It’s October, which means it’s time for pumpkin spice, Zoom Halloween, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Between COVID-19 and the election, breast cancer might not be at the forefront of your priorities this year -- but there are many ways to make a difference for breast cancer this week, whether it’s signing a petition, donating to an organization supporting patients, checking in with your health and lifestyle, or volunteering virtually.

Sign petitions to increase research funding.

Federal funding for breast cancer research is crucial for continuing to fight for a cure, and the Cancer Action Network has a template to send to Congress to ask for continued bipartisan support for breast cancer. You can also sign a petition asking for your state Senator to pledge more funding, or call your Congress representative personally to tell them how important breast cancer research is to you.

Donate to an organization that helps under-served patients and survivors.

Women of color are disproportionately affected by breast cancer in America -- especially by triple negative breast cancer, one of the more aggressive kinds. A few of your spare dollars can go towards addressing that health gap. Sisters by Choice provides free mammograms to uninsured women and holds free educational programs on breast cancer, while the Black Women’s Health Imperative was the first organization in the U.S. devoted to the health of Black women and girls. Sisters Network is one of the biggest survivorship support groups for Black women facing breast cancer in the U.S. The National LGBT Cancer Network provides support for LGBTQ+ cancer patients and survivors, too.

Volunteer virtually for a breast cancer charity.

Looking to do some virtual volunteering? The American Cancer Society has a volunteer center where you can sign up to support all aspects of their work, from helping create policy change at the Cancer Action Network to setting up fun runs for Making Strides for Breast Cancer. Register as a volunteer to find an opportunity that fits your schedule.

Check in with your health and lifestyle.

One out of every eight women develop breast cancer. While this commonly-quoted figure does not necessarily indicate your personal risk for developing breast cancer, October is a great time to check in with yourself about your risk factors. Some common risk factors include:

Gender: Women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
Age: Two out of three women are diagnosed after age 55.
Early menstruation or late menopause: Breast cancer is also associated with early menstruation (before age 12) and late menopause (after age 55).

You can lower your risk of cancer and other health issues by making proactive changes in your lifestyle. Staying physically active, maintaining a nutritious diet, and cutting back on alcohol and smoking are all actions you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer. You can also switch to all-natural skincare products like lotions, deodorants, and soaps that don’t contain carcinogenic parabens, aluminums, or phthalates.

Image source: Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Talk about your family history.

October is the time to be open about your breast health -- and a family history of breast cancer plays a strong role in your own risk. Even if you're from a family where health and bodies are difficult topics, now's a good time to try to introduce them to the conversation. Settle parents or family members down over Zoom with a cup of tea and start gently asking questions about who had what in the past. The more you know about the cancer history in your family, the better positioned you are to make informed choices with your doctor, like when to start mammograms.

What actions will you take for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Let us know in the comments below!

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5 Actions to Take This Breast Cancer Awareness Month