Get Up, Stand Up

Here's a quiz:

1. What does the pink ribbon stand for?

2. What does a beige ribbon stand for?

3. What does a blue ribbon stand for?

4. What does a black ribbon stand for?

5. What does a gray ribbon stand for?

6. What does a red and white ribbon stand for?

7. What two things can a lavender ribbon stand for?

I love the color pink.

And it will be popping up everywhere this month because October is: "Breast Cancer Awareness" month. I am quite sure that many of you already know this. And if you watched any football today, it was quite apparent with the pink attire that many players were sporting.

Most people know of someone or have a personal relationship with someone who has had breast cancer. My coworker and my aunt, both are currently survivors. With that being said, I wholeheartedly support the cause, but I am also very wary in the way I choose to support. I look at all the hype, hysteria, and knowledge we feed into our people, for one specific kind of cancer. Thanks to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, it is everywhere. I don't want to take away from what a great job that foundation is doing. But did you know that there are other months that support awareness of cancer that you may not know of.

January

Cervical Health Awareness Month

February

National Cancer Prevention Month

March

National Colo-rectal Cancer Awareness Month

April

Cancer Control Month

Cancer Fatigue Awareness Day

Testicular Cancer Awareness Week

National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week

National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week

National Minority Cancer Awareness Week

May

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

Melanoma Monday

Brain Tumor Action Week

Blood Cancer Advocacy Days

June

National Cancer Survivors Day

Sarcoma Awareness Week

September

Childhood Cancer Awareness

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Prostate Cancer Awareness

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week

October

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Mammography Day

November

Lung Cancer Awareness

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

Did you know about these other days, weeks, or months of awareness? Maybe you did and I congratulate you. Maybe you didn't, and that's fine. Just remember, for every person you know affected by Breast Cancer, you can probably name just as many affected by some other type of cancer. Farrah Fawcett didn't die from breast cancer; Patrick Swayze didn't die from breast cancer; John Milford didn't die from breast cancer.

Every time you buy something pink to support breast cancer, think of how you can also spend or donate to help battle all these other forms of cancer.

Stand Up to Cancer, Not Just Breast Cancer.

I bet most only know the answer to number 1 and maybe number 7 (part of it).

Answers:

1. Breast Cancer

2. Oral Cancer

3. Prostate Cancer

4. Melanoma

5. Brain Cancer

6. Head & Neck Cancer

7. Cancer and/or Gynecological Cancer