Cancer Ribbon Colors: Chart And Guide - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeA guide to cancer ribbon colors and meanings

Medically reviewed by Teresa Hagan Thomas PHD, BA, RN — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on February 16, 2024

How many colors?
Head and neck
Multiple myeloma
Leukemia
Kidney
Breast
Endometrial
Appendix
Childhood
Sarcoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Liver cancer
Ovarian cancer
Cervical cancer
Prostate cancer
Colon cancer
Stomach cancer
Testicular cancer
Pancreatic cancer
All cancers
Hodgkin lymphoma
Skin
Carcinoid
Brain
Lung
Bladder
Thyroid
FAQ
Summary

Cancer ribbons are loops of ribbon that people wear to show their support for those with cancer or to spread awareness about the condition. There are 43 different cancer ribbon colors, such as pink for breast cancer and orange for leukemia.

There are many different types of cancer ribbons, each with its own symbolic color. In this article, we list 26 cancer ribbon colors and their purposes, as well as specific cancer awareness months.

How many cancer ribbon colors are there?

There are around 43 cancer ribbon colors and 27 cancer awareness months. People choose to wear ribbons to raise awareness of particular cancers and show support for people affected by cancer.

Head and neck cancer

Color: white and burgundy

Head and neck cancer incorporates a range of different cancers, including cancer of the:

mouth
pharynx
larynx
nasal cavity
sinuses
salivary glands

The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance notes that alcohol and tobacco use are two of the most significant risk factors for these types of cancer.

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month.

Multiple myeloma

Color: burgundy

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects the plasma cells. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated there would be almost 36,000 new cases of multiple myeloma in 2024.

March is Myeloma Awareness Month when people and organizations help spread the word and raise money for research.

Leukemia

Color: orange

Leukemia is a form of blood cancer that usually starts in the bone marrow. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) states that the relative 5-year survival rate for leukemia has more than doubled since 1975. The improvement in outlook may be due to increased awareness of the disease and advances in medication.

September is Leukemia Awareness Month. Leukemia also shares the orange ribbon with kidney cancer.

Kidney cancer

Color: orange

Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in the United States. It is more common in older people, and more men than women tend to develop it. While it is not possible to prevent all cases, obesity, and smoking increase a person’s risk of kidney cancer.

March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer

Color: pink

Possibly the most recognizable cancer ribbon is the pink ribbon that represents breast cancer. Researchers and organizations use or wear pink throughout their numerous campaigns to highlight their stand against breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Organizations, such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, constantly work toward finding a cure for breast cancer and help support those going through treatment.

Uterine or endometrial cancer

Color: peach

Endometrial cancer most commonly affects females after menopause, with an average age of 60 at the time of diagnosis, according to the ACS.

September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. During the month, campaigners come together to raise awareness for preventive testing and funds for research.

Appendix cancer

Color: amber

An amber ribbon is a sign of support for those battling appendix cancer. Appendix cancer is more rare than many other cancers.

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, there are only about 0.15–0.9 cases of appendix cancer per 100,000 people.

August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month.

Childhood cancer

Color: gold

A gold ribbon represents all cancers that occur during childhood.

Organizations, such as the American Childhood Cancer Organization, campaign all year round to spread awareness and raise money to support children fighting cancer.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Sarcoma or bone cancer

Color: yellow

A yellow ribbon represents sarcoma or bone cancer. There are several types of bone cancer. Sarcoma can affect the bones, or it can affect the connective tissues in the body, such as the cartilage or myofascial tissue.

Organizations, such as the Sarcoma Foundation of America, help fund research and increase awareness about the disease.

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Color: lime green

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) affects the lymphatic system. As the LLS notes, around 85–90% of cases start in B lymphocyte cells, which help produce the antibodies that fight infection.

Lymphoma and leukemia are two separate forms of cancer that are commonly grouped together because they both affect the blood.

September is World Lymphoma Awareness Month, which supports people with NHL and other forms of blood and lymph cancer.

Liver cancer

Color: emerald green

According to the American Liver Foundation, about 34,000 Americans die of liver cancer each year. It affects nearly twice as many men as women.

October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month when foundations and charities help raise awareness for testing and funds for research.

Ovarian cancer

Color: teal

According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women of any age. Around that 1 in 78 women will experience ovarian cancer during their lifetimes.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. However, May 8th is also World Ovarian Cancer Day, when people around the globe spread awareness of ovarian cancer.

Cervical cancer

Color: white and teal

Thanks to early preventive screenings, more people are surviving cervical cancer than ever before. According to the ACS, regular tests, such as the Pap smear, have significantly reduced deaths from the disease.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer

Color: light blue

The Prostate Cancer Foundation estimates that 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

Routine screening beginning around 50 years old may help detect prostate cancer early and avoid serious complications.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, where organizations promote preventive testing and help raise funds for developing new treatments.

