October comes with the familiar sea of pink ribbons, awareness campaigns, and calls to action for breast cancer awareness. While the pink decorations and social media posts are well-intentioned, at H&W Drugs, we believe that true awareness goes far deeper than changing your profile picture or wearing a pink shirt. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to help you move beyond the surface and take meaningful action that can truly impact your health and the health of the women you care about in New Orleans.
The Reality Behind the Ribbons
The statistics behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month are both sobering and motivating. In 2025, approximately 316,950 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and sadly, about 43,170 women will lose their lives to this disease. Here in Louisiana, these numbers represent our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. But there’s also hope in these statistics: when breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99%. This is why awareness that leads to action is so crucial.
One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. This means that breast cancer will touch virtually every family in some way. However, it’s important to remember that this also means seven out of eight women will never develop breast cancer. The goal of awareness is not to create fear, but to empower women with knowledge and encourage proactive health behaviors.
Taking Action This October
This month, instead of simply posting about breast cancer awareness, consider taking one or more of these meaningful actions:
Get Your Mammogram: If you’ve been putting off your mammogram, October is the perfect time to schedule and complete this life-saving screening. Many healthcare facilities offer special hours, reduced-cost screenings, or mobile mammography units during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The current guidelines recommend that women at average risk begin annual or biennial mammograms at age 40, but talk to your healthcare provider about what’s right for your individual situation.
Learn Your Family History: Take time this month to have conversations with family members about your family’s cancer history. This includes not just breast cancer, but also ovarian, prostate, and other cancers that may be related. Write down what you learn and share this information with your healthcare provider. Family history is one of the most important risk factors for breast cancer, and knowing yours can help determine if you need earlier or more frequent screening.
Support a Local Organization: New Orleans has several organizations dedicated to supporting women facing breast cancer. Consider volunteering your time, making a donation, or participating in a local fundraising event. Supporting local organizations ensures that your contribution directly benefits women in your own community.
Encourage the Women in Your Life: Use this month as an opportunity to have meaningful conversations with the women you care about. Encourage your mother, sisters, daughters, and friends to stay up-to-date with their screenings. Sometimes, a gentle reminder from someone who cares can be the motivation a woman needs to schedule that appointment she’s been putting off.
Understanding Risk Factors and Prevention
While we cannot control all risk factors for breast cancer, there are several lifestyle factors that may help reduce risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding unnecessary hormone therapy. At H&W Drugs, our pharmacists can provide information about medications and supplements that may play a role in breast health, as well as help you understand any medications you may be taking that could affect your risk.
It’s also important to understand that having risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop breast cancer, and not having risk factors doesn’t guarantee you won’t. This is why regular screening is so important for all women, regardless of their risk level.
The Importance of Early Detection
Early detection remains our most powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer. When breast cancer is found early, before it has spread to lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 99%. This is why mammograms are so important—they can detect cancer before you or your doctor can feel a lump.
In addition to mammograms, it’s important for women to be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel. While breast self-exams are no longer recommended as a primary screening tool, being aware of changes in your breasts and reporting them to your healthcare provider is still important.
Your Partners in Health
At H&W Drugs, we’re honored to be part of your healthcare team. While we may not perform mammograms or diagnose cancer, we play an important role in supporting your overall health and wellness. We can help you understand medications related to breast health, provide information about supplements that may support your wellness goals, and connect you with local resources and support services.
This October, let’s make Breast Cancer Awareness Month about more than just pink. Let’s make it about action, education, and supporting one another in the journey toward better health. Together, we can work toward a future where fewer women face this diagnosis, and those who do have the best possible outcomes.
