchases that benefit cancer-centered education.

Aside from being a part of the NBCAM, there are other ways that you can promote awareness and education about cancer. You really do have the power to help change women’s lives on a personal level, a professional level, and in the broad scope of promoting research and ultimately, finding a cure.

1. Read the policy mandate that activists are pushing. You can find the document here. This is basically a call to action for government officials, urging them to fight breast cancer on a more influential, intuitive, and effective level than simply wearing a pink ribbon. Some of the statements include environmental protection by testing chemical safety, more transparency in organizations that fund research, and funding preventative measures rather than trying to deal with breast cancer after the cause.
2. Support policies concerning breast cancer. You can also advocate for laws and policies that benefit breast cancer awareness, research, prevention, and education. These vary from state to state, so visit this site to learn how you can get involved.
3. Donate. Of course, you can always give money to a charity, but here’s a word of caution: Before you donate, do your research! We’ve all heard the Joseph Kony controversy, and many charities can really put you through the wringer! But call and talk to a rep (that’s why they’re there), visit an HQ, or really, really, read in-depths reports online about where the money is going. Don’t donate to an organization that only cares about its own profit!

And of course, on a personal level, you can help women who are struggling with cancer by supporting them, always offering a helping hand and a listening ear, and by taking an interest in their lives. But personal breast cancer involvement shouldn’t end there. You should be looking out for yourself, as well Learn about preventing breast cancer and detecting in your own body.

Glamour magazine did a long story about breast cancer in this month’s issue, and one thing they mentioned was that certain studies have found that self-examinations don’t affect breast cancer awareness as much as you might think. Rather, having a general idea of what your breasts look and feel like can be just as effective.

“You should be able to pick [them] out of a line-up,” the magazine says. The article features 30 women, all charged with the task of picking out the photo of their breasts; three of the women were wrong!

If you need some help in that department, take a photo of your breasts (or have a friend do it) so that you can see exactly what they look like. Keep in mind what your skin feels like and how your breasts feel differently or change throughout your ovulation cycle. This way, you’ll notice changes or alarming developments easily, just as you would through self-examination.

There is a multitude of ways for you to support breast cancer awareness and its designated month, and it’s very important that you do. Cancer is a very serious problem all across the world, so you should take the time to support ending it. You don’t just have to don the classic pink ribbon or t-shirt; you can do much, much more!

I hope that you find some of these ways of being involved helpful, and always remember to be supportive of those who are suffering.