Breast cancer has touched my life on more occasions than I’d like, and the older I get, the more I hear people around me talking about having or knowing someone who has had or has the terrible disease.  It breaks my heart that these strong, courageous women have to fight for their lives, when they have so much to live for.  These women are daughters, sisters, mothers, cousins, grandmothers, and friends, and it breaks my heart even more to hear about the women who have had to fight or are fighting it two or three times.

October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  While people are very much aware of the presence of breast cancer in our lives, the amount of women being diagnosed is growing.  Do we know why?  It could possibly be attributed the the lifestyle we lead, but no one knows for sure.  Over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  That’s some pretty high odds, but we can all take precautionary measures to prevent the development of the disease. When caught early enough, breast cancer has a 98% survival rate!

Don’t just wear pink and say you’re supporting these women.  Wearing pink is not enough.  Don’t just buy something that says they are supporting the cause, because that’s not always the case. Further more, that pink ribbon that you see slapped on every T-shirt, Bag, and Pin, it’s unregulated, and not trademarked, which means, no one has to pay to use it, and they AREN’T REQUIRED to give ANY funds to the cause they say they are supporting.  To be honest, many actually do give money to breast cancer organizations, however, it’s pocket change compared to what they make in revenue.

Instead of buying that shirt that says they are supporting breast cancer research, or just wearing the same shirt.  Get out and get educated.  Get out and DO SOMETHING.  Be a leader in your community, and lead by example.  Live a healthy lifestyle and encourage the women in your life to live a healthy lifestyle and to get checked.  PREVENTION is the BEST MEDICINE.  Lift up the women who are in the fight.  Praise the women who have won!  Donate directly to the charities you feel will help cancer research, and to the charities that do the most help.  The article from Time, listed below is from October of 2014 but still very applicable. It lists 5 different charities that do the most good for Breast Cancer awareness, education, and research.  One of them even help to make sure that those who are fighting don’t go into debt in the process.

http://time.com/money/3485144/breast-cancer-awareness-month-charities-donations/

The odds are high that you or someone you know will get breast cancer in a lifetime, but you don’t have to sit back idly and wait to see what happens

Below is a list of how you can DO SOMETHING:

1.  Get educated.  Educate yourself and those around you! What causes breast cancer? What can you do to prevent it?
2. Make a change.  Make a lifestyle change and encourage those around you to do the same.  Eat healthier, exercise, visit the doctor for wellness visits, laugh and live life.  Don’t be afraid or scared that it’s going to happen, make sure you prevent it!  Women who are physically active are 25% less likely to develop breast cancer.
3. Get Checked!  Take 15 minutes out of your day once a month to check yourself out.  You are never too old or too young to get breast cancer.  Don’t think it won’t happen to you because it could and that is scary!  If you find anything abnormal go to a doctor and get checked.  Encourage those around you to do the same!
4. Relay for life, Race for the cure, Making Strides are all events that raise funds for organizations while also bringing together those who have been touched by the disease.  Young and old, supporter and survivor, everyone who has fought, is fighting, or knows someone who has or is.  It’s a time to make sure we get together and enjoy the life we lead!
5. Start your own fundraising campaign.  When you start your own fundraising campaign, you can donate your funds to any organization that you feel will benefit the most, or that makes the most impact.

XO Thay