How much of the “pink” product you buy go to fight breast cancer?

Companies are pushing pink this October to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research, but how much of what you spend is really going to fight the deadly disease?

It seems everything is pink this month, from batteries to fabric softener, tennis rackets and toilet paper.

“The whole idea of slapping a pink ribbon on your product is so widespread,“ said Peter Osborne of the American Cancer Society.

But cancer research groups urge consumers to be aware of where the money is really going.

“Consumers that are trying to support breast cancer research don’t want to support Joe Schmo’s bottom dollar,“ said Emily Morse of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Cancer research groups said you should look at the packaging to find out where the money’s going.

Most products will have a way to contact the company.

“Hopefully, if an organization is putting some pink on their product and claiming to support breast cancer awareness they’ll put a Web site or a phone number on there,“ said Osborne.

There are also Web sites like thinkbeforeyoupink.com that can help you determine how much money, if any, goes toward cancer research when you buy a specific product.

And there is always one way to make sure your money gets to where you want it to go.

“At the end of the day, the best way to help us cure breast cancer and pay for mammograms and pay for support services is just to make a direct donation,“ said Osborne.