October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Pink Ribbon

October is traditionally International Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2025, this campaign will take on a striking philatelic touch. In collaboration with Pink Ribbon vzw, bpost is releasing a special issue: a stamp in fluorescent pink ink, featuring the iconic pink ribbon at its center. “This stamp is a powerful symbol of recognition for the fight against breast cancer that we wage every day,” says Bettina Geysen of Pink Ribbon. Issue date: October 20, 2025.

Pink ribbon

The stamp is not only aesthetically striking thanks to the use of fluorescent ink, but also carries an important message. The stamp sheet displays the 9 warning signs of breast cancer. “Only one sign is truly well-known, namely a lump in the breast,” explains Aimé Van Hecke. “But there are eight others that are too often overlooked.” The stamp fits perfectly into the broader Pink Ribbon campaign, which runs this year under the motto “Shine a Light.” This focuses not only on prevention, but also on less discussed themes such as hereditary breast cancer and living with metastatic cancer. “We want to shed light on all aspects of breast cancer, including the often forgotten stories,” says Ruth Geysen. The fluorescent pink ribbon distributed via Pink Ribbon in October can therefore also be found on the stamp this year. But it doesn't stop there: ribbons and bracelets will also be sold in 100 post offices from October 20 to November 1, 2025. Moreover, a digital campaign is running on screens in 459 offices. The non-profit organization Pink Ribbon was founded in Belgium in 2014. Pink Ribbon is active on three fronts: prevention, detection, and support for patients. They raise awareness of breast cancer and its patients. Every year there is a major campaign in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Special effect: Use of fluorescent ink. Stamps: Logo of the non-profit organization Pink Ribbon Sheet: The 9 warning signs of breast cancer. [/ One_half] [one_half_last]             [/one_half_last] Source: bpost and Philanews 4-2025.  

History of Pink Ribbon

In the United States, it is not uncommon to choose a ribbon of a distinctive color as a symbol for a campaign. In 1991, every participant in the New York City Race was pinned a pink ribbon to raise awareness of breast cancer. In 1992, Charlotte Hayley had great success with a ribbon campaign against breast cancer. She sold her peach-colored ribbons throughout the country with a card that read: “The National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is $1,8 billion, and only 5% of this money goes to breast cancer prevention. Help us wake up lawmakers and America and wear this ribbon!” Around that time, Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of the women's health magazine Self, was working with a guest editor, Evelyn Lauder, deputy director of the cosmetics retailer Estée Lauder, on an issue about breast cancer. Penney and Lauder suggested to Hayley that they distribute ribbons through cosmetics stores. However, Hayley found the plans too commercial, whereupon Penney and Lauder came up with a pink ribbon. In October 1993, Lauder founded 'The Breast Cancer Research Foundation'. Since then, this movement has organized awareness campaigns and raised funds for education and to promote breast cancer research.

Stichting Pink Ribbon Nederland is a fundraising, non-profit charitable organization that raises awareness of breast cancer and the breast cancer patient of today. To achieve this, Stichting Pink Ribbon uses its acquired funds to finance specific projects and research in the fields of treatment, aftercare, and the long-term effects of breast cancer. A portion of these funds comes from companies with which the Foundation collaborates and which support it through fundraising campaigns. Stichting Pink Ribbon has registered the pink ribbon and the name Pink Ribbon as trademarks in the Benelux. Agreements are made with the companies with which Pink Ribbon collaborates regarding, among other things, the use of the trademarks and the donation amount. Stichting Pink Ribbon was founded in 2003 by Borstkanker Vereniging Nederland in The Hague in collaboration with Estée Lauder and The American Women's Club as the fundraising body of Borstkanker Vereniging Nederland. In 2007, Stichting Pink Ribbon became independent. Since 2009, Stichting Pink Ribbon has held the CBF quality mark for charities. Since 2016, Pink Ribbon has been incorporated into KWF Kankerbestrijding.

