Cancer awareness ribbons are colored ribbons that are used as symbols to promote awareness and prevention of different types of cancer. Each cancer type has an associated awareness ribbon color that represents support for patients, survivors, and efforts to find a cure.
Pink Ribbon
The most common and widely recognized cancer awareness ribbon color is pink, which represents breast cancer awareness. The pink ribbon symbolizes support for breast cancer patients, survivors, research, and education.
The pink ribbon dates back to 1991 when the Susan G. Komen Foundation distributed pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. The following year, pink ribbons were made available to all breast cancer survivors and participants at other Komen events. In 1992, the pink ribbon became the official symbol of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every October.
Today, the pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Many breast cancer nonprofits, events, products, and campaigns incorporate the pink ribbon into their branding and messaging as a sign of solidarity. Pink ribbons and pink products help raise money and awareness for breast cancer.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
Blue Ribbon
The color blue represents prostate cancer awareness. The blue ribbon became a symbol for prostate cancer after being introduced by the Prostate Cancer Foundation in the 1990s.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world’s leading philanthropic organization funding prostate cancer research. The foundation uses the blue ribbon in its materials and branding. Many other prostate cancer charities and events also incorporate blue ribbons to unite the prostate cancer community.
Blue ribbons help increase public awareness about prostate cancer risks, screenings, symptoms, and treatment options. The color blue and ribbon symbol pay tribute to the lives lost to prostate cancer and show support for fighters, survivors, caregivers and advocates.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
Orange Ribbon
The orange ribbon represents leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma awareness. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society pioneered the orange ribbon in the 1970s to increase public consciousness of blood cancers.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society distributes orange ribbons at its Light the Night fundraising walks held in communities across North America. Participants carry illuminated orange balloons at dusk to commemorate and honor leukemia and lymphoma victims.
Today, the orange ribbon reminds people of the urgent need to find cures through research and provides a symbol of hope to patients undergoing treatment. The bold, vibrant color orange represents the fiery determination to overcome blood cancers.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
Yellow Ribbon
The yellow ribbon signifies bladder cancer awareness. Bladder cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the United States. An estimated 81,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.
The Yellow Ribbon Fund promotes bladder cancer advocacy by uniting patients, families, and caregivers. Their signature yellow ribbon provides a vibrant symbol to drive awareness of bladder cancer risks, symptoms, and screenings.
The yellow ribbon also honors the memories of those lost to bladder cancer and shows unity with those fighting for their lives. It represents hope for new and improved treatments enabled by research and clinical trials.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
Purple Ribbon
The color purple, often in combination with teal, symbolizes pancreatic cancer awareness. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) established the purple ribbon to build visibility for pancreatic cancer, which is difficult to detect early.
PanCAN hosts community awareness events where supporters wear purple to honor survivors and lost loved ones. Purple enables the pancreatic cancer community to come together and demonstrate combined strength.
The purple ribbon signifies that more work needs to be done educating the public about pancreatic cancer risks and symptoms. It also represents hope that research and funding will pave the way for new treatment options and improved survival rates.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
| Purple | Pancreatic Cancer |
Burgundy Ribbon
The burgundy ribbon represents multiple myeloma awareness. Multiple myeloma is a relatively rare cancer that forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. An estimated 32,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year.
The International Myeloma Foundation introduced the burgundy ribbon to help increase awareness and understanding of multiple myeloma. The unique color burgundy was chosen to stand out and reflect the seriousness of the disease.
The burgundy ribbon shows support for continued research to find a cure. It also honors those who have lost their battle with multiple myeloma and shows solidarity with those currently undergoing treatment.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
| Purple | Pancreatic Cancer |
| Burgundy | Multiple Myeloma |
Lime Green Ribbon
The lime green ribbon represents lymphoma awareness. Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. There are two main forms of lymphoma – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Lymphoma Research Foundation established the lime green ribbon to unite the lymphoma community in the fight against the disease. Lime green provides a bright, energetic color to represent the lymphoma focus on research for a cure.
The lime green ribbon also pays tribute to those lost to lymphoma and shows support for survivors. It helps spread awareness about lymphoma risks, symptoms, and treatment options.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
| Purple | Pancreatic Cancer |
| Burgundy | Multiple Myeloma |
| Lime Green | Lymphoma |
Teal Ribbon
The teal ribbon signifies ovarian cancer awareness. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, but it often goes undetected until later stages.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance established teal as the color representing ovarian cancer. The vivid teal hue helps bring visibility to the disease and unite the community of survivors and advocates.
The teal ribbon honors women who have lost their lives to ovarian cancer. It also conveys hope that increased awareness and research funding will improve early detection and pave the way for more effective treatment options.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
| Purple | Pancreatic Cancer |
| Burgundy | Multiple Myeloma |
| Lime Green | Lymphoma |
| Teal | Ovarian Cancer |
Pearl Ribbon
The pearl ribbon brings awareness to lung cancer. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers, likely because it is often caught at later stages when treatment options are limited.
The pearl ribbon represents the Lungevity Foundation’s commitment to changing outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, and support. The luminous pearl color symbolizes hope for new discoveries that lead to effective detection and treatment.
Wearing or displaying a pearl ribbon helps spread lung cancer awareness. It also honors those who lost their battle with lung cancer and shows solidarity with those fighting the disease.
| Color | Cancer Type |
|---|---|
| Pink | Breast Cancer |
| Blue | Prostate Cancer |
| Orange | Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma |
| Yellow | Bladder Cancer |
| Purple | Pancreatic Cancer |
| Burgundy | Multiple Myeloma |
| Lime Green | Lymphoma |
| Teal | Ovarian Cancer |
| Pearl | Lung Cancer |
Conclusion
Cancer awareness ribbons provide visual symbols of support for various cancer types. The colors represent communal strength and dedicated efforts to promote awareness, early detection, improved treatment options, and increased survival rates.
Wearing the ribbon color associated with a specific cancer is a way to honor survivors and those lost, while also spreading public consciousness of risks, symptoms, and screening methods. Together, the multi-colored spectrum of cancer awareness ribbons conveys a message of courage, hope, and determination to work toward a future free from the deadly grip of cancer.
The most common cancer awareness ribbon colors include pink for breast cancer, blue for prostate cancer, orange for blood cancers, and purple for pancreatic cancer. But many other cancer types have an identified awareness ribbon color including yellow, burgundy, lime green, teal, and pearl.
Public awareness of what each color represents is key to making the ribbons meaningful symbols of the fight against cancer. Widespread visibility of the varying colored ribbons helps convey that although cancer encompasses many diverse diseases, they all warrant attention, research, and a consolidated effort toward prevention and a cure.
