As I get older, I am acutely more aware of the amount of people around me, friends and family both, that are facing cancer. Some of our family’s closest friends are currently fighting cancer, my best just lost her father last week to cancer and even my sister in law is a veterinarian that focuses on cancer research in animals. It doesn’t matter what type of cancer they are facing, anytime I can assist in bringing awareness to this often deadly and always heartbreaking disease, I do my best. Recently Tree Classics reached out and asked me if I would be interested in decorating a tree pink for Breast Cancer Awareness and I was more than happy to do so.
While decorating a tree is simply a symbolic gesture and a way to bring light into this serious issue, breast cancer is something very real and something we need to be aware of.
Kennedy Fir Narrow Tree – I picked this tree so I could ultimately keep it in my office year round for decorating. I love how tall and narrow it is, perfect for corners!
What is Breast Cancer?
According to Cancer.gov:
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Breast cancer can also begin in the cells of the lobules and in other tissues in the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of the ducts but they haven’t spread outside the duct. Breast cancer that has spread from where it began in the ducts or lobules to surrounding tissue is called invasive breast cancer. In inflammatory breast cancer, the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.
In the U.S., breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. It can occur in both men and women, but it is rare in men. Each year there are about 100 times more new cases of breast cancer in women than in men.
Breast Cancer Ribbon Tree
How we decorated the breast cancer awareness tree:
We did it in all pink! We used mesh ribbon (the same kind you get for a wreath), which is super inexpensive and covers a ton of ground on a tree– so much more than garland! We also bought sparkly pink round balls, pink snowflakes, huge big bows strategically placed and twigs that stick out of the tree for some depth. Living in the south we never see real snow, but we also did some spray on fake snow to make it feel more holiday worthy.
U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics
According to BreastCancer.org
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
- About 40,450 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2016 from breast cancer,
- For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
- An 2016, there are more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
EXIU 24pcs Christmas Balls Ornaments for WeddingBreast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Christmas Ornament
Leoy88 24pcs Christmas Balls Xmas Tree Decorations
You can keep your tree up year round and decorate for awareness as well. I love the way the tree turned out and am so happy it presented an opportunity to talk to my kids about the importance and awareness of cancer overall.
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