You can buy pink bracelets, blenders and even boxing gloves in October as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

But at least one group has some advice before you shop for the cure: "Think Before You Pink." San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Action advises consumers to find out how much money from each product will actually go toward the cause.

The nonprofit group, www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org, suggests that would-be buyers ask several questions, including:

• What percentage of the purchase price does the donation represent? Some products simply say that "a portion" of proceeds benefit charity.

• What is the maximum amount that will be donated? Many promotions have a cap, and after that amount is reached, purchases will not support charity.

• To what breast cancer organization does the money go and what types of programs does it support? Is the research or program innovative or necessary?

One case in point: Yoplait donates 10 cents from each pink yogurt lid to the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, if consumers mail the lids back to the company.

"You'd have to eat a whole lot of yogurt to generate $30 or $35," Breast Cancer Action spokeswoman Rebecca Farmer said.

"Some people say, 'Well, instead of spending the money on yogurt and stamps, it would be better to contribute a check for that amount.' "

However, the "Save Lids to Save Lives" campaign has raised $15.5 million for the Komen foundation in the past nine years, said Kristen Goldberg, spokeswoman for General Mills, the yogurt brand's parent company.

"We're very committed, and we look at it as a way to engage our customers," she said.

"If we just write a check, we wouldn't be raising the levels of awareness nor would we be engaging the consumer to get active in the cause."

The Komen foundation posts on its Web site, www.komen.org, useful questions for consumers to ask about donations, such as how much of the money goes to charity.

Pink ribbon products have paid off for Komen, bringing in more than $35 million last year.

E-mail khorner@dallasnews.com