Breast Cancer Health Center

The Breast Cancer Fight: How to Get Involved

Think Pink

Every October, store shelves bloom with pink products: bracelets, scarves, sweaters, perfumes, and more, with some of the proceeds for each going to breast cancer research, support for patients, and public education and outreach. You can shop and do good at the same time! One great source of information about this year's "think pink" merchandise is the October Pink Buys section at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's web site. From $2.99 tennis balls to a Burberry leather trench coat, all the pink products sold benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which supports nearly 100 leading breast cancer researchers worldwide.

Other ways to do your part:

• Fund free mammograms with a daily click of the mouse at The Breast Cancer Site.
• Buy or sell for the cure on EBay.
• Switch your license plate. Many states offer special breast cancer awareness license plates; the $25 extra you pay will usually go to a state fund providing breast cancer care and services for low-income women. Ask your DMV if your state has one.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine that individual contributions make a difference in the enormous fight against breast cancer. But consider this: In early September, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced that it was awarding 202 research grants, for a total of more than $45.1 million, as part of its Award and Research Grants Program. The amount of research grants funded this year represents a 40% increase over last year's research grants funding of just over $32.2 million.

In a news release, the foundation's vice president of health sciences, Rebecca Garcia, PhD, stated, "The ability to make our largest research investment to date is directly attributable to the successful efforts of our more than 100 Komen Affiliates across the country." And at each of those affiliates -- and in so many local communities where funds are being raised for national, regional, and local organizations battling breast cancer -- the fight begins with you.