Colon cancer

Color: dark blue

Colon cancer affects the large intestine. People with forms of irritable bowel disease, such as Crohn’s and colitis, have a higher risk of developing this type of cancer.

Regular screening for polyps and signs of cancer has led to an improvement in survival rates in recent years. When doctors treat colon cancer in its early stages, the overall 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 63–67%.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Stomach cancer

Color: periwinkle blue

A lavender-blue ribbon is a sign of support for those affected by stomach or gastric cancer. The organization No Stomach For Cancer notes that stomach cancer still receives little attention, even though it is the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally.

November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month, which is vital for promoting greater public knowledge of the disease and raising funds for research.

Testicular cancer

Color: light purple

Testicular cancer is the most widespread cancer in males ages 15–44, according to the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.

An essential tool for catching this type of cancer in the early stages is regular self-examination.

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.

Learn how to perform a testicular self-exam.

Pancreatic cancer

Color: purple

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages, as there are no preventive screening tests available.

Pancreatic cancer uses a purple ribbon as a tribute to one woman’s love for her mother. A woman named Rose Schneider, whose favorite color was purple, died after battling pancreatic cancer. Her daughter, finding little formal support in her time of need, worked to found the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan) to support people with pancreatic cancer.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, PanCan and other organizations, such as the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, work together to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research.

All cancers

Color: lavender

A lavender ribbon is usually a sign of support for those living with all types of cancer. Sometimes, people wear a rainbow of ribbons or a ribbon with many different colors to symbolize the same thing.

National Cancer Prevention Month and World Cancer Day occur in February each year.

Hodgkin lymphoma

Color: violet

Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of lymphoma or blood cancer that starts in the lymph nodes.

As the LLS notes, Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer.

September is World Lymphoma Awareness Month.

Skin cancer

Color: black

According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. In 2023, nearly 187,000 Americans were predicted to receive a skin cancer diagnosis.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. People can also wear a black ribbon to promote regular skin checks and preventive screenings.

Learn more about melanoma.

Carcinoid cancer

Color: zebra print

Carcinoid cancer is not as well-known as other cancers. Carcinoid cancer grows very slowly, commonly appearing in the small intestines and bronchial system in the lungs, according to the American Association for Cancer Research.

Some people experience little to no symptoms for a long time, though carcinoid cancer can still be life threatening.

November is Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Month.

Learn more about lung carcinoid tumors.

Brain cancer

Color: gray

Possibly a reflection of a person’s “gray matter,” a gray ribbon promotes brain cancer awareness.

The National Brain Tumor Society states that 1 million people in the U.S. are living with a brain tumor. While the majority of these tumors are benign, about 37% are cancerous.

May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month.

Lung cancer

Color: white or pearl

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the U.S. It is responsible for about 20% of all cancer-related deaths, according to the ACS.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, though other organizations, such as the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, work year-round to raise funds for lung cancer research.

Bladder cancer

Color: blue, yellow, and purple

Bladder cancer is represented by a blue, yellow, and purple ribbon. The American Bladder Cancer Society states that bladder cancer accounts for 5% of all cancer cases. Men are more likely to develop it than women.

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.

Thyroid cancer

Color: blue, pink, and teal

Doctors will diagnose an estimated 44,020 new cases of thyroid cancer in 2024, according to the ACS.

September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, when organizations, such as the American Thyroid Association, promote their work to spread awareness and support for people with thyroid cancer.

Frequently asked questions

How many breast cancer awareness ribbons are there?

There are four breast cancer ribbons:

Breast cancer: Pink
Metastatic breast cancer: Pink, teal, and green
Inflammatory breast cancer: Hot pink
Male breast cancer: Pink and blue

Is there a breast cancer emoji?

There is no official breast cancer emoji, but a yellow “reminder” ribbon is available on most messaging platforms, which people can use to show support for a cause. Some platforms, such as Facebook and Windows provide a pink ribbon emoji to symbolize breast cancer.

Is there a ribbon for leukemia?

The ribbon for leukemia is orange. It is the same color as the kidney cancer ribbon.

Is there a button or badge for pancreatic cancer?

There is no official button to symbolize support for pancreatic cancer but many buttons are available online that show a purple ribbon.

Is there a lung cancer awareness month?

Yes. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Summary

Wearing a specific color or ribbon can help people show their support for a friend or loved one or even help them discuss their own cancer diagnosis with others.

Participating in awareness campaigns by wearing a ribbon can help keep the public informed about cancer research and promote funding for new treatments.

Leukemia
Lung Cancer
Cancer / Oncology
Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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