1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and in my immediate circle, aunts, mothers, and sisters of friends have all been affected by the disease. We have less than a week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I wanted to share some ways to close out Pink October with a bang!

Do a breast self-exam

How can you help someone else when you haven’t helped yourself? When’s the last time you did a self-exam? I will go on the record here and say I probably did so last year…if that, until now. It’s important that we all know our bodies. They are constantly changing whether we can tell by looking in the mirror or not. While you can do it laying down, you can also do it standing in the mirror, or even in the shower. Consider taking the extra few minutes and checking out the girls while your conditioner is penetrating. Here’s how to do it properly.

Ask the gen Xers and mom figures in your life when they last had a mammogram

I think for those who do not routinely see their doctor, the answer is similar to mine above. It’s important to have a mammogram, and technology has come a long way so the procedure is smoother. This type of x-ray allows a doctor to examine the breast tissue and detect any abnormalities. Learn more about mammograms here.

Make a donation

This may be the most obvious way to close out the month, but with so many organizations advocating for the disease, it’s hard to know where your money is going and how much of it is going toward the cause. Find out which national and local organizations are tackling the fight against Breast Cancer in a way that aligns with your values. This website is a great resource. Also, don’t overlook smaller organizations in your region. In Sacramento, Albie Aware and Save Ourselves help people locally who may require additional resources.

Purchase something that  benefits an organization that advocates for more research 

It can seem like every October organizations start selling pink things (called “pinkwashing”) but are they really donating to any organization? You absolutely want to be selective about what you’re buying and how much of a percentage is going to the organization. Many fashion companies like Talbots are offering merchandise with a portion going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. If you’ve been wondering why you’ve seen this scarf all over Instagram, that’s why! Get yours here.

Share this post

We’re always sharing videos and round-ups of silly animals or food recipes, so I encourage you to share this post with your friends and family. Since breast cancer affects both men and women, a simple step could be life-changing – or saving.

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