October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year hundreds of thousands of women receive a breast cancer diagnosis. About 1 in every 8 women in the U.S. will fight breast cancer in their lifetime.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation states, "In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.”

The exact causes of breast cancer are not known. However, breast cancer forms when the healthy cells’ DNA are damaged and those cells begin to mutate and grow.

How You Can Help

After a diagnosis, family and loved ones often feel helpless and want to know how they can support people going through cancer treatment.

Check out these sites for tips on how to support people fighting cancer:

• American Cancer Society: Caregiver Resource Guide
• Susan G. Komen: Breast Cancer Helpline
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: Learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Another way to help cancer patients is to donate blood or platelets. When you donate, you are giving patients and their loved ones hope. Roll up your sleeve and unite in the fight against cancer by making an appointment to donate today.

How Giving Blood Helps People Battling Cancer

25% of all cancer patients, including breast cancer, need blood and platelets during treatment. Surgery and chemotherapy can deplete the red blood cell count of cancer patients and frequently require blood transfusions. Blood and platelets help the body recover from cancer treatment and can help prevent life-threatening blood loss.

Platelets are especially important to patients battling cancer. Platelets are stem cell fragments created in your bone marrow to help clot your blood. About 50% of platelet donations are given to cancer patients.

Blood and platelet donations are often the lifeline for cancer patients. Donate in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month today!