National Health Observances
National Health Observance Toolkit - October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Sponsor: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors 
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to promote screening and early detection of breast cancer.
Roughly 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer. Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women.
Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- A lump in the breast
- A change in size, shape, or feel of the breast
- Fluid (called “discharge”) from a nipple
You have a better chance of surviving breast cancer if it’s found early. Talk to a doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get a mammogram.
Sample Announcement | Sample Tweets | E-cards | Web Badges | Get Involved | Related Tools on healthfinder.gov | Resources
Get the Word Out
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Sample Media and/or Newsletter or Listserv Announcement |
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About 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women. Q. What is a mammogram? A. A mammogram is an x ray of the breast and is very safe. Learn more: http://1.usa.gov/mkcCKf. If breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor. More: http://1.usa.gov/iEWhS5. Did you know? Breast cancer can occur in men. According to NCI, about 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. More: http://1.usa.gov/mzL2Dz. Show you care. Send an e-card with breast cancer prevention and screening info to a loved one: http://bit.ly/kAuPUC. |
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CDC: Breast Cancer, It’s Your Life. |
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Web Badge |
Get Involved
Take action to increase awareness and screenings for breast cancer.
- Include a message about breast cancer with your employee pay stubs.
- Ask health professionals from your local hospital or clinic to share information on mammography and early detection with your members.
- Exhibit or post materials about breast cancer screening at a local health fair.
- Partner with local women’s organizations, community groups, and senior centers to reach women over age 40 with important information on breast cancer screening.
- Host a breast cancer walk with your members in a local park.
Adapted from the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors.
Contact the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors at nbcamquestions@yahoo.com for more information and materials.
Related Tools on healthfinder.gov
Personal Health Tools
More Information (Health A-Z)
Quick Guide to Healthy Living
Resources
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sponsor - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Basic Information About Breast Cancer
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Risk Factors and Prevention
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Prevention
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Screening
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Get a Mammogram: Do It for Yourself, Do It for Your Family (available in Chinese and Vietnamese)
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