National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October that aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers — aimed at:

• supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer

• educating people about breast cancer risk factors

• encouraging women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk

• fundraising for breast cancer research