The Hunt for Pink October

Before 1985, October was just another month. It did, of course, have Halloween, but this holiday already had an unhealthy fixation on candy and a long historical tradition of paganism. October needed something more solid on which to hang its hat. It was then that the powers that be decided to name October "Breast Cancer Awareness" month.

Decades later, two local organizations are at the forefront of this movement, making sure we all remember how important it is to unite against this disease — in October and year-round.

Pink Ribbon Annex

Among those most excited for the month of October are the folks at Pink Ribbon Annex, a website for women who have or have had breast cancer. The site’s goal, in the words of founder Carolyn Lee Clark, is "to be the top destination for health and wellness products for survivors of breast cancer."

After surviving her second episode of breast cancer, Clark decided it was time to take action.

"My aim with Pink Ribbon is the discovery of the new woman for herself," Clark explains.

The underlying philosophy of Pink Ribbon Annex is that breast cancer is invariably a life-changing experience. Clark is quick to explain that every survivor is transformed into "a new woman" — a phrase she uses frequently.

"There is something about a woman after she goes through diagnosis, treatment, medical intimidation that transforms her into a woman with a richer field of vision," Clark explains. This increased field of vision is often attended, however, by unwelcome physical discomforts, and women are often left searching unsuccessfully for support networks and products that suit their unique physical needs.

The Pink Ribbon Annex is a new kind of resource for women dealing with breast cancer issues. Clark originally envisioned the site as breast cancer’s answer to The Huffington Post. There aren’t any places," she explains, "that have the aggregated news source and lifestyle products shopping put together in one place." Pink Ribbon Annex was to be the first, and the best.

Much of the Pink Ribbon Annex merchandise consists of lingerie and swimwear. "Everybody talks about healthy," Clark muses, "but we want to always add beauty to it." In future months, Clark has plans to partner with Nordstrom for a "Sexy after Surgery" fashion show, which will both raise money for awareness efforts and support the development of mastectomy-conscious feminine garments. While most of their products come from larger wholesalers at this point, Clark anticipates that very soon the Pink Ribbon Annex will be developing its own line of women’s lingerie and intimates.

Clark and the Pink Ribbon Annex staff have been doing a phenomenal job, and their company is growing. Still, the great majority of the site’s business is regional.

"We would like to become a little more visible in larger communities across the U.S.," Clark says. And despite its humble beginnings, it’s not inconceivable that soon, Pink Ribbon Annex will be one of the leaders within the awareness community.

Susan G. Komen San Diego

In the world of breast cancer awareness, The Susan G. Komen Foundation is a giant. The San Diego chapter of Susan G. Komen has been around since 1995, and is firmly entrenched as the local leader in the campaign for the cure. Laura Sherman is currently the director of the local branch. "We have 1.2 million this year that we’ve granted orgs like Mama’s Kitchen and Breast Cancer Solution and UCSD John Moores Cancer Center and San Yisidro." According to Laura, "75 percent of funds stay in San Diego," with the remainder going to research programs abroad.

In San Diego, as is the case across almost all of the country, a substantial percentage of the population is not insured. In fact, 38 percent of San Diegans are currently not covered. The Susan G Komen Foundation focuses on this percentage of women who have no access to the resources they need for diagnosis and treatment.

"Two thousand women are diagnosed with breast cancer in San Diego every year," Laura explains. "Last year, we provided 8,000 diagnostic mammograms, thousands of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies."

This year, as has been the case since its inception, Susan G Komen San Diego will be sponsoring The Race for the Cure. Organizers anticipate more than 25,000 to come out to the race, although there are only around 15,000 registrants so far. There are always more actual attendees than registrants because, as Laura explains, "It’s like a festival you know, there’s music and there’s a survivor village." About 57 percent of the foundation’s total revenue comes from these races every year, with the rest coming from cause-related marketing and individual fundraisers.

Because of companies and organizations like Susan G. Komen and the Pink Ribbon Annex, the rate of breast cancer fatality has plummeted dramatically since the 1980s. So, remembering that nearly one in eight women gets breast cancer during their lifetime, do what you can to this October to give back to these companies and organizations that are saving lives in the community.