October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign that is organized by major breast cancer charities around the globe to help raise awareness and drive fundraising campaigns that support the fight against the disease. Many of our lives are affected by cancer, and according to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada 1 in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Powerline Plus fully supports and encourages the fight against breast cancer in many ways within our own organization. In addition to making monthly financial contributions to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Powerline Plus creates a powerful statement in the community with one of our large vaccum excavation trucks that is wrapped in pink and white in support of breast cancer awareness.
The truck is eye catching, and Powerline Plus workers report that it gets a lot of attention while they are working around the city, helping to drive home the important message of breast cancer awareness. Dedicating a month to Breast Cancer Awareness is significant because it aims to educate the public about risk factors for breast cancer and help fund programs and research into the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of the disease. The contributions made by companies like Powerline may one day help to provide the scientific breakthroughs that are needed to overcome the disease.
We encourage you to read the tips and follow the guidelines set out by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation:
- Knowing your breast cancer risks and reducing them. Some of the risk factors:
- Gender: while men can develop breast cancer, it is 100 times more common among women than men.
- Genetic: About 5-10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.
- Family history: having close relatives with breast cancer can double a woman’s risk.
- Race and Ethnicity: Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer.
- Booking a mammogram with your doctor and have regular screening. Please see your family doctor if you feel you are at risk and want to get tested.
- Donating to breast cancer organizations, some of these are: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Society, Rethink Breast Cancer and Canadian Cancer Society.