More than 60,000 new cases of breast cancer are detected each year. In France, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (33% of female cancers). According to data from the League Against Cancer, 80% of breast cancers develop after the age of 50 and the average age at diagnosis is 64 years. To encourage women to get tested, the campaign Pink October “. What is it and why is it important? Lighting.
What is Pink October?
Pink October is an annual breast cancer awareness campaign. For 31 days various actors, in particular from the associative and medical sectors, raise public awareness, inform about the importance of screening to identify cases as early as possible and raise funds for research. The symbol of this campaign is the pink ribbon.
When was Pink October created?
The first awareness campaign on breast cancer screening was launched in 1985 in the United States, on the initiative ofAmerican Cancer Society and the company Imperial chemical industries. A few years later, in 1992, Evelyn Lauder, then vice president of Estée Lauder and a breast cancer survivor, created in collaboration with Self magazine the association ” Pink Ribbon “.
As the Predilife website says, “ the Estée Lauder company then distributes pink ribbons in its New York stores. The color pink was chosen because it is a color ‘feminine, sweet, joyful and evocative of good health, everything that cancer is not’ », Says the Breast Cancer Action association “.
A year later, Evelyn Lauder founded “ The Breast Cancer Research Foundation » whose mission is to support innovation in the field of clinical and genetic research. As told in Dauphiné LibéréEvelyn Lauder then created “ a shade of pink called ’50’ renamed Pink Ribbon […] Over two years, Pink Ribbon lipstick and blush sales generate approximately $120,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Between these sales and donations $900,000 was paid “.
On the French side, it is only in 1994 that the French branch of the Estée Lauder group joins the Marie-Claire group to create the association “ Breast cancer, let’s talk about it! “. This will become, in 2020, “ Pink Ribbon “.
Read also: Here’s everything you need to know aboutself-examination to detect a breast cancer
Why is this campaign important?
62,000 new cases of breast cancer are reported each year. However, according to the latest survey by the League Against Cancer published on Tuesday, there has been a steady decline in the participation of French women in screening campaigns for 10 years. So much so that 12% of those old enough to do so have never been tested. This represents 1.3 million women between the ages of 50 and 74. “ Several obstacles reflect this figure such as the absence of symptoms, the fear of feeling pain, the fear of diagnosis or even the lack of information. », according to the League.
In 2022 alone, only 44.9% of women in this age group underwent screening. For this reason it is essential to maintain a constant effort to raise awareness, because, as the League website underlines, we have” 90% chance of recovering from breast cancer diagnosed early »!
Remember that effective screening requires a mammogram repeated every two years between the ages of 50 and 74. It is also advisable, starting from the age of 25, to have an annual palpation performed by a doctor, gynecologist or midwife.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
