October is a month filled with many changes. The leaves change color, summer wardrobes change from t-shirts with cut-offs to jeans with boots. The weather changes from blazing hot to cool, breezy fall. However, these changes aren’t enough. What if the world experienced something magical and unexpected? Wouldn’t it be great to eventually find a cure to breast cancer? Well, that’s the goal of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month that is held every October.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the U.S. In 2011, about 39,520 breast cancer cases were expected to be fatal. Breast cancer research didn’t really start until 1967 when the mammogram came out. Before the mammogram, there were a lot more fatalities. The mammogram allowed doctors to detect breast cancer signs and symptoms early. Since then, doctors have gained a lot more knowledge about this cancer. Now only about half the diagnoses are fatal.

Breast cancer has affected the lives of people all around the world. For sophomore Nicole Hix, cancer has changed her and her family’s lives.

“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last May,” Nicole said. “Before, my family completely relied on my mom to hold us together. But now we have all learned how to take care of each other and ourselves. When you or a family member goes through something like breast cancer, you really grow up and see the reality in life.”

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was started in 1985 when the American Cancer Society partnered with Imperial Chemical Industries’ pharmaceutical division. Many doctors, organizations, and government agencies have come together to show people how serious breast cancer is and that everyone, including men, have a possibility of being diagnosed with breast cancer. The main concept of awareness month is to encourage people to get regular mammograms.

People wishing to show support for breast cancer research and those who have been affected by the disease should just think pink! Pink has become the trademark color of breast cancer awareness. It acts as a visual reminder of the moral support offered to those people fighting the tough battle of breast cancer.

Doctors still don’t know what exactly causes breast cancer. It’s a very well known disease that still remains uncured. Maybe by next October that could change.