National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
As well as providing a platform for breast cancer charities to raise awareness of their work and of the disease, BCAM is also a prime opportunity to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection
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[edit] History
In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies founded Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) and established the Pink Ribbon as its symbol.
AstraZeneca, which manufactures breast cancer drugs Arimidex and Tamoxifen, founded the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the year 1985. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer[citation needed].
The number of companies that engaged to breast cancer awareness increased over the years, and as of 2007 includes Estee Lauder, Avon and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
[edit] Activities and events during the BCAM
[edit] The National Race for the Cure
In October 1983 the Race for the Cure was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, where 800 people participated. According to the organizers, by 2002 the number of participants reached 1.3 million and the event was held in over 100 US cities. The event is also being organized in several other parts of the World.[1]
| Australia and New Zealand | Dove Pink Star walk |
| Germany | Komen Frankfurt Race for the Cure |
| Netherlands | Walk for Women |
| Italy | Komen Italia Race for the Cure |
| United Kingdom | Race for my wife and Race for life |
| Canada | Run for the Cure |
| Hungary | Avon One-Day Walk for Life |
| Puerto Rico | Komen Puerto Rico Race for the Cure |
| Bulgaria | Breast Cancer Walk |
[edit] Breast Cancer 2 Day
There are various two-day-long walks to raise money for breast cancer research institutes. Avon sponsors a 39 mile (60 km) walk.[1] A walk in Atlanta offers varying lengths of up to 30 miles.[2] Canada's large "Weekend to End Breast Cancer" features a 60 km walk.[3]
[edit] Breast Cancer 3 Day
This sixty mile fundraising walk, which is spread across 3 days, raises money for breast cancer research. This walk, which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust,[2] occurs in several cities in the United States. The Breast Cancer 3-Day was previously sponsored and managed by Avon.
| Bulgaria | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Czech Republic | Breast Cancer Conference |
| France | 5km Breast Cancer Race/Walk |
| Germany | Women's 5k/10k Walk Run |
| Greece | Recognition dinner and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Fashion show |
| Hungary | Walk for Life |
| Ireland | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Italy | Breast cancer Awareness event |
| Poland | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Portugal | Educational walk-a-thon |
| Romania | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Russia | Press conference |
| Slovakia | Press conference |
| Spain | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Turkey | "Trip to Health with Avon" walk |
| Ukraine | Breast Cancer awareness walk |
| United Kingdom | "Celebrating Life" award ceremony |
[edit] Global Illumination
Estee Lauder Companies has arranged to have more than a dozen world-famous landmarks illuminated in pink light to draw attention to the importance of mammography screening for early diagnosis of breast cancer[citation needed] as well as the research for finding ways to cure and prevent breast cancer.[citation needed] Some of these landmarks are:
| The Harbour Bridge | Sydney | Australia |
| The Hangzhou Department Store | Hangzhou | China |
| Niagara Falls | Ontario | Canada |
| The Eden Project | Cornwall | England |
| The Majestic Hotel | Cannes | France |
| The French Affiliate Building | Paris | France |
| The Angel of Peace | Munich | Germany |
| City Hall | Reykjavik | Iceland |
| Azrieli Towers | Tel Aviv | Israel |
| Constantine’s Arch | Rome | Italy |
| The Arena | Verona | Italy |
| Tokyo Tower | Tokyo | Japan |
| City Hall Square | Seoul | Korea |
| The Dam Square | Amsterdam | The Netherlands |
| The Skytower | Auckland | New Zealand |
[edit] Pink days
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October, people raise money by organizing activities such as theme parties or a "pink day" (when employees wear pink clothing or accessories) at work. The money raised is donated to the organizers' choice of breast cancer care or research programs.
The original and most popular pink day is called wear it pink[citation needed] and is organised by Breast Cancer Campaign. In 2006 this event raised £3.5m in a single day,[citation needed] and 2007 marks its sixth anniversary. Also popular[citation needed] is Breast Cancer Care's In The Pink which raised £800,000 in 2006.
[edit] Criticisms
[edit] Corporate Sponsorship
It has been alleged that "the BCAM idea 'was conceived and paid for by a British chemical company that both profits from this epidemic and may be contributing to its cause...'".[3] The term Pinkwashing has been used by Breast Cancer Action to describe the actions of companies which manufacture and use chemicals which show a link with breast cancer and at the same time publicly support charities focused on curing the disease.[4] Other criticisms center on the marketing of "pink products" and tie ins, citing that more money is spent marketing these campaigns than is donated to the cause.[5]
[edit] Cure as "Treatment" vs. "Prevention"
The Cancer Prevention Coalition has criticized the basic message of NBCAM as a form of victim blaming [4] because it focuses on "early detection and treatment"[5] while ignoring environmental factors found in a majority of cancer cases[6]. Profit seeking drug, chemical, and biotechnology companies have a vested interest in treating the disease rather than finding ways to minimize its rate of incidence[7]. Although the American Cancer Society says “…there are no practical ways to prevent breast cancer – only early detection,"[citation needed] recent studies show that breast cancer is linked to several environmental and genetic factors which can be controlled or mitigated.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Susan G. Komen for the Cure website. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
- ^ About the beneficiaries, Breast Cancer 3 Day website Retrieved November 26, 2007.
- ^ Janette D. Sherman, M.D.(New York and London: Taylor and Francis, 2000). ISBN 1-56032-870-3. Life's Delicate Balance THE CANCER MOVEMENT: Independent, Sold-Out, or Bought Up? .
- ^ Focus on Pinkwashers, Breast Cancer Action's think before you pink campaign site. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
- ^ Who's Really Cleaning Up Here Breast Cancer Action's think before you pink campaign site. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
- ^ Nancy Evans (Ed.) State of the Evidence 2006
