Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held in October every year, aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects one in eight women in the United States every year and 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers — aimed at:

• supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer
• educating people about breast cancer risk factors
• stressing the importance of regular screening, starting at age 40 or an age that’s appropriate for your personal breast cancer risk
• fundraising for breast cancer research

This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.