INSPIRE. EDUCATE. EMPOWER. SUPPORT.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and reduce the risk of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs designed to:

• support people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer
• educate people about breast cancer risk factors
• encourage women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk
• raise money for breast cancer research

In the month of October, there are also specific dates designed to raise awareness of specific groups within the breast cancer community. 

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13)

October 13 is nationally recognized in the U.S. as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. About 168,000 women in the U.S. are estimated to have metastatic breast cancer (cancer that spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body). Some researchers believe this number will rise to over 246,000 living with the disease by 2030. Despite the growing numbers of people living with metastatic disease, most money for breast cancer research doesn’t go toward studying it. 

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day seeks to educate the public about the challenges that people with metastatic breast cancer face and the need for more research — and more treatments — for this deadly disease. 

The day also serves as a reminder that people can do all the right things — breast cancer screenings and all the recommended treatments for early-stage breast cancer — and still have cancer spread to other parts of the body. As sf-cakes, a member of the Breastcancer.org Community, shared, “Being stage IV during Breast Cancer Awareness Month sucks. All the messaging about ‘if you catch it early, you'll be fine,’ is simply not always true.”

In October, National Women's Small Business Month highlights the benefits and industry women bring to communities when they own a small business. With over 11 million (and growing!) women owning small businesses in the United States, there's plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Throughout the month, organizations, businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs share resources and advice that support women-owned businesses. Like any small business, the benefits to a community are enormous. Locally owned small businesses bring revenue to communities. Small companies are more likely to support local organizations, schools and projects. They also provide a tremendous number of jobs, keeping local economies going and growing.

When you include women in the small business factor, you increase business diversity. Did you know that 50 percent of women small business owners are women of color? Supporting women in small businesses also inspires young women in powerful ways. When they see other women succeeding, they're motivated to succeed, too! In 2012, 44 percent of women small business owners also had children under the age of 18 in their household. That means, by supporting women-owned businesses, you're also supporting families. 

In 1988, US President Ronald Reagan declared October as a month to recognize the unique grief of bereaved parents in an effort to demonstrate support to the many families who have suffered such a tragic loss. Promoting awareness of pregnancy and infant loss not only increases the likelihood that grieving families will receive understanding and support but also results in improved education and prevention efforts which may ultimately reduce the incidence of these tragedies.

If you or someone you care about has lost a child to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS, or any other cause at any point during pregnancy or infancy, please join us in raising awareness this October for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

October 15 is the day that is recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. Join us in lighting a candle at 7pm to remember the babies that were lost and those that have had to continue to live without them!

  Statistics

• A stillbirth is the death of a baby before the moment of birth.  In most states in the US, babies who die before 20 weeks of gestation are classified as miscarriages and babies who die at 20 weeks gestation or later are classified as stillbirths.
• In the United States, nearly 21,000 babies are stillborn every year. 
• Worldwide, there are more than 2.6 million stillbirths every year.
• One out of every 175 deliveries ends in stillbirth.
• Black and Native American families experience stillbirth at rates twice the rate for other families.
• The stillbirth rate for women in their 40s is 2-3 times the rate for women in their 20s and 30s.
• 1 in 6 women will be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a stillbirth.
• It is estimated that 25% of all stillbirths in the US are preventable today and 47% of all stillbirths in the US at 37+ weeks are preventable today.
• There are more stillbirths every year than deaths from prematurity and SUID/SIDS combined.