Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The month of October has now become synonymous with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this is a tribute to the inspiring success of the campaign to increase awareness of the disease. According to Breastcancer.org, about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, and in an effort to combat the statistics countless charities, organizations, and individuals raise millions of dollars every year in “Pinktober” to fund research for a cure and support breast cancer programs and services.
But there is more to October than pink ribbons and fundraising walks. Some breast cancer patients and survivors are more appreciative of uncomplicated supportive gestures; talking to someone who simply listens is just one example. This person could be a family member or close friend, or someone else in the community like a counselor, a pastor, or a funeral director. Believe it or not, funeral directors are great listeners; it’s part of their job after all, and many of them have years of experience in assisting and supporting families suffering from tragedy and loss. It may seem awkward to talk to your local funeral director about breast cancer, but the fact is there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to what a breast cancer patient or survivor needs to get through the stages of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Funeral directors are always willing to lend an ear to people in need, especially those who are directly and indirectly affected by breast cancer. Here are three things you can talk about with your funeral director:
Personalization - it’s not breaking news, but funeral services have changed over the years. Traditional funerals are no longer considered the norm as increasing numbers of people choose to customize their end of life experience by writing their own obituaries, creating tribute videos, and planning interactive ceremonies, among other things. Based on individual preferences, a funeral director can help plan the perfect service and provide guidance and resources for making the necessary arrangements.
Advance planning - breast cancer patients and survivors who are in the process of writing a will or working on estate planning may find advance funeral planning to be useful. Your funeral director can explain the options available for pre-planning a funeral and making payment arrangements (these selections can always be adjusted if necessary). Planning in advance and documenting your final wishes is a good way to be an informed consumer, and goes a long way towards providing peace of mind in a stressful situation.
Aftercare services - many funeral homes offer ongoing support for families in the form of aftercare services such as support groups, counseling programs, and educational presentations. Funeral directors consider aftercare to be more than just an afterthought, and they are a great resource for creative ideas that can be tied into activities that help raise breast cancer awareness and bring communities together for fundraising initiatives.
Based on the unyielding efforts towards finding a cure, Breast Cancer Awareness Month will continue to be top of mind every October for breast cancer patients and survivors and their families, as well as charities, community organizations, and funeral directors. There is strength in numbers, and the significance of “Pinktober” will keep growing as people get involved and contribute to the cause in any way they can.
Ironically in October 2018, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I am happy to report that I have completed all my major therapies and surgeries.....I am a survivor. This wasn't possible without my fantastic medical team, as well as the support of my family, friends, the many organizations that were part of my cancer journey, and most importantly....a positive mindset.
The following organizations work diligently to help support patients, their families before, during, after and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Although I am on the other side, I still turn towards these organizations for support and guidance, but also to give back as they were a huge part of my healing. May they be helpful to you or to someone you know.
Join us on our Instagram Page for the entire month of October for healthy tips, facts and myths about breast cancer health and awareness.
Leave a Reply 0 comments