When you see the words breast cancer, you may think of a loved one, the symbolic pink ribbon, chemotherapy and radiation treatments – the list goes on. But do you ever think about the history of breast cancer? Taking a step back helps us realize just how far we’ve come, and appreciate the medical advances we are making.

According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, cancer was recorded as far back as 2500 B.C. by the Egyptians. In 1757 Henri Le Dran, a French surgeon, was the first to advocate for the surgical removal of tumors to prevent the cancer from spreading. In 1882, the first mastectomy was performed.

The 1900s brought many medical advances, including Marie and Pierre Curie’s ground-breaking introduction of radiation as a cancer treatment. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the National Cancer Institute in 1937, which is as a part of the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services.

The 1900s also brought the use of X-rays, chemotherapy and CT scans. In 1982, Dr. Robert Weinberg was able to prove that human genes can cause cancer, and in the 1990s cancer mortality rates saw a decline for the first time since the 1930s. Currently, medical researchers are working to understand the role genetics play with different treatment options to both prevent and treat cancer.

Knowing this extensive history, we created a wind chime collection called, For the Girls, specifically to benefit breast cancer charities. You can shop these chimes and also look into additional resources we have for you to learn more about Breast Cancer.