The non-profit organization Pink Ribbon became operational in Belgium in 2014. Since then, the organization has borne full responsibility for Pink Ribbon's operations in Belgium. Pink Ribbon is active on three fronts: prevention, screening, and patient support. They raise awareness of breast cancer and its patients. By raising funds, Pink Ribbon finances projects and research across the three fronts mentioned above.

Fundraising takes place partly through donations from and partnerships with companies, and partly through private donations by or the sale of Pink Ribbon products to the general public. To maintain the greatest possible transparency and professionalism, the funds reserved for the Pink Ribbon Fund are managed within the King Baudouin Foundation. The King Baudouin Foundation guarantees the proper management of the funds and provides appropriate guidance in the selection of projects to which the collected funds are allocated. [/ One_half] [one_half_last]          

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Breast cancer stamp

In 1996, international breast cancer expert Dr. Ernie Bodai launched the first “Breast Cancer Stamp.” The idea behind this stamp was to raise as much money as possible for breast cancer research. To date, the stamp has raised no less than $30 million in the United States for the National Cancer Institute and the breast cancer research program. Encouraged by this success, Dr. Bodai has dedicated his life to launching this stamp in as many countries worldwide as possible to promote national breast cancer research. It has already been successful in countless countries: from Kenya and Belize to El Salvador, Hungary, Serbia, and Kosovo – the “Pink Ribbon” stamp is now widely distributed. Thanks to the efforts of the Austrian Post, this stamp is now also available in Austria. The commemorative stamp, featuring a painting by American artist Whitney Sherman, serves a dual purpose: in addition to the postage costs for the item in question (€0,90), the surcharge of €0,10 goes directly to the Austrian Cancer Foundation. “Helping the vulnerable and the sick in our society should be a matter of course,” says Dr. Georg Pölzl, CEO of the Austrian Post. “The Austrian Post regularly supports initiatives and organizations dedicated to such assistance. We are pleased to be able to make a small financial contribution to the important goal of cancer research.” (In addition to the new commemorative stamp, a special metal postcard is also being issued, which likewise serves a charitable purpose: €1 from every card sold goes to the Pink Ribbon campaign of the Austrian Cancer Foundation.) “Remind your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, and cousin how important it is to get a mammogram. A mammogram can detect tumors and cysts in the breast. Early detection of breast cancer can save lives!” – Statistics ultimately show just how crucial this urgent appeal from the medical world truly is: in Western countries, more women die from breast cancer than from any other form of cancer. In addition to a cure, preserving the affected breast and, above all, maintaining the quality of life are the stated goals of medical treatment. Therapy typically consists of a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy, tailored to the stage of the disease. New approaches in the field of cancer immunotherapy are also made possible by monoclonal antibodies. Medical procedures are largely based on research experience and are standardized in internationally accepted guidelines.  

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international campaign to raise funds for prevention, detection, treatment, and care. The entire month of October is dedicated to breast cancer, and numerous activities are organized during this time. In the Netherlands, the name October Breast Cancer Month is used. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was established in 1985 by an international pharmaceutical company that produces medicines for breast cancer. The number of companies that feel connected to Pink Ribbon's principles for marketing reasons has grown significantly in recent years. Many commercial as well as non-profit organizations support or initiate activities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Elvin S. Rivera presents a postmark featuring imagery in honor of breast cancer awareness. The special stamp depicts a tree with few leaves, whose branches are shaped like a ribbon in honor of breast cancer awareness, and the trunk features a similar ribbon design. The postmark also includes the phrase “We are stronger together“, a widely used slogan to promote solidarity and support in the fight against the disease. The idea to raise awareness of breast cancer originated in 1985 in the United States as a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company Imperial Chemical Industries. The goal was to organize a week-long event to raise awareness of the disease, promote early detection through mammography, and fund research. Betty Ford (1918-2011), First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, brought breast cancer to national attention by making her diagnosis public and becoming a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.  

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Philanews, 4-2025, Pink Ribbon, pagina’s 4-5: https://www.bephila.be/flipbook/philanews042025nl/4/ Previous blogs about breast cancer: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/borstkanker/