October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all across metro Atlanta, events are being held to raise money and recognition of this major health risk to women.
In Sandy Springs, bicyclists will be participating in an over Oct. 13-14 called the 24 Hours Of Booty Bike Ride. On Oct. 18, Brookhaven's Taryn Reed Jewelry & Loving Local will host a girls night out shopping event, where a portion of proceeds will benefit research through www.keep-a-breast.org.
Rue 21 locations in Stone Mountain and Lithonia are donating portions of their Breast Cancer Awareness merchandise to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
And in Buckhead and Virginia-Highland, Van Michael Salon and the Pink Heels Foundation are offering a variety of specials and deals through October.
Almost every metro Atlanta community has extensive resources and support groups for women whose lives have been touched by the disease, from Black Girls Run in the Cascade and southwest Atlanta neighborhoods to groups that meet regularly in Dunwoody.
But according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, heart disease is the No. 1 natural cause of death among women in most every statistical group, with cancer a close second.
Some people have wearied of the number of events and promotions during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and some worry that it takes too much attention away from discussing other serious health risks.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments area below this article.
Related Topics
24 Hours Of Booty Bike Ride For Cancer Research Debuts In Sandy Springs.
Girls Night Out - Shop For A Cause.
Healthy Living Can Prevent Breast Cancer.
Breast Cancer Support Groups In Dunwoody.
Shop Pink In Stone Mountain And Lithonia.
Van Michael Salon And The Pink Heels Foundation Blow Out To End Breast Cancer.
Not to mention the fact the MEN GET BREAST CANCER TOO. Is it really so difficult to mention male breast cancer once in a while??? They are one of the most ignored, marginalized groups of people. If you want to raise breast cancer awareness, how about starting with the fact the men get it, and die from it, too.
In addition, I agree that there is pink everywhere, but as annoying as the person above finds the term "breast cancer awareness," there is no denying the fact that it has worked. 5 year survival rates have improved by over 30% since the early 80's and that can be attributed to (1) increased education and awareness that has led to more people getting screened more often- which has resulted in diagnosis at an earlier and more treatable stage and (2) increased fundraising to find better treatments, more effective screening methods, etc. Not to mention the fact that breast cancer research has helped discover information that has been benefical to other types of cancers and diseases as well. And FYI. Lung cancer may kill more women than breast, but more women are diagnosed with breast cancer. I am no expert, but it is possible that "pink" may have contributed to the fact that even though more women are being diagnosed, less are dying.