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What is a Breast cancer meme?

A breast cancer meme is an image or video that spreads awareness online, related to the topic of breast cancer.

Typically, breast cancer memes flood social media in the month of October.

Why?

October is breast cancer awareness month.

Here is an example of a breast cancer awareness meme:

This example of a breast cancer meme blends adorable humor with a serious health message. The use of adorable dogs provides a warm and positive message, lowering a human’s guards around a particularly heavy and sensitive topic such as breast cancer.

How many of us have a friend, family member, or loved one who has faced breast cancer?

Personally, I’ve known at least four women within just my family alone.

One important fact: Breast cancer occurs in both men and women.

“While breast cancer overwhelmingly affects women, men also have breast tissue and are at risk of developing breast cancer” (Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 2025).

“In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an additional 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer will be diagnosed” (National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2025).  

The most popular facebook breast cancer meme

A private Facebook message chain asking females to put a single color as their Facebook status update. This color was to represent what bra color the particular female posting, was wearing at the time. Once the status update was posted, females were asked to send the message to more females.

A diffusion-centric campaign strategy. A word-of-mouth campaign strategy.

So Why Leave the Men Out?

Once men began seeing these status updates, conversations, questions, and comments began spreading awareness of breast cancer. However, leaving men out of the campaign did risk reinforcing the idea that breast cancer only affects women.

are these facebook breast cancer memes actually spreading awareness?

The answer is yes and no.

• Yes:
  • Creates Curiosity
  • Builds Community
  • Makes Breast Cancer Visible on Social Media
• No:
  • Lack of Educational Information About Breast Cancer
  • Excludes Men
  • No Connection to Prevention
  • No Connection to Action
    • Encouraging Screenings
    • Encouraging Early Detection
    • Encouraging Donations

How do we Effectively spread awareness of breast cancer?

• Join or Set Up Fundraisers
  • Walks/Runs
  • Facebook or Instagram Fundraisers
  • GoFundMe Fundraisers
• Share Personal Stories
  • Personal Story
  • Family Member’s Story
  • Friend’s Story
• Share Factual Information
  • Facts About Early Detection
  • Risk Factors For Breast Cancer
  • Reminders About The Importance Of Mammograms
  • Share Posts From Breast Cancer Organizations On Your Social Media
    • The American Cancer Society
    • National Breast Cancer Foundation
    • Susan G. Komen
    • Breast Cancer Research Foundation

If breast cancer awareness is cause close to your heart, start promoting it.

Promote it in the best way possible!

Yes, join in on fun social media memes, but also actively help spread awareness by joining or setting up fundraisers, sharing personal stories, or sharing factual information.

Let’s help those with breast cancer and help prevent breast cancer!

Resources:

Breast Cancer Research Foundation. (2025, April 24). Male breast cancer statistics and research: BCRF. https://www.bcrf.org/about-breast-cancer/male-breast-cancer-statistics-research/

National Breast Cancer Foundation. (2025, August 22). Breast cancer facts & stats 2025 – incidence, age, survival, & more. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts/#:~:text=1%20in%208%20women%20in,personally%20affected%20by%20breast%20cancer.