Think Beyond Pink: Everyday Habits That Help Fight Breast Cancer

Raising awareness about breast cancer shouldn’t be limited to October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month). It is the most common cancer in American women, a woman being diagnosed with it every two minutes in the United States. In the past, breast cancer was often considered a mysterious and uncontrollable disease. Today, it is largely demystified, and we now know that you can vastly improve your outcome through early prevention, detection, and identifying risk factors. By teaming up with NBCF, we’re on a mission to spread hope, education, and the message about the importance of educating the public about breast cancer. With your support, we’ll have the power to change and save the lives of many. For starters, it’s as easy as shopping with a SavingsCARES coupon.

Year-Round Resources for Patients and Families

Did you know that breast cancer treatment is the most expensive form of cancer to treat? In 2020, it accounted for 14% of all cancer treatment costs, totaling $26.2 billion in medical services and $3.5 billion in prescription drugs. Its financial burden amplifies the physical and emotional toll of the disease, as patients and their families face the extreme cost of their loved ones getting well. Unfortunately, breast cancer can happen to anyone, including those without medical insurance, making its impact even more devastating.

But there’s hope and tangible ways to reduce its impact and your chances of getting it. According to the CDC, early detection is a critical step in improving breast cancer outcomes. Their data showed that screening every two years for women aged 40 to 74 reduced the chance of death by 26%, as well as the number of women diagnosed with a late stage of the disease. Additionally, earlier forms of the disease cost less to treat than later stages.

However, a major problem lies in the public being largely unaware of the topic, especially in places with economic disparities. That’s why NBCF continues to invest in resources like free educational guides and programs available online for the public to access.

Encouragingly, there’s an increasing movement to spread the message about breast cancer and other forms of cancer. Throughout the year, dedicated observances help to bring more awareness about these diseases. Some notable ones include:

• National Cancer Survivors Day (June 1st), which empowers survivors and their loved ones with community and resources.
• National Women’s Health Week (May 11th to May 15th), which aims to spotlight the unique challenges that women may face in their health journey.
• National Cancer Prevention Month (February) which raises money that can provide lifesaving, breakthrough cancer research.

We’re doing our part by working with NBCF throughout the year to expand breast cancer awareness. Together, we hope to improve outcomes and save lives by emphasizing the importance of early breast cancer detection.

The Work Continues: NBCF’s Year-Round Mission

NBCF is committed to preventing breast cancer deaths by deconstructing the barriers that many battling the disease face. Through life-saving initiatives like their National Mammography Program, low-income or uninsured recipients can gain free access to essential prevention services like mammograms, clinical breast exams, ultrasounds, and even biopsies. They also provide free, in-depth educational guides and resources online to make education equitable for everyone, all year-round, regardless of their geographical or economic conditions.

These educational topics cover a wide range of bases, including healthy meal cookbooks, early detection guides, personal risk guides, self-guided meditation, and even a Cancer Caregiver Guide for those caring for a breast cancer patient.

Beyond education and research, they also provide comfort to women battling breast cancer with a free kit that inspires hope and encouragement. Known as a HOPE Kit, it includes items like a journal, tumbler, fuzzy socks, tea, lotion, and cards with words of encouragement.

Your support matters, and these services are only made possible through ongoing donations that sustain all-around education and patient care for real people like you.

An attendee of a free NBCF outreach event said, “I had never done a breast self-exam before I came to the NBCF tent, and I wouldn’t have found the lump that sent me to the doctor. Thank you for being here and providing resources and training."

Healthy Habits That Can Make a Difference

Healthy habits can make the world of a difference in improving survival rates. When caught early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer in the localized stage is 99%. This makes spreading educational resources about prevention, risk factors, and material that debunks popular myths about breast cancer more important than ever.

One of the most empowering steps you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer is maintaining your knowledge of the disease. NBCF offers a free Healthy Living & Personal Risk Guide that anyone can access. By just inputting your email, you’ll be sent a comprehensive guide that dives into your genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors that could heighten your chances of getting breast cancer.

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. However, you should still try to reduce your risk by removing known risk factors, such as alcohol, tobacco, obesity, a poor diet, and lack of exercise.

While we’ve discussed the controllable factors, it’s equally important to keep note of the uncontrollable risk factors caused by genetics, gender, age, race, and family history. It’s especially important for those with multiple risk factors to maintain regular healthcare, such as annual physicals, mammograms, genetic testing if there’s a family history of breast cancer, and even preventative surgery if necessary.

Give Back While You Shop with SavingsCARES

While we’re mostly known for helping you save money on the purchases you want, we’re equally proud of our commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Through partnering with impactful organizations like NBCF, we hope to create a ripple effect of meaningful change.

The best part is that supporting the cause won’t cost you extra. Just shop and save as usual, and apply a SavingsCARES coupon from one of our generous partner brands. From this point, we’ll take care of the rest by adding donations on your behalf – you won’t have to pay a dime. Whether you’re shopping for a big event or just from your daily grocery list, you’ll be contributing to life-changing breast cancer prevention, support, and research.

Itching to get started? Apply a SavingsCARES coupon from one of these featured brands:

• Hydro Flask
• Osprey
• Bloomchic
• Maaji

If you’re still eager to help, here are some other ways to show your support:

• Contribute donations directly to NBCF:
• • $3 funds a Breast Health Kit, filled with products that inspire hope and knowledge
  • $12 supports breast health education services and one self-exam training session
  • $40 provides someone alongside their breast cancer journey with a patient navigator.
• Become a company partner to make a larger impact.
• Create a fundraiser through your school, social media accounts, family, and more.
• Become a Community Ambassador and join NBCF's mission.

Let’s work together to prevent breast cancer and offer a helping hand to those fighting breast cancer– one coupon at a time.