By: Jenny Biggs | Contributing Writer
It could be your mother, it could be your aunt, your sibling, your child, a close friend or just an acquaintance. More than likely, everybody knows of someone who has fallen victim to breast cancer. Every October, you will likely see people walking around with little pink ribbons pinned to their shirts. A national campaign is organized by breast cancer charities around the globe with the goal of raising money and spreading awareness.
According to the National Breast Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women worldwide. Just in the U.S., breast cancer also has one of the highest death rates, falling second to skin cancer. Over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors reside in the U.S. While men can fall victim too, women have higher statistics for the disease. 1 in 8 women will obtain a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
The risk factors of breast cancer are things that cannot be changed or minimized. They include your gender, your genes, and your age. Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no history of disease in their family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
There are visible signs and non-visible signs. Even if you believe yourself to be healthy, it is still important to go get yourself checked out at least once a year. In several cases, women have breast cancer and don’t even know it. Our advanced technology has made early detection possible, and smartphone apps have made it easier to check for symptoms.
There are several ways to show your support of people that have battled or are battling breast cancer. With a little pink ribbon, a small donation, even just by wearing something pink, you can show that you care about the future of this campaign. Even if you feel like nobody hears you, you are spreading more awareness than you know.
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