By Riva Preil
October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). NBCAM was established in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and a sub-division of Imperial Chemical Industries with the goal of promoting routine mammographies as the best tool to detect and combat the disease. In 1993, Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estee Lauder cosmetics company established The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the popular pink ribbon as its symbol. The National Race for the Cure was established in October 1983 to raise funds for breast cancer research. The first race was held in Dallas, Texas, and there were 800 participants. By 2002, within a mere decade, the event had exploded into 1.3 million participants in over one hundred U.S. cities!
Fortunately, breast cancer awareness and research has helped with earlier detection and treatment than ever before. Furthermore, prophylactic measures have become a viable option for women with increased risk of developing the disease. October is a great time to review the proper way to perform a breast self-examination. Please refer to the link here to ensure that you are properly performing a BSE monthly.
