Pink October - Vent Here if You Are Sick Of the Nonsense!!

rubyredslippers

So, I used to think the pink stuff was great - raising money, having a bit of fun. Not any more. Now I see it as nothing more than the commercialisation and glamourisation of breast cancer. My workplace yesterday had a group of ignorant hypocrites holding "Positively Pink" day. As someone who has been through the trauma and crap of BC I was angry and offended! What is positive about breast cancer and I am sick of seeing women who dont know what it's like, dont give a crap about me or my wellbeing wearing their pink shirts, eating their pink cupcakes and pretending to be heros for breast cancer "awareness" for one day of the year. Fuck them. I feel even angrier that because it's in my workplace I feel like I have to shut up and not ruin their fun. I wanted to scream at them, slap them - I've been behind the sequinned pink sparkly curtain and guess what? There's nothing particularly glamourous, pink and positive there! It's an ugly scary place, not some flippant glamourous place of pink champagne, ribbons and cake! Fuck them. Sorry to swear but I am so sick of women who havent been through it, have given me no support whatsoever, carry on like this in my presence.

I am sick to death of this pink bullshit. If they want to actually help women who've been diagnosed, contact them and ask what they can do to help them while they're having treatment. Donate directly to a research organisation maybe. But dont expect me to buy your pink trinkets and eat a bloody cupcake and trivialise and exploit this disease all in the name of people trying to make more money from breast cancer products for sale, and ignorant women who remind people to check their breast once per year and think they have "supported" someone or done something worthwhile by wearing a pink shirt.

Are they many women who've had breast cancer who love all the pink stuff in October or I am in the minority?! So fed up with the hypocrisy and the bullshit and the ignorance!!

Lenn13ka

My first October post BC treatment. HATE the pink ads in my local paper. Give that money to research!!!! Only a few more days left in October.

MaryLW

No, I don't think you're in the minority! There are a couple of other threads with the same general idea as yours. I think most of us who have actually had breast cancer are offended and upset by the silly, cutesy, trivialization of a deadly disease. You expressed our feelings very well. I was at the post office today, and felt like I had fallen into a pink marshmallow! I bought eggs the other day, and when I got home, discovered that each egg had a little pink ribbon stamped on it. This is supposed to help people with breast cancer? It's crazy and insulting. October used to be my favorite month, but no more.

rubyredslippers

I said to one of them "there is nothing positive about breast cancer in my world" - the reply - but youre still here. As if to say, well buck up, dont be a misery guts and spoil our fun. Also I tend to think that it also implied - well a co worker died from breast cancer last month, so how dare you say that when you're alive and she isnt!! No that is not what this is about!!!! They just dont get it and never bloody will!! Then she said "well wearing pink says I've dontated" then walked away as if to say, well I couldnt be bothered with you, you're too negative.

Guess what? I donated an actual breast cancer tumour to breast cancer research. I think that tops the $5 donation to the cancer organisation so that they can cover the cost of the pink trinkets they had made and all of their advertising! How much of it actually will go to research, or helping women? Even so, read Dr John Lee's book "What Your Dr Wont Tell You About Breast Cancer" for some insight into the research side of things. There is a lot they already know, but wont tell women, as there is too much money being made for the cancer industry. I'm sick of seeing women treated like morons, "positive pink", "I love pink" - wtf?? It's like they are dumbing this disease down, and then turning it into something "fun" and "sparkly" - and guess who seems to love it the most - women who have never had it - dont know what we've been through - and dont want to know, as they dont want us to ruin their day with our negativity!!!!

Fuck whoever the companies are that perpetuate this crap. Start bloody asking women that have breast cancer what they think of it all! But as I said above - you try to do that and youre the wet blanket and ungrateful that you're still alive while they raise money...I'm so fucking angry I could scream!!

rubyredslippers

And the "positive" pink says to me - the usual crap - "smile, you've had breast cancer" or "be happy, you might not get it if you donate"..fuck off.

GrammyR

Yes I totally agree. I was asked in the grocery store line today if I " would like to donate". I wanted so badly to say - I have right now and look at the reactions from people in the line. There are a couple of threads out on this subject already. At first I had thought it must just be me but I see so many of you agreeing. It just cheapens the whole thing they have absolutely no idea what it involves.

We must demand to know where all the money is actually going .

rubyredslippers

Agree..I think we need to demand to know about the money AND to put an end to the ignorant nonsense. It's completely out of control now every October. And yes, the women who have not had it, think they know better than we do! They seem to be the only ones that want it. Is part of that the pity thing, or is it also about the magical thinking kind of mentality - if I donate, and go mad with the pink I cant get it? But I do know that a lot of it is just plain hypocrisy and ignorance. If you see a woman who has had breast cancer and she is not participating - ask yourself how she feels and why? Dont take the attitude that she is negative and the wet blanket that cant have fun and be 'positive'. These women and companies are inviting us to "celebrate" something that has bought so much shit into our lives, may even end our lives prematurely, and then ignore us and our needs and feelings when we try to tell them we are offended. Can someone post links to the other threads - or tell me what subsection they are in. I didnt know what section to look in and couldnt see another one in here. Thanks

Rowan47

I hear ya, sister!! Totally agree with everything you wrote.

juliaanna

Third time's a charm: Here's one:

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=102&id=791442&page=1

Many here support the efforts of others to bring awareness to breast cancer during the month of October. There are those here that are frustrated by it because of different reasons. What this thread is for is to think up slogans for use on tee shirts, placards and educate. This is meant to define what we don't see happening. Use of words can be very compelling. We here are collectively, very compelling in all our different threads. Many of our frustrations are not listened too by anyone. So let your frustrations fly. Please keep the language clean enough that you can't get arrested for wearing it, but still conveys the message you want the observer to receive.

Edit 8/5/2012. Please, so that in future times we can recog each other as having a common purpose. When having T-shirts/placards /other material made Have PINKTOBER REVOLUTION as the lead. Doesn't have to be large lettering ,so, the slogan thought maintains the focus, just enough that we know we are sisters and brothers seeking a different way.

Edit 8/12/2012 PINKTOBER Archive of Links thread

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/102/topic/791894?page=1#post_3156650

edit 10/4/2012-Vision Statement: authored by Barbe1958 and approved by concensus:To bring full awareness of the reality of breast cancer to the general public; the surgeries, the treatments and the horror that there is NO cure. To ensure that proceeds donated to the cause are publically noted and distributed in an appropriate manner for the community in which the funds were raised. To keep corporations accountable for the use of pink products and the medical field driven to move the cure closer to the finish line.

edit10/9/2012:Topic: List Organizations:That fund research&help Patients directlycommunity.breastcancer.org/for... my personal transporter to my most used thread, not connected to topic, it's a convenience thingy.STFU: community.breastcancer.org/for...

rubyredslippers

One of yesterday's participants is a social worker. Guess what she said to me when I was still going through my treatment and I was telling her I was struggling with anger issues - a lot to do with the ignorant insensitive comments from women who havent had it? Her reply? "Are you angry because you're not getting enough sympathy?".

Then she scheduled a follow up appointment. I told her that I didnt know if I could make it as I was having daily radiotherapy and having to travel 2 hours each way for it, on top of working half the day before departing for the trip. Just as I thought, in my haze of tiredness, burnt skin, travelling to treatment 2 hours away, stress, etc, I then forgot about the appointment. Did she phone me? Did she email me? Did she ever follow up to ask me if I was ok etc etc? NO. She closed my file with the remark that I didnt follow up with her.

