National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) is held every October to raise awareness of the disease and raise money for research. One of the major goals of NBCAM is to encourage women to self-check for early detection of breast cancer.
History
NBCAM was founded in 1985 by AstraZeneca, a drug company that makes the drugs Armidex and Tamoxifen, both used to fight breast cancer.
October
One of the reasons October was chosen is that the first Race for the Cure was held then in 1983. Eight hundred people took part in Dallas, Texas. Today, more than a million people take part in the annual race.
Pink Days
People are encouraged to hold pink-themed parties in October to raise money for breast cancer. These "pink days" extend to the workplace, where people wear pink to support those with breast cancer.
Controversy
Some critics of NBCAM, such as the Cancer Prevention Coalition, have spoken out, saying the organization is too fixated on early detection rather than blaming environmental factors that cause cancer.
Famous Ties
The Estee Lauder Company created the pink ribbon as the symbol of NBCAM in 1993.
Tags: breast cancer, Breast Cancer, early detection, October raise, raise money
