Every October, pink ribbons are plastered on products, displayed on billboards, and advertised on TV. This is because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a topic we’re all familiar with. But when you think of it, what do you really know about breast cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast mutate, multiply uncontrollably, and form a tumor. Scientists are unsure about how this actually happens, but there are risk factors that you can control to lessen your chances of developing breast cancer. These include drinking alcohol, lack of exercise, smoking, and an unhealthy diet.
Breast cancer mostly affects women over 40, but young women and men can also get breast cancer. Around 1 in every 800 men develops it, while 1 in every 8 women develops it. A couple of symptoms of breast cancer include: a change in the size or shape of your breast, a mass lump (which could feel as small as a pea) in your underarm or breast, a change in the look or feel of the breast, or blood-stained fluid from your nipple. If you feel you have any of these symptoms, let your doctor or parent know so they can help you get a breast ultrasound or a mammogram.
There are several types of breast cancer, but the most common is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). IDC can be especially dangerous because it can travel to other organs. When caught early and still in the breast, the five-year survival rate is 100%. But when it travels to distant organs, the survival rate drops all the way to 30%. “The progression of the disease, which eventually claimed my mother’s life, was swift and ruthless. The helplessness I felt, witnessing her decline, is a pain I can’t fully describe.”An excerpt from a personal essay written by Humberto Rodriguez, which talks about how she lost her mother to breast cancer at age 12.
The pain and loss of over 2 million people is overlooked with the pink ribbon that has claimed to care. The pink ribbon that companies use to feign their nonexistent support. The same pink ribbon that those who have suffered must watch as their pain is set aside as advertisements for sales. If one truly wanted to show support, donating to organizations like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, or the American Cancer Society would truly show that you care.
Remember, this month is so much more than just pink ribbons. It’s about those who have won and those who have lost.
