Breast Cancer Awareness has special meaning to my family since my Mom was diagnosed a few years ago. Luckily, for us, she was able to get diagnosed early and win the fight against breast cancer. Unfortunately, so many women (and their families) aren’t so lucky.
According to BreastCancer.org, here are some sobering facts:
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
- In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 2,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2016. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
- About 40,450 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2016 from breast cancer.
- For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
- Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2016, it’s estimated that just under 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.
- In 2016, there are more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
- About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
- The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
As a son of a breast cancer survivor, husband to woman that I hope never gets cancer, and father to a beautiful little girl that I would do anything for, I ask you to consider one of these options to help find a cure for breast cancer.
In This Post
$1 for every new email subscriber to BaldThoughts
Not only are we giving away an Amazon Echo Dot to one lucky email subscriber in October, I will personally donate $1 for every new email subscriber we pick up this month. So far, we’ve picked up 30 new readers this month. I’m willing to write a check up to $1,000… so please share with your family and friends to make me write a bigger check!
Join our email list now to enter to win the Amazon Echo Dot and to help me support the fight against breast cancer.
BoardingArea’s #FlyForPink Campaign
As a member of the BoardingArea family, I am proud of their campaign to raise awareness and raise money for breast cancer screening, early detection, treatment and research globally.
The FlyForPink campaign is simple and easy to participate in. During the month of October, all we ask is that you post a selfie at an airport or boarding gate and post that photo with the hashtag #flyforpink to Twitter or Instagram. Click here to see the latest Twitter and Instagram selfies.
For every selfie posted, BoardingArea, Prior2Boarding, TravelUpdate, Freddie Awards and the InsideFlyer Network (collectively) will donate $0.50 to the charities listed here, up to a max of $10,000.
I’m flying to the Chicago Seminars this weekend from LA, and I’ll be posting from LAX, Miami, and Chicago along the way… and on the way back, so look out for my Tweets and Insta selfies.
Sports and Breast Cancer
Check out the 2016 NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Fan Gear. I’ll be buying another sweathshirt this year to add to my collection. I wear my Dolphins’ sweatshirt from 2015 all the time when I work out. Whenever I get tired and want to take a break, I remember how hard my Mom fought through her diagnosis and treatment to win her battle, so I get back to work so that I can be healthier for my wife and kids.
When shopping for a hat, shirt, or other Breast Cancer Awareness apparel at Fanatics, when you use our referral link, Visa Checkout Users Save $25 off orders of $50 or more + Free Shipping.
20 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you donate
American Airlines is joining the fight against Breast Cancer. They are raising funds to support seven young investigators funded by Susan G. Komen® to conduct research into metastatic and triple negative breast cancer. Throughout October, American Airlines employees will wear pink to raise awareness, but the support doesn’t end there.
For every $1 that you donate (minimum of $25) to the Susan G. Koman Foundation using this link, American Airlines will add 20 AAdvantage miles to your account!
To raise even more money, when you purchase select menu items in flight and in the AA clubs, a percentage will go toward breast cancer research.
When I donate, I’ll be using my US Bank FlexPerks Visa that I was approved for during my August 2016 App Party, which provides triple points when donating to charity. If you are going to donate, I would suggest using this card to. It’s nice to receive the extra points… but the real reason I want to use this the FlexPerks card is that I want to show US Bank that I’m proud of them for encouraging charitable donations by making it a bonus category. More banks need to follow their lead on this.
Love Blu, Be Pink! with Radisson Blu
Radisson Blu is a great brand in the Club Carlson portfolio of hotels. I’ve had the pleasure of staying with them in Sydney, Chicago, Dublin, at the Mall of America, and London — all of them top-notch properties. So, I was really delighted when I found out they are big supporters in the fight against breast cancer!
During the month of October, each Radisson Blu property will have at least one room decorated in pink and a portion of that room’s revenue will go towards a regional breast cancer research or awareness organization. It is great that they’re donating, but even better that the money will be staying in the local community!
The LOVE BLU, BE PINK! offer consists of:
- 10 EUR (or local currency equivalent) or 10 % of the proceeds from the room sale go to regional breast cancer charity organization
- “Pink” themed Business Class room – pink welcome amenity, pink runner and throw pillows, pink flowers, etc. (décor dependent on location)**
- Free Internet
- Breakfast
- Newspaper, bathrobe, slippers
To read about the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen’s transformation, check out their blog post. I think the room looks beautiful and should be kept this way all year long.
According to the Club Carlson website, the Breast Cancer Awareness or Research charity organizations to which proceeds will be donated are:
Europe, Middle East, Africa (10 EUR or local currency equivalent):
- Europa Donna: The European Breast Cancer Coalition
Americas (10% of the proceeds from room sale):
- United States: Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- Chile: Pañuelos con Sonrisa | Turbantes Oncológicos Chile
Asia Pacific (10% of the proceeds from room sale):
- Philippines: ICanServe Foundation
- Thailand: Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer
- Australia: National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF)
- China: China Breast Cancer Foundation
- India: Pink Chain Foundation
- Fiji: Fiji Cancer Society
Unfortunately, not every property is participating in this promotion, but I believe that most are. Here is a list of the participating hotels. In the US, I’m happy to see that all 3 Radisson Blu properties (Chicago, Minneapolis, and Mall of America) properties are participating. The Chicago property has limited availability left, but here is a sample of the rate you would expect to see when staying there. Click here to make a reservation with Radisson Blu.
If you find a property that is not participating, I suggest that you contact the property via social media and email and urge them to participate next year. As consumers, we have amazing power to change the way businesses operate!
The Bottom Line
Breast Cancer is a devastating disease that affects us all. Whether it is a friend or family member, I think we all know someone who has been affected. We need to find a cure for this disease that affects the women we love and care about. My Mom was lucky and survived with no long-term effects. However, many others are not so lucky. Some have lost their lives, while many are still fighting their battle or are suffering from the wounds they carry with them on a daily basis. Help me to spread awareness, whether it is one these five ways listed above or in your own way, and let’s win this fight!
