Librarians, Plan Ahead for October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Here is the October installment of ideas for incorporating health programming into your overall library programming strategy. Keep looking for us on the first of each month to find programming ideas for three months out. Still working on summer programming? See July: National UV Safety Month, August: National Immunization Awareness Month, and September: National Cholesterol Awareness Month.

According to the latest available information (2007) from The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS), a woman’s overall lifetime risk of having breast cancer at some time in her life is one in eight. It is only second to skin cancer as the most prevalent cancer among American women. The good news is that 92 percent of cases detected early are cured, which of course makes breast cancer awareness vitally important. Fortunately, observing and promoting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month at your library will be easy with these free resources:

• Quick and Easy: printable puzzles and other activities for children and handy printables for adults.
• Featured Resources: books for children and adults and links to reliable information online
• Book Club: ideas for your book discussion group
• Tie Ins: to traditional September library programming
• Community Resources: local agencies to contact
• Publicity Resources: free items to help you publicize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month at your library through social networking sites or traditional printed materials
• Fun Stuff: fun, interactive links

Quick and Easy

Books for Adults

• Fiction
• Non-Fiction

Books For Children and Teens

• Picture Books
• Fiction for Tweens and Teens
• Non-Fiction for Children and Teens

Reliable Online Information:

• American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer
• American Medical Association – Atlas of the Human Body – Breast Disorders
• Bright Pink – legal information for breast cancer patients
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Breast Cancer information (statistics, and other links) and Breast Cancer Research
• Medline Plus – Breast Diseases
• National Cancer Institute – What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer – 66 page printable brochure available in both English and Spanish, May 2011
• National Cancer Institute – Understanding Breast Changes – a 38 page printable brochure, January 2011
• National Cancer Institute – Reproductive History and Breast Cancer Risk – printable fact sheet, May 2011
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination

Book Club

Observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month by choosing one of these discussion-provoking books for your October book club.

Fiction

Time is a River by Mary Alice Munroe. (New York: Pocket Books, 2008.)

From publisher: “Mia Landan is recovering from breast cancer in a mountain cabin near Asheville, NC, when she discovers the journal of a sensational fly fisher of the 1920s, Kate Watkins. The inspiring words of a woman she never knew finally lure Mia from her shell to connect once more with the world around her. As she learns to fish, she uncovers secrets that span generations–secrets that have the power to change no only her life, but the lives of those in her new community.”

• Author Website
• Browse Inside
• Chapter One
• Reader’s Guide
• Video Book Trailers

Non-Fiction

Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker (New York: Crown Archetype, 2010)

“How a sister’s love launched the global movement to end breast cancer.”

• Author Website
• Chapter One
• Reader’s Guide

Tie Ins

Craft Time:

Easy crafts to “make and take” or to sell at a fundraiser:

• Pink ribbon key chain
• Pink ribbon magnet – use printable inspirational stickers from Hey Love Designs

Community Resources

Find a local agency to partner with, a speaker, or other local resources here:

• Find Screening Providers in Your State – free and low-cost screening search from the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). This search also provides links to State-Specific Cancer Statistics
• State Advocacy Campaign Search -  from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Publicity Resources

Use this free material alongside your library’s September programming information – newsletter, blog, posters, or flyers – to promote both your library’s programs and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

• Web Badges to add to your library website:
  • National Breast Cancer Awareness Month link
  • National Breast Cancer Early Detection Program – Provider Finder links – in both English and Spanish
• Sample Media and/or Newsletter or ListServ Announcement to personalize with your library’s information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Tweets to copy and paste to your library’s Twitter stream (pages 3-5) from the Department of Health and Human Services

Interactive Tools

Add some interesting and helpful interactive links to a library program, your library website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed:

Tools that Encourage:

• Breast Cancer Survivor Match and Partner Match programs – peer counseling for breast cancer patients and the people who love them
• Cancer Health-e-Cards in both English and Spanish from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• WomenStories – video series on many breast cancer topics featuring breast cancer survivors
• Mammogram Reminder service from the American Cancer Society
• Self-Exam Reminder service from Check Your Boobies

Informational Tools and Videos:

• Breast Cancer Quiz – from Discovery Health
• Breast Cancer Risk Tool – from the National Cancer Institute
• Breast Cancer and Mammography interactive tutorials from MedlinePlus
• Breast Cancer Diagnosis Guide app for iPhone
• Breast Health GPS – mammogram service finder for iPhone
• Breast Lump, Breast Pain, and Nipple Discharge virtual visits - symptom triage from freemd

Do you have additional National Breast Cancer Awareness Month programming ideas that you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment.