2008 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to a close, but I know for many of you, you don't stop thinking about breast cancer when the month of October draws to an end. It's disheartening that breast cancer is so prevalent, and I'm sure every one of you knows someone who's been diagnosed, has recovered, or lost the battle against this horrible disease. Many of you have stories to share, and by letting others know it increases awareness about breast cancer and connects us in some way. For me, knowing that I'm not the only one with close friends affected by this disease makes it a little more bearable. So tell me, how have you been touched by breast cancer?

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Almost every necklace Dogeared creates, I fall in love with. I can't resist how delicate and understated they are.

The latest one, this Dogeared "Find A Cure" Ribbon Charm Necklace ($26), arrives at an opportune time: Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of the profits goes to organizations that help the lives of those affected by the illness. It would make a sweet gift for anyone, whether or not their lives have been affected by breast cancer.

If you've shopped at all this month, you've likely come across dozens (if not hundreds) of pink-ribbon products. These items raise money for various breast cancer research groups; Estee Lauder alone is donating $500,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation this year. But with all of the pink-ribboned offerings, how can you choose wisely?

The people behind health-advocacy group Breast Cancer Action are going strong with their Think Before You Pink project, which wants shoppers to think twice before buying these items — particularly when it comes to cosmetic products, as the group believes that some ingredients in cosmetics are carcinogenic. In a thought-provoking interview, Breast Cancer Action Communications Director Richard Leiter touches on the group's goals.

Do you think companies behind these products are sincere about fighting breast cancer, or is this just a way for some of them to look charitable and improve their image while raking in profits?
We have no way to evaluate the motivations of any cause-marketer except to look at the nature of their contribution. Is the mechanism for contributing transparent? Is the total contribution substantial? Do they make it easy for consumers to see where the dollars are actually going? If a company is contributing a very small portion of their sales, then they're probably more interested in profits than progress.

Who are some of the worst “pinkwashers” in the cosmetics industry, and why?
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics publishes a list of cosmetics companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Currently, none of the major cosmetics companies — including Avon, Revlon, Estee Lauder, Mary Kay — have signed the compact. And these four all engage in pink-ribbon marketing.

To find out which companies the campaign does like, read more

Be splendid and support breast cancer in this cute polka-dot pink tank. For every purchase, Splendid, in conjunction with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, will donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Awareness fund.

Proceeds will help fund research to prevent and cure breast cancer. This sweet tank makes for great loungewear and is only available this month, so nab one today! Tanks are available nationwide at Barneys, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue and splendid.com

OK, well, maybe it doesn't scientifically prevent breast cancer cells from forming, but what it does do is remind you to do your monthly breast exams. We all know we should be doing them religiously so that we know instantly if something doesn't feel right, but it can be tough to remember every month. So the Cue Shower Clock ($25) does the remembering for you.

It suctions to the wall of your shower and all you do is set the clock to remind you seven days after your period, or if you don't have one you can choose the same day every month. I love that it can also remind you when it's time to go for your annual exam. The clock can work for up to four users, so if you live with other women or have daughters, you can encourage them to get in the habit, too.

Do you have a less techy way to remind yourself to do your self-breast exam. If so, share it below.

I will admit that soy scares me a little. I know it's an inexpensive, cholesterol-free source of protein that can be enjoyed in so many ways from tofu, to soymilk, from edamame, to soy ice cream. I've also heard that eating too much soy has been linked to breast cancer. That's because soy contains phytoestrogens, a group of chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen. Women need estrogen to regulate their menstrual cycles, have babies, and it's also involved with bone and heart health. Some experts are concerned that these phytoestrogens will stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancers since high exposures of estrogen over a woman's lifetime are linked with an increased risk for breast cancer. Others may argue that these plant-based estrogens may actually prevent breast cancer since they block the activity of the stronger human estrogen.

So what's a soy lover to do? To find out read more

The more I write about breast cancer, the more I realize the face of the disease is getting younger and younger. Women under 30 are regularly diagnosed with breast cancer – it is no longer a post menopausal disease. I just found the Canadian organization Rethink Breast Cancer. Their focus is not only fundraising for research, but creating awareness about the disease, and their target demographic is women under 40.

As a fundraising event RBC just hosted The Boobyball and on October 26 they are hosting the Rethink Romp in Calgary. If the events were as fun as their names, I am sure they raised a lot of dough.

Here is a PSA they have produced to remind you to check your girls. It will definitely give you a feel for the organization.

Remember: TLC = Touch. Look. Check. When was the last time you did a self-breast exam?