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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: As October Ends, the Work Continues

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: As October Ends, the Work Continues

By Jen Swendseid

While Breast Cancer Awareness Month is filled with events, fundraising and the color pink, the work continues beyond these 31 days. For the people recovering from surgery, the people getting treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, the people supporting those actively battling the disease and the organizations dedicated to the cause, we’re reminded that the battle against breast cancer is personal for so many, year-round, every day.

As the month comes to a close, we’re also focused on the fact that we’re seeing more survivors and thrivers due to research, testing and support from organizations and individuals actively working to make a change.  

October was a month of news about breast cancer, including the release of the American Cancer Society’s report on updated facts and figures, studies showing a more common diagnosis in young people, reports on food packaging chemicals linked to the disease, stories about issues with dense breast tissue and statistics about higher rates of death among certain populations. These articles point to the progress being made as well as the areas where there is more work to be done. Here are a few of the key takeaways:

American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures: “The breast cancer death rate has dropped by 44% since 1989 because because of advances in treatment and earlier detection, resulting in approximately 517,900 averted breast cancer deaths.”
Breast Cancer Risk Steadily Rising Among Young Women: “Although more and more women are surviving breast cancer, the disease is becoming more common, particularly at younger ages. A new report shows the breast cancer rate rose by 1% annually from 2012 to 2021, with even greater increases among women under age 50 and a startling jump even among women in their 20s.”
Breast cancer-linked chemicals found in food packaging: Safety tips from experts: “Now, a study may offer an explanation for some of the increase in breast cancers. The study, by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, based in Zurich, Switzerland, and published in Frontiers in Toxicology, researchers identified 189 potential breast carcinogens in common food packaging materials, 76 of which could transfer from the packaging into the food."
Her breast density camouflaged her cancer. She says new FDA regulations are "a gift.": “Under new FDA regulations, all mammography facilities have to notify women of their level of breast density. Until now, this critical piece of information wasn't required to be shared with women, and it can potentially be a lifesaver.”
Black women and breast cancer: Des Moines pastor using diagnosis as testimony: “According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Black women have a 38% higher death rate from breast cancer despite being diagnosed at the same rate as white women.”
Breast cancer rises among Asian American and Pacific Islander women, and experts aren't sure why: “Nearly 9,000 Asian American women died from breast cancer from 2018 through 2023, compared with about 500 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women. However, breast cancer death rates were 116% higher among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women than among Asian American women during that period.”

It was also a month of connecting with other companies who share in our vision and, just as we are thoughtfully creating surgical bras and mastectomy bras, they are creating unique and essential products for cancer patients.  

Sleep Again Pillows: For those preparing for surgery, the “Better Sleep. Better Healing.” design of this patented pillow system helps patients sleep comfortably on their back. Created by a cancer survivor, this “cocoon of comfort” is recommended by doctors and loved by sleepers.
CamWell ® Oncology Care: For those going through cancer treatments or preparing for them, creams to help in healing provide much-needed relief. These oncologist-formulated herbal creams are designed for fast, long-lasting natural results.

We’re thankful to have connected with so many important people and companies along our journey this past month — those who are helping move research forward as well as providing support for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. And that’s why we continue our work beyond October, with a second month of donations this year to Susan G. Komen®. During November, a month where we focus on gratitude and gathering with family and friends, we will be donating 20% of purchases to this important organization and its vision.

Thank you again to all who supported us during this past month with our fundraising efforts and the opportunity to share our heart&core story with more people.

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