October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast Cancer Awareness aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects one in eight women in the United States annually and 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs aimed at:

• Supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer
• Educating people about breast cancer risk factors
• Stressing the importance of regular screening
• Fundraising for breast cancer research

The event began in 1985 as a week-long awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society. It eventually extended to a month-long event. In 1992, the pink ribbon came into play.

Things to do this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• If you delayed your annual mammogram, schedule your appointment now and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
• Learn more about breast cancer and how it affects people’s lives from our podcast, videos, and medically reviewed educational content on the Breascancer.org website.
• Join community discussion forums to ask questions or connect with others.
• Attend a virtual meetup for support related to your diagnosis or the person you are caretaking.
• Support the work of breast cancer advocacy by making a donation to Breastcancer.org.

And, if you would like to walk to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness, KTVU is partnering with the American Cancer Society for its annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks at two Bay Area events. The walks raise funds for breast cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

KTVU’s Heather Holmes will emcee a walk in San Francisco on October 16 and LaMonica Peters will emcee the event at California’s Great America in Santa Clara on October 22.

To register or donate to the 10/16 walk in San Francisco, visit this web page.
To register or donate to the 10/22 walk in Santa Clara, visit this web page.