Breast Cancer Research is Key…but Awareness is Important Too

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. From pink nail polish to pink Cuisinart mixers, there are lots of ways to participate in the cause. Breast cancer statistics are truly sobering. In the U.S. alone, 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and a woman dies of breast cancer every 15 minutes. Worldwide, a woman is diagnosed every 19 seconds! Research dollars are paramount as we continue our quest for the cure. I encourage you to donate to charities which specifically support advancing our understanding of the disease through dedicated research. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) and National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) are both highly rated, research-focused charities.

Not everyone has the resources to donate. But I assure you that awareness is important too. It’s been estimated that if every woman over the age of 50 had her yearly mammogram, breast cancer deaths in this age group would drop by 25% or more. And when breast cancer is detected early in the localized stage, the 5 year survival rate is over 95%. I implore you to perform routine breast self-examinations and get routine checkups and mammograms. Learn ways to increase your chances of early detection here.

So proudly sport that pink polish and use your pink products…and share the importance of early detection to the women (and men) you love!

My daughter and I are “thinking pink” this weekend with our matching Ballerina Pink Tieks! Tieks, makers of my fave shoes on the planet, has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to help educate women about early prevention and support all those affected by this disease.

Our manis are cause-worthy too. I’m sporting Mod About You and The Power of Pink from the OPI Pink of Hearts 2014 Duo and Adda is wearing P.S. I Love You and Fight Like a Lady from the Morgan Taylor Fight Like a Lady Trio. Both OPI and Morgan Taylor are donating a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research and awareness.

Disclosure: Some products in this post were provided by the manufacturer or PR for my consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.