T-Shirts to Support Breast Cancer Research

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY. - Downtown businesses unite to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research this October.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it impacts all of us differently.

Many of us know someone personally impacted by Breast Cancer and we deal with it in different ways. Some of us feel grief and sit in silence, while others feel misunderstood and unseen. October was designated as "breast Cancer Awareness month" in 1985, with the goal: to promote screening and prevention of the disease.

Each year, one in eight women in the United States and 2.3 million women worldwide are diagnosed with Breast Cancer, according to data shared by the World Health Organization.

October 13 is nationally recognized in the United States as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. About 30% of early-stage breast cancers eventually metastasize (spread to parts of the body away from the breast), and the day is intended to drive awareness of the need for more research about metastatic disease.

The Dark Horse Mercantile showcasing Stronger Together T-shirt

President of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association Deann Devitt and teamed up with the members of the American Cancer Society to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research.

Throughout the month of October, participating businesses will be selling "Stronger Together" t-shirts. All proceeds will go to fight Breast Cancer.

"When the DBA was approached by the ACS to bring breast cancer awareness downtown, it was a no-brainer for us. We have all been touched by this terrible disease in one way or another. Helping to bring awareness and remember those who have survived and those we have lost, is just another way that we as a community can support each other," Devitt said.

Shirts are $20 each and are available at the following locations. All proceeds go back to ACS

1. Violets

2. Celtic Treasures

3. Lifestyles

4. Piper Boutique

5. Spoken

6. Impressions

7. The Broadway Grind

8. Saratoga Dance

American Cancer Society screening recommendations for women at average breast cancer risk

These guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer. For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene), and has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. (See below for guidelines for women at high risk.)

• Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.

• Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.

• Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.

• Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening – what the test can and cannot do.

Clinical breast exams are not recommended for breast cancer screening among average-risk women at any age.

For more information from the American Cancer Society on early screening, click here.

For information from the American Cancer Society regarding signs and symptoms click here.