In October We Wear Pink | Aflac & Breast Cancer Awareness
We’re rolling toward the end of October.
What does this mean? ?It means racing season, the World Series, and fall temperatures are just getting started.
But it also means that Breast Cancer Awareness month is coming to an end and so much of the pink you see will fade away for another year.
In October, we wear pink.
Don’t put it in your rearview mirror just yet.
Some of yall know that before the move, I worked as a Cancer Information Specialist for the American Cancer Society. ?I’m passionate about fighting cancer. ?I probably talk a bit too much about it (still) to my friends and family.
October… well, October was a tough month on the job.
Professionally it was extremely busy. ?Personally it was a daily reminder of a loved one we lost much too soon to breast cancer. My family is forever missing my sweet Aunt Theresa and her infectious laugh. ?She was my mom’s younger sister and the closest family member I had.
I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to tell her a story or ask her a question about raising my children. ?She had a saying that she used when talking to her daughter, “Everybody likes choices! ?Here’s yours….”. ?I’ve found myself using that same line on my kids and sure wish she was here to see how her own daughter has grown up.
Breast cancer: it’s a crappy, crappy diagnosis.
And here’s a startling fact:
Ugh. ?That one little stat is what keeps me hyper vigilant about my breast health.
If there’s one phrase that has stuck with me from my ACS career, it’s that early detection for breast cancer diagnosis saves lives.
Yes, I’m talking about the mammogram. ?The boob smoosh. ?The flattening of “the girls”. ?Don’t be scared: it’s over quickly and doesn’t hurt nearly as much as you might fear.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following for early breast cancer detection in women without breast symptoms:
- Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
- Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years.
- Breast self-exam (BSE) is also an option for women starting in their 20s.
You hear me, ladies? ?If you are over 40 (raises hand) get your mammogram!
Something people don’t think about until it’s too late: the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. ?You might consider reading about?Aflac’s cancer policies.
Over the course of 7 years of talking with cancer patients, I discovered that financial needs were their greatest concerns.
They needed money for treatments and medications, sure, but they also needed money for child care while the received treatments.
For gas to travel for treatments.
For those missing paychecks when they had to take time off for work.
For everyday expenses that seemed to be much harder to fund when the medical needs became greater.
With?Aflac?s recently introduced One Day PaySM initiative, which allows Aflac to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just a day, you can have the cash you need in hand faster than ever before.
That is something I know every cancer patient appreciates: being able to focus on getting better instead of focusing on financial concerns.
Aflac is also supporting the cause during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. ?The Aflac Duck: ?he’s wearing pink.
- For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Aflac will be partnering with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) again for its second annual ?This Duck Wears Pink? campaign.
- Aflac is selling a variety of campaign-related merchandise including the plush duck, hats and a breast cancer ribbon pin, with all the net proceeds going to the AACR for the specific purpose of funding research aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer.
- Aflac supports the groundbreaking work of the AACR ? the first and largest cancer research organization in the world with a membership of more than 35,000 professionals residing in 101 countries working on the front lines of the effort to eradicate cancer. The AACR backs every aspect of high-quality, innovative cancer research.
- You can donate and shop for merchandise here.
October: ?it’s a heck of a month. ?And it’s slipping past us quickly.
Please do a couple of things for me before it’s gone: schedule your mammogram and check out Aflac’s cancer insurance options.
As far as putting away all the pink?
Nope- not this girl.
I’ll be wearing this one year round in memory of my favorite aunt.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Patty Holliday is the owner and creator of all things No-Guilt Universe. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.