During the month of October, known in many countries as Breast Cancer Awareness month, numerous awareness activities are carried out to shed light on newly discovered risk factors, symptoms and modes of treatment. The Pink Ribbon campaign is one such programme that has assisted immensely in this endeavour. The Pink Ribbon campaign is not only a tool of awareness; it is also a symbol that lends moral support to those who have been diagnosed with the disease.
In this context, numerous organisations, NGOs and government entities allocate funding to lobby for better treatment and patient care, and to also provide whatever support possible. This includes fundraising events, selling of pink ribbons, organising awareness campaigns, and handing out leaflets with possible symptoms of the disease. Some organisations have also chosen to design an event surrounding breast cancer awareness, such as that organised by Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. During this event, the staff and guests laid out a pink ribbon which was over 100 metres in length on the helipad of the hotel in Doha, Qatar. This Pink Ribbon is said to be the largest in Qatar.
Programmes such as these serve to remind people of the dangers of breast cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.
According to recent statistics, it is believed that around 12% of females would develop invasive breast cancer in the United States of America. In the United Kingdom, breast cancer was seen to be the most common of all cancers in 2014. However, statistics also show that death rates due to breast cancer have steadily declined since the 1970s. One possible social reason behind this decline could be that awareness programmes such as these have been conducted across decades and have led to greater knowledge of risk factors and symptoms which have prompted early diagnosis.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
