By Demetrius Lockridge, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Charlotte Haley started the breast cancer ribbon campaign in the 1990s to bring awareness to the lack of support for breast cancer prevention, education and research. Her peach colored ribbons were attached to a card providing the facts behind the lack of research dollars being allocated to study the disease. Charlotte was a breast cancer survivor who had a strong family history including her sister, grandmother and daughter.

Her ribbons were indeed peach. So, why are the current ribbons pink? Estée Lauder and Self magazine wanted permission from Haley to use the peach ribbon as a symbol for breast cancer advocacy. Haley denied the request and the lawyers for Estée Lauder recommended selecting another color. This resulted in the birth of the pink ribbon to symbolize breast cancer awareness.

Did you know that every two minutes, a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer? In 2019, around 270,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, which is a large increase from the almost 200,000 women who were diagnosed twenty years earlier in 1999. Despite this rise in the incidence of breast cancer, death related to breast cancer has seen a steady decline.

In 1975, 48 deaths from breast cancer occurred for every 100,000 women compared to 27 deaths from breast cancer for every 100,000 women in 2019. Could this be attributed to an increase in awareness (pink ribbon campaign)? Better treatments? Recent research has aimed to better understand what is being done right and how we can improve.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open evaluated breast cancer mortality rates in the US from 1975-2019. The study involved data among women ages 30-79 who participated in screening mammograms to detect breast cancer, received treatment for stage I to III breast cancer, or received treatment for metastatic or advanced breast cancer. The model assessed those who did not receive care as a comparison. The 2019 data revealed a 58% decrease in death (mortality) related to breast cancer since 1975. The researchers suggested the largest component of this decrease in mortality was related to better treatment regimens for stage I through stage III breast cancer. This was followed by advanced treatments for recurrent breast cancer and the awareness of receiving breast cancer screenings with mammography. 

Between 2000 and 2019, the average survival time after detecting recurrent metastatic breast cancer rose from 1.9 years to 3.2 years. This was the greatest change in survival time for the 44 years monitored in the study. This demonstrates improvement in treatment options for the more aggressive late stage breast cancer.

As advances in research and technology and breast cancer awareness are emphasized, we can continue to improve these statistics and further reduce mortality from breast cancer. The pink ribbon is a great reminder to screen for cancers and to catch them earlier, including breast cancer. Survival is enhanced the earlier the cancer is identified. 

It is recommended for all women to receive mammograms every other year starting at age 50. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends women at high risk for breast cancer including those with a family history consider a mammogram or breast MRI every year starting at age 25 to 40. This depends on the youngest age of breast cancer in the family and if any gene mutations have been identified. Consult your primary care provider for more information. 

Peach to pink—Screen for breast cancer and continue to support vital research to improve survival and find a cure!

ONU Healthwise is offering the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at clinics Monday-Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please call 419-772-3784 for more information.