2007 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thanks to all of you who took the BuzzSugar quiz to win a pink special edition iPod Shuffle in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Much as we'd love to shower you all with prizes, only one lucky reader could win — and that reader is splayer! Congrats to you!

Thanks again to the rest of you for entering. Don't forget: You can still read all the great Breast Cancer Awareness Month coverage from around the Sugar Network.

As today is the final day of October, I'm wrapping up my Breast Cancer Awareness series with a spotlight on the Lifetime television movie Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. Based on the Geralyn Lucas' 2004 memoir by the same name, the movie stars Sarah Chalke as the 27-year-old Manhattan-dwelling Lucas who finds herself living "the life" with a dream job and dreamier doctor husband — and a lump in her breast.

She goes through a mastectomy and the subsequent chemotherapy, all the while struggling to maintain a sense of confidence and femininity. Her high-end New York lifestyle, loving family, understanding boss and supportive friends all help her through the experience, but nothing can truly make her feel better about being unusually young for a breast cancer patient. She fiercely insists on wearing red lipstick whenever she can, her "war paint" in the battle against the disease.

I'm a huge Sarah Chalke fan, and while the story is, in true Lifetime fashion, slightly glossy and vanilla, Chalke does a magnificent job portraying the defiantly feminine Lucas. Her determination to live a beautiful life in the midst of such an ugly experience is inspiring. The movie is currently available on iTunes for $4.

For most companies, today is the final day that promotional products will be available for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wish this kind of do-good-beauty donation would happen more often. I hope that you've found some really great pink ribbon products to buy and make your contribution to the cause. I also hope that you've learned a little something about some of the non-profit organizations dedicated to helping those with breast cancer, to finding a cure and to preventing the disease.

Just so that I can feel extra good about keeping you in the know about as many products as I can for BCA month, here's one pretty pink product from Smashbox I think you'll like. Blushing Pink Fusion Soft Lights ($59) is a limited-edition set normally valued at $82. It contains a light pink blush powder and a face and body blush brush with a pink handle.

Lastly, for a round-up of everything having to do with Breast Cancer Awareness Month on the Sugar Network, click here.

I hate rogue bra straps as much as the next girl — except when it's an on-purpose style statement, of course. Sometimes they're just not appropriate, and it's times like these that The Strapper ($14) comes in handy. Weave your bra strap through The Strapper and it won't fall off your shoulder, peek out of your sleeveless top, or show when it's not meant to be seen.

One package supplies you a black, beige, and white Strapper, and a portion of the proceeds got to the LI Breast Cancer Action Coalition.

It being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I have been reading a lot about cancer. I was surprised that after all my research there were some basic facts about women and cancer that I was still missing. I learned a lot from this article What Women Don't Know About Cancer and here are a few facts you should know.

• The vast majority of cancers occur in women who have no family history of the disease. According to the American Cancer Society only five to ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary. So family history may be part of the equation, but most cancers occur in women with no family history at all.
• Taking oral contraceptives is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian, uterine, and possibly colorectal cancer
• Though more women get more breast cancer than lung cancer, far fewer breast cancer patients die. Eighty percent of lung cancers in women are caused by smoking. I am going to say it one more time, quitting smoking is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.

Hair Oct 30, 2007

If you're a snowboarder, then you're probably getting excited that boarding season is quickly approaching. This means that not only are you going to need to start training in the gym, you're also going to want to check out all the cool new gear available this year.

One of my favorite board sport watch companies, Nixon, is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with this Boarding for Breast Cancer Vega Watch ($59.95). This oversized bracelet watch features polycarbonate stretch links and a stainless steel case and square face. It's pink, so you can still show off your girly side as you thrash down the mountain. Two dollars from every pink Vega watch sold goes to Boarding for Breast Cancer!

A big congrats to AMarsh who has won the Marc by Marc Jacobs Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Charm Bracelet! Breast Cancer Awareness month is almost over but there's still time to shop for the cause. Congrats girl!

As I am sure you all know by now, Avon is a huge supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition to offering a variety of "pink ribbon products" such as this Breast Cancer Lip Balm with SPF 15 ($1.50, with all profits donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade), the company sponsors several walks to raise money for breast cancer research and prevention.

If you are wondering what you can do to help on the last days of the month, this lip balm is an affordable way to make a contribution. Tell me, have you been buying any of these pink ribbon products?

October is almost coming to an end, and so is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but there is still time left for you to get involved, physically and monetarily.

Pilates for Pink is a national awareness aimed at raising money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation through Pilates. To find a participating studio near you and see if they have any more classes for the Pilates for Pink event, just click here. If you don't have enough time to take a class before the month is over, the list provides a great resource for Pilates studios near you, so take a look anyway.