Wear pink ribbon to symbolize Breast Cancer Awarenesss Month; here are few tips to prevent the deathly cancer

New Delhi, October 7: Breast cancer is one of the top cancer victimizing women in a long time. It is the most prevalent form of cancer. The disease has become a major problem all across the world including India. And October stands as the awareness month to educate people about breast cancer. 

People around the world celebrate the month by sporting ‘pink’ colour. It could be in the form of pink ribbons, pink lapel pins or by simply wearing the colour. The first Breast Cancer Awareness Month was held in October 1986, and the pink ribbon became an international symbol in 1991. Soon, every major organisation was seen endorsing the ribbon and the year 1992 was declared as the ‘Year of the Ribbon’ by New York Times.

Breast cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells, which results in formation of lumps within the breast. It is one of the treatable forms of cancers. If not detected early, it can be a life threatening disease as it can also spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer affects women both in the developed and the developing world. It can occur at any age but, it is most common in women above the age of 40 years. In India, Breast Cancer accounts for 25% to 31% of all cancers in women. The average age of developing breast cancer has also undergone a significant shift from 50 - 70 years to 30 - 50 years. 

It is important for every woman to learn about the warning signs of this disease. 

 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer impacts 1.5 million women each year, and causes equal amounts of deaths too. It is advisable for women to check their health every year to detect the cancer. Early detection is the key to prevention.