Think Pink

October has been since 1985 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, founded as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of Astra Zeneca), producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs). The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.

In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estee Lauder Companies, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first time the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer. In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. 

More recently, the NFL and other entities have joined in the education and awareness of this terrible disease, by striping the fields with pink ribbons, coaches wearing team caps striped in pink, and players wearing pink gloves, cleats, ribbons and other objects highlighting this important program. This will begin with this week's games.

Understand that breast cancer is a disease that can potentially affect the entire female half of our population and may even impact males occasionally. But we need to remember that we all have a mom and by that alone, we should all be on board to help find a cure and educate ourselves with the obvious causes of this horrible disease. 

We need to realize that research, diagnosis and ongoing education and awareness to find the cure and prevent its occurrence is a battle that needs to be fought. These cost money, time and a lot of hard work on the part of us all. But it is worth it in the long run, if only we save one mom, one sister, one daughter. 

I have known and have met many women along the way who have suffered through this disease. In some cases, they could have been saved from the tragedy of a mastectomy if only they had gone for that annual mammography. Yes, I imagine that having your breasts flattened like pancakes could be, at a minimum, a source of discomfort if not painful. But it is up to all of us to prod, encourage, coax the women in our lives to endure this brief inconvenience for a year's worth of piece of mind.

Friends, take that moment from your day to educate yourselves on this terrible disease, so that you will be aware of why you need to support the women in your lives before this tragedy strikes. Your loved ones will thank you for your support and understanding, because by your involvement they will know you care. 

They will thank you forever for this; I guarantee it.