What Does #NoBraDay ACTUALLY Mean?

Chrissy Turner, a girl living in Utah, United States, was merely 8-years-old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

 

Breast cancer is top cancer in women worldwide.  Though this fiend can strike women and men alike, the incidences are higher among the former with two million new cases reported in 2018, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.

 

To spread awareness about this deadly disease, October is commemorated as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, while October 13 marks the No Bra Day.

 

The No Bra Day traces its roots to the first BRA Day event started by Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Mitchell Brown on October 19, 2011, where the term BRA stood for Breast Reconstruction Awareness.  He began this campaign to educate women who had undergone a mastectomy due to breast cancer about the availability of Reconstructive Breast Surgery.

 

In July, the same year, an anonymous individual using the name Anastasia Doughnuts spearheaded the No Bra Day campaign by publishing the first website promoting the event.

 

Since 2015, No Bra Day is observed on October 13, encouraging women to leave their bras at home and get themselves examined for breast cancer.

 

Several celebrities worldwide, including Australian-British pop singer Kylie Minogue, Mexican beauty Barbara Mori, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon and British actor Maggie Smith were diagnosed with breast cancer. Back home, yesteryear actor Mumtaz, Tamil actor Gautami Tadimalla and writer-director Tahira Kashyap have battled the disease to emerge as winners in life.

 

This No Bra Day, we bring you words of inspiration from celebrities who not only won the race against breast cancer but also became an inspiration for others to follow:

 

Angelina Jolie

The American actor, filmmaker, humanitarian on her preventative double mastectomy:

“I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

 

Barbara Mori

The Mexican actor on the importance of early detection of the disease:

“Talking about my illness has had a positive impact on me. I want the world to know that if detected in time, this illness can be cured.”

 

Kylie Minogue

The Australian singer, song-writer, actor on the course of her treatment. 

“One important thing to know is you are still the same person during it. I am more eager to do what I did.  I want to do everything.”

 

Cynthia Nixon

The Sex and the City star on battling the disease: 

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.  So the only thing to really be afraid of is if you don’t go get your mammograms.”

 

Mumtaz

The veteran Indian film actor on her persistence to conquer the dreaded ailment:

“I don’t give up easily. Even death will have to fight me.”

 

Dame Maggie Smith

English actor and Academy-award winner on recovering after bouts of chemotherapy:

“I think it’s the age I was when it happened. It takes you longer to recover. Though I am beginning to feel like a person again now.”

 

Tahira Kashyap

The Indian writer and director spoke on putting up the fight and celebrating herself:

“My basic has always been creating awareness about early breast cancer detection and self-love. If you are suffering from cancer, do not let it define you. You are bigger than the disease. Be the stronger person that you always have been."