Every October, everything turns pink. From yogurt lids to football fields, companies launch pink ribbon campaigns in the name of breast cancer awareness. But here’s the truth: awareness alone doesn’t save lives — and it doesn’t provide the real support breast cancer survivors need.
If we want to make a meaningful difference, we have to move beyond performative “pinkwashing” and into purposeful action. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are three powerful and practical ways to ensure your support actually makes an impact — not just in October, but all year long.
1. Do Your Homework Before You Donate
Not all breast cancer charities are created equal. Some nonprofits are funding groundbreaking research, offering direct patient support, and providing essential resources. Others, unfortunately, spend more on marketing than on real impact.
Before you give, take five minutes to dig deeper. A good place to start is Charity Navigator to search your favorite organizations and see how they stack up. Ask these questions before you click “donate”:
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What percentage of donations goes directly to programs instead of overhead or advertising?
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Does the organization share transparent reports about their results and impact?
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Are they funding breast cancer research, patient support, or just raising “awareness”?
Your donations have power — make sure they’re fueling real progress for people living with breast cancer, not just paying for pink campaigns.
2. Support Local Breast Cancer Organizations Making a Real Difference
Big national organizations play an important role, but it’s often the smaller, community-based breast cancer support organizations making the biggest difference. These are the teams driving patients to treatment, dropping off meals, or covering childcare so someone can focus on healing.
These grassroots groups step in where traditional healthcare falls short — helping with practical needs, emotional support, and holistic healing.
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Practical support – rides to appointments, grocery or rent assistance, travel stipends.
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Holistic care – yoga, meditation, nutrition workshops, or complementary therapies.
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Peer connection – mentorship, advocacy, or survivor-led support groups.
These organizations may not have multimillion-dollar campaigns or national TV ads, but they’re on the frontlines of breast cancer care and survivorship — and they rely on your support to keep going.
3. Shop With Purpose: Support Survivor-Owned Brands
One of the most impactful ways to help the breast cancer community is by shopping with businesses founded by survivors themselves. These brands don’t just sell products — they create change, fund advocacy, and speak openly about the realities of life after cancer.
At Upstate Mary, we’re more than an intimacy brand. As a survivor-founded company, we’re deeply invested in supporting the breast cancer community in ways that go far beyond our products. We:
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Personally fund travel, sponsorships, and booths at events like the Young Survival Coalition Summit.
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Donate products, education, and time to retreats that help survivors navigate intimacy after cancer.
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Break the silence around sexual side effects, body image changes, and emotional challenges — topics that are too often ignored in conventional care.
When you support survivor-owned brands, you’re not just buying a product — you’re directly investing in advocacy, education, healing, and a future where no one faces breast cancer alone.
Here are some of our fav survivor-owned brands to support:
Beauty Bakerie – Founded by breast cancer survivor Cashmere Nicole, Beauty Bakerie has grown from a small indie label into a globally recognized beauty brand sold in over 130 countries. Known for its vegan, cruelty-free makeup and inclusive product range, the company is built on Nicole’s mission to create high-quality cosmetics that empower and uplift.
AnaOno – After her own breast cancer diagnosis and reconstruction, Dana Donofree launched AnaOno to reimagine post-surgery lingerie. Today, the brand is a leader in adaptive intimates, designing bras and loungewear that prioritize comfort, confidence, and beauty for people navigating mastectomy, lumpectomy, and reconstruction — with styles now available through major retailers and collaborations.
Sweet Loren’s – Diagnosed with cancer in her early twenties, Loren Castle turned her recovery into a mission to make comfort food healthier and more accessible. Sweet Loren’s cookie doughs are allergen-free, plant-based, gluten-free, and non-GMO — a deliciously guilt-free treat that’s now widely available in grocery stores across the country.
Beyond the Pink: Turning Awareness Into Action
This October, let’s go deeper than the pink ribbons. True breast cancer support means asking hard questions, choosing organizations that prioritize impact, uplifting grassroots efforts, and investing in survivor-led businesses that are creating real change.
Awareness is only the first step. Action is what transforms lives. Together, we can turn this Breast Cancer Awareness Month into something far more powerful — a movement that truly supports those affected by breast cancer and builds a more compassionate future for all of us.
You can take action here:
Breast cancer fundraisers are everywhere, but most of the money raised goes toward breast cancer prevention and early detection efforts. Very little of it, only 2-3%, is dedicated toward research for Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer. METAvivor is the only organization that solely funds MBC research through a scientific peer review process.
💌 Join the Movement
Want more resources on intimacy after cancer, body confidence, and holistic sexual wellness — plus early access to new products and exclusive survivor-led events?
Join our mailing list and be part of a growing community rewriting the narrative around healing, pleasure, and life after breast cancer.
ABOUT UPSTATE MARY
At Upstate Mary, we celebrate the power of plants and the beauty of self-care. Our Farm to Bedroom™ collection is designed to support pleasure and connection at every stage of life, whether you’re navigating menopause, postpartum, or simply exploring your sensuality. Formulated with organic botanicals and full-spectrum CBD, our intimacy oils and suppositories nurture your body without disrupting its natural balance.
Rediscover your pleasure with Upstate Mary.