Cancer Support & Coping Colors and Months for Cancer Ribbons A Bright, Meaningful Way to Raise Awareness By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldridge, MD Facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 27, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Douglas A. Nelson, MD Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD LinkedIn Douglas A. Nelson, MD, is double board-certified in medical oncology and hematology. He was a physician in the US Air Force and now practices at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is an associate professor. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Cancer ribbons are a great way to raise awareness, but sometimes people aren't sure what a specific color of ribbon is for. There are a lot of them! If you wish to know more about the cancer ribbon colors, here’s a handy chart that lists the cancer types and some of the awareness months associated with them. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Colors and Months for Cancer-Related Ribbons A light purple or lavender ribbon often is used to represent all cancers as a whole. Sometimes, many different ribbons are combined together to represent all cancers. Uncommon or rare cancers may be represented by a black-and-white zebra print ribbon. The zebra stands for a common saying in medicine: "When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras." In a field of horses, you are most likely to see horses, but occasionally, you will spot a zebra. Some who live with cancer realize that "zebras" (rare cancers) occur as well, and when you add all of these rare cancers together, they are actually quite common. It's important to note that a specific cancer may be represented by more than one ribbon color and that this can vary depending on where you live. Some ribbon colors also represent specific nonprofit groups who advocate for a particular type of cancer. For example, a white or pearl ribbon is used to represent lung cancer, but turquoise is the color of an American Lung Association initiative. In addition, there are months dedicated to certain types of cancer. June is National Cancer Survivor Month, for example, with others seen in the list below. Cancer Ribbons Cancer Ribbon Month All cancers Light purple (lavender) Appendix cancer Amber Bladder cancer Yellow, purple and navy blue May Bone cancer Yellow July Bone marrow transplant Green Brain cancer Gray May Breast cancer Pink Breast cancer (inflammatory) Hot pink Breast cancer (hereditary) Teal and pink Breast cancer with gynecologic cancers Teal and pink Breast cancer (in men) Pink and blue October Cancer survivor Lavender June Carcinoid syndrome Black and white zebra stripes November Caregiver Purple November Cervical cancer Teal and white January Childhood cancer Gold September Colon cancer Dark blue March Colorectal cancer Dark blue March Endometrial cancer Peach Esophageal cancer Light purple/periwinkle April Ewing's sarcoma Yellow July Gallbladder/bile duct cancer Green February Gastric (stomach) cancer Periwinkle blue November Glioblastoma Gray Gynecological cancer Purple September Head and neck cancer Burgundy and ivory, or red and white April Hodgkin lymphoma Violet September Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) Green or orange March Laryngeal cancer Burgundy and white Leiomyosarcoma Purple July Leukemia Orange September Liver cancer Emerald or jade green October Lung cancer Pearl, clear, or white November Lymphedema Light blue Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin) Lime green September Melanoma Black May Mesothelioma Pearl Myeloma Burgundy March Myeloproliferative diseases Orange and red Neuroendocrine cancers Black and white zebra-stripes November Oral cancer Burgundy and white April Osteosarcoma Yellow July Ovarian cancer Teal September Pancreatic cancer Purple November Pharyngeal cancer Burgundy and white April Prostate cancer Light blue September Rare diseases (including rare cancers) Black and white zebra-stripes Rectal cancer Blue March Retinoblastoma White Sarcoma Yellow July Skin cancer Black May Skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) Red and white May Small intestine cancer periwinkle blue Testicular cancer Purple (orchid) April Throat cancer Burgundy and white Thyroid cancer Blue, pink, and teal September Uterine cancer Peach September Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia Pearl A Word From Verywell If you or a loved one has cancer, or you simply want to raise awareness for cancer (or all cancers), wearing a colored ribbon can be your first step. Your support for cancer education and compassion will not go unnoticed. Frequently Asked Questions When is cancer awareness month? Each type of cancer has a certain month dedicated to raising awareness of it. For example, breast cancer awareness month is in October. What color is the ribbon for lung cancer? The ribbon for lung cancer awareness is pearl, clear, or white.November is lung cancer awareness month. What does the black ribbon mean for cancer? A black ribbon is used to signify melanoma and skin cancer. However, ribbons that are black and white like a zebra print represent uncommon or rare diseases and cancers. This includes carcinoid syndrome as well as neuroendocrine cancers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Association for Cancer Research. Cancer awareness months. Additional Reading Choose Hope. Cancer Color or Type. Choose Hope. Calendar of Cancer Awareness Months. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies