No Bra Day Celebrations.
This is a reminder to women to celebrate their breasts, get a cancer screening, and practice self-examination.
Every October 13th, women are encouraged to go braless on No Bra Day, launched by a Canadian doctor 10 years ago to promote awareness of breast cancer.
The bra has a long history as a fashion accessory and a supportive garment, but studies of its value are inconclusive.
Women are encouraged to go braless on this day, not only to free themselves from a constrictive garment but to alert them to breast cancer symptoms, remind them to get screened, and to conduct regular self-examinations.
Here are some of the ways to promote breast cancer awareness according to Forbes:
- Share stories
Employers can promote a better understanding of the nuances of breast cancer by encouraging employees to share their stories of struggling with and surviving the disease.
Create a breast cancer awareness bulletin board.
Organize a lunch-and-share where employees can share their stories or a lunch and learn with a non-employee breast cancer survivor.
- Be creative with fundraising
Go beyond nationally organized fundraising drives and host your own walks, raffles, and sporting events are all possibilities.
Encourage collaboration and involvement by offering a 50/50 match.Show support and solidarity in nonfinancial ways as well.
You can collect colorful scarves and hats and donate them to a local chemo center.
- Make workplace accommodations
Employers can go the extra mile by offering accommodations that make the challenge of breast cancer treatment more manageable.
Some are obvious, such as a modified or reduced schedule to allow for treatments and doctor’s appointments.
- Empower women
Employers can use the platform of the workplace to proactively give women the information they need to take charge of their health.
- Educate all employees
A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes in the U.S. It is the most common cancer for women worldwide.
We have come a long way in the effort to eradicate breast cancer. The mortality rate from the disease has fallen 35% since 1990.
That rate continues to drop each year, but not fast enough.
