By Savannah Scott
A young woman, no older than 30, sits in a doctor’s office anxiously awaiting what feels like a personal verdict. She sits in the chair with fidgeting hands and jittery feet, holding back tears. She pulls out her phone and looks at pictures of her family for comfort. She has been married for five years and has two young daughters who adore her. A man in a white coat approaches her with a sympathetic, perturbed expression. “Hi Naomi,” he begins with bated breaths. “We ran some tests and I am here to inform you that we found a form of ductal carcinoma, commonly referred to as triple-negative breast cancer (Dr. Sheng, 2022). Around ten to fifteen percent of breast cancer patients have it, and it is very aggressive, but we are going to do everything we can to help you win this fight. I’m so sorry.” Naomi can no longer hold back her tears. Falling into the doctor’s arms, she wails at the disappointing, life-changing news. For one in eight women, this is more than an anecdote, it is or was their reality (“How,” 2022). The American Cancer Society states that in 2022 alone: 287, 450 invasive breast cancers will be diagnosed in women, about 51,400 new cases of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (commonly called DCIS) will be diagnosed, and about 43,250 women will die from breast cancer. In October, we support those fighting and who have fought with breast cancer by recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
You may have gone into a store one day in October and seen a small pink ribbon by the cash register. Perhaps you marveled at the color, admired the ribbon, or you may not have paid attention to it at all. For those struggling with breast cancer, and those who know someone struggling with breast cancer, that ribbon is a symbol. It is a symbol of strength for those who are wrestling with the disease, a symbol of sisterhood for those standing with their diagnosed counterparts, or a symbol of grief as a poignant reminder of someone they’ve lost to the disease.
The concept of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon originated with Charlotte Hayley, a woman who won her battle with the disease (Barnes, 2017). During the early 90’s, Hayley homemade peach-colored ribbons and distributed them to various grocery stores with an important message. The message was: “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” As her message became more popular, titans of industry like Estee Lauder and Self Magazine asked to use her ribbon. Hayley, thinking they would commercialize the message rather than recognize the importance of the issue, refused their proposal. Self Magazine, determined to use the ribbon, came up with the idea to make the ribbon pink, bringing to life the ribbon that we use today as we stand with Breast Cancer survivors and fighters.
This October, as some celebrate Halloween and others a Heritage month, let us not forget the plight these women and men take for their health. As you go about your month, never forget these inspiring words: “The breast cancer movement is much bigger than October. And it isn’t only about finding a cure or getting a mammogram or raising money. It’s about prevention and education and guaranteed treatment for everyone — women and men, rich or poor. It’s a crusade that should unite all of us at every level. That pink ribbon, after all, is just the pretty tie that sits atop the box in which the gift of life has been wrapped, and where the hope of a cure has been waiting to be released—to become the perfect gift for each of us who knows cancer all too well (Barnes, 2017.).” The next time you walk into a store and see that delicate pink ribbon tied everso precisely, take a moment to recognize its symbolic importance. Whether you have struggled with breast cancer or not, remember that it will always be more than just a ribbon.
Works Cited
Barnes, Khevin. “The Story Behind the Pink Ribbon.” Cure Today, Cure Today, 17 Oct. 2017, https://www.curetoday.com/view/coming-full-circle-how-a-patient-worked-with-a-breast-cancer-drug-years-before-reclassification-of-her-disease-led-to-the-same-treatment.
Medical and Editorial Content Team, American Cancer Society. “Breast Cancer Statistics: How Common Is Breast Cancer?” American Cancer Society, 12 Jan. 2022, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html.
Sheng, Jenni. “Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.” Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, 6 Oct. 2022, https://www.breastcancer.org/types/triple-negative.
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