Pink, On Purpose

Every October, pink starts showing up in places it usually doesn't. A ribbon on a coat. A window display. A friend's profile picture. It's easy to see it so often that you stop really seeing it.

So this is me, asking you to look again. October is breast cancer awareness month, and this year I wanted the journal to say something about it, simply and without a sales pitch.

Why it matters here

In Switzerland, around one woman in eight is affected by breast cancer. It's the most common cancer among women here, with about 6,500 new cases every year, according to the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG).

The number that stays with me is a different one. When it's caught early, the five-year survival rate is around 88%. That is the whole reason this month exists. Paying attention early changes the story.

Know what's normal for you

You know your own face in the mirror without thinking about it. Your body deserves the same familiarity. Not worry, not a monthly panic, just knowing what's usual for you, so you notice if something changes.

If something feels different, don't wait for it to sort itself out. Book the appointment. Ask your doctor or gynaecologist what checks make sense for you and when. In Geneva, the Octobre Rose Genève-Nyon programme lists talks and events all month if you want to learn more.

Send the text

We're very good at looking after each other in small ways. The "text me when you're home." The emergency hair clip handed over in a bathroom. The voice note that turns into a twenty-minute pep talk.

This month, use that. Message your sister, your mum, your best friend. "Have you booked your check-up?" It might feel like an odd thing to send between brunch plans and memes. Send it anyway. It's the kind of care that actually counts.

A little pink, worn with intention

For October, I'm reaching for the Melrose clip, our signature clip made with our friends at Melrose Kitchen. It isn't a cure for anything, and I'd never pretend it is. It's a reminder in your hair: every time you catch it in a mirror, a small nudge to check in, with yourself and with your girls. 💗

Long after October

The ribbons come down in November. The habit doesn't have to. Know your body, keep your appointments, and keep sending the texts. That's the part of pink I'd love us all to keep.

Love, Dana