Purple Bra Day

Purple Bra Day raises awareness and shows support for women living with breast cancer. The day is observed on September 18. To show solidarity with breast cancer patients, people traditionally wear a purple bra over their clothes.

History

Breast cancer has been documented since ancient times. According to Egyptian papyri from as early as 2500 BC, this disease was recognized and described. Medical texts from Hippocrates dating back to 400 BC also contain references to breast cancer.

For centuries, it was believed that menopause caused breast cancer, as it was more commonly diagnosed in older women. Surgical treatment was rarely developed or performed due to religious beliefs against such procedures.

In 1882, Dr. William Halsted performed the world’s first mastectomy—an operation to remove the breast. This method remained common until the 1930s, when radiation therapy was introduced in 1937. In 1998, the drug Tamoxifen appeared, cutting the risk of recurrence in half.

In 2000, Breast Cancer Care WA was founded and later established Purple Bra Day. The holiday aims to support breast cancer patients and raise public awareness.

Interesting Facts

• In rare cases, a single breast cancer cell can take up to 10 years to develop into a tumor, but it usually takes just over three months.
• More than one million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year.
• Although breast cancer primarily affects women, about 400 men die from it every year.

How to Take Part

The best way to support those affected is to donate to organizations that help breast cancer patients. Wear a purple bra over your clothing to show solidarity with those battling the disease.

Share information about Purple Bra Day on social media to encourage others to get involved.

When is Purple Bra Day in 2025?

Purple Bra Day is observed on September 18 each year.

Observations