About Cancer Awareness Ribbons

Overview

Cancer awareness ribbons have become ubiquitous---it seems as though every cancer has a corresponding ribbon, and many causes and other diseases also have their own ribbons and colors. Ribbons have become an easy way to align yourself with a cause, and show your support for those affected.

History

The ribbon first became a symbol of awareness with the yellow ribbon and the Vietnam War, and later with the Iran Hostage Crisis and the Gulf War. The Ribbon Project for AIDS awareness was developed in 1992, with red being the chosen color for the ribbon. That year was nicknamed "The Year of the Ribbon," by The New York Times. It was only a matter of time before cancer awareness ribbons hit the scene.

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons

Breast cancer awareness ribbons are the most predominant ribbons, and likely the most well-known. The pink ribbon is everywhere, especially in October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This ribbon is pink, but it was not originally pink. A woman named Charlotte Haley, who had a strong family history of breast cancer, was making peach-colored ribbons with information cards about cancer awareness. "Self" magazine called her to go in on it with her, and Haley did not want to collaborate, because she was strictly grassroots and did not want to be commercialized. "Self" magazine's lawyers told it to pick a different color, and the magazine chose pink, according to Think Before You Pink.

Types

Other types of cancers have designated colors for ribbons and other awareness products. The following is a list of different cancers and their corresponding awareness colors. The color for general cancer awareness is lavender, bladder cancer, sarcoma, and bone cancer are yellow, brain cancer is gray, cervical cancer is teal and white, childhood cancer is gold, colon cancer is dark blue, esophageal cancer and stomach cancer are periwinkle, head and neck cancers are burgundy and white, kidney cancer is orange, leiomyosarcoma is purple, leukemia is orange, liver cancer is emerald, lung cancer is white, lymphoma is lime, melanoma is black, multiple myeloma is burgundy, ovarian cancer is teal, pancreatic cancer is purple, prostate cancer is light blue, testicular cancer is orchid, thyroid cancer is teal, pink and blue, uterine cancer is peach, and the color to honor caregivers is plum.

Features

While awareness ribbons were originally made out of ribbon---grosgrain, woven material or other fabrics---awareness ribbons are also commonly made out of other material that can withstand repeated wear, like enamel or plastic. There are also many different ribbon products, like embroidered ribbons on apparel, enamel ribbon keyrings and ornaments.

Considerations

While ribbons were the original awareness tool, with the advent of the LiveStrong bracelet, rubber awareness bracelets appear to be a major awareness product. More than 55 million of these bracelets have been sold since the inception of them in 2004, and the idea has spawned rubber awareness bracelets for everything from breast cancer to political causes.