Wears a pink shirt yesterday, buys a trinket and eats a cupcake though. Then would say I am negative because that offends me.

mpetago

Amen sister!!! While I was never given nor did I ever purchase any of that crap, (hey total strangers, I had cancer!) I wasn't ever particularly bothered by it either. Until this year, when it just all became too insulting and preposterous to tolerate in silence any longer. Between the idiotic and degrading boobies, ta tas and saving second base bullshit (news flash: it's about cancer, life and death, not other people's sexual gratification and women's naughty parts, you patronizing, infantile assholes) and the infuriating, opportunistic merchandising, I am just on a profanity-laden rampage. Every person and company who crosses me is hearing it this month, loudly and publicly. And I don't care who likes it, no one has to like it and I don't have to make breast cancer comfortable or cute for them, cause it wasn't for me or any of the women I know. Next 'friend of a breast cancer survivor' who tells me to lighten up and stop being a sourpuss is getting kicked in the neck. At least in my mind. Fuck them, indeed! Thanks for posting this and letting me vent, no one else gets it.

Ariom

I agree with all of you too! I think that this whole Pink thing was probably started with the best intentions, but as always, greed and ego takes over and the original idea becomes forgotten.

The thing that just kicks it for me is how companies have made all their junk Pink this month, with no intention of donating any part of it to BC.

I went to the nursery to buy Tomato plants, and the little buckets were in lurid hot pink, the supermarket had lots of fuchsia pink, iced items, neither were donating a cent, just hopping on the Pink bandwagon. I even went to a BC group exercise class, everyone there has been Dx and what did they call the class? "Pink Fit!" uggghhh.

rubyredslippers

I'm not in the USA so I hadnt heard of the Save 2nd Base, or Save the Ta tas. I just had a look at both sites. How ignorant and offensive can you get!!!

So sick of the ignorance. Why are people supporting this? Because to them it's funny! Yes, more people who havent been through it and have no idea. Notice how both suggest that anyone with a sense of humour and a smile will support them and think it's funny - do any of us think that breast cancer is funny?

Australia

I have never heard such anger and profanity directed mostly at people who are only trying to help you. Good god you seriously need a bit of love and laughter in your life this would have to be one of the most stressful, angry and vengeful thread I have ever read. I would love to see if you'd be buying and eating those pink cupcakes before being diagnosed, I guarantee you would have. You sound extremely sorry and angry for yourself even though the whole time you are denying it. No doubt I am at this moment being kicked in the head! WTF!!!!!!

mpetago

To rubyredslippers: Exactly, funny, sexy and cute!! Like cancer!!!! And hey, everyone loves boobs and now they can talk about boobs on their shirts, bracelets and FB pages and look like heros instead of pervs! Tee hee!! Cause they care so much about breast cancer!! And they want to have fun with it, cause cancer is more fun, if you have a positive attitude!! And isn't it really about boobs, and making sure we don't deny the pleasure of others by neglecting to be AWARE of cancer? A world without boobs is no fun, right? Forget the women and their lives and their value as human beings, just save their ta tas. Fuck them!!!!! And believe me, in the U.S., what I mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg. Teenage boys with wrist bands that say I Heart Boobies being defended because they're for 'breast cancer awareness'; yep, that's what it's all about. You loving boobies. Thanks for caring, it would be so tragic and unthinkable for you to grow up and want to cop a feel on a woman only to find her breasts gone . . . If only you'd worn that bracelet longer . . . Shit for brains. Everywhere I go and look this is what is put in my face, and this is why I'm walking around mad as hell. I bet the men with breast cancer hate it even more.

To Australia, you're entitled to your opinion and feelings, just as we are. And I for one am now used to accusations of being bitter and hateful for not buying into the hype from people who aren't helping me or even trying to, changes my feelings about this topic not in the least.

Fiaranch1

Ruby red slippers

Yes FUCK them and FUCK PINK and now FUCK all of October . In addition to a cure how about ensuring all women diagnosed can have the proper treatment they need: Genetic testing, surgeries, biopsy's, MRIs chemo, radiation, expensive hormone blockers etc,etc, etc .

rubyredslippers

Agree Mpetago. To Australia - If you read through this thread, you will notice that you are the only one who is in disagreement. You are entitled to feel however you like. We know that most women think its helping - I ADMITTED that I used to think it was great, raising money and all in fun - go read what I said in my first sentence. My point was exactly that - when I hadn’t been through it, and even in the couple of years following diagnosis I believed all the hype and the pink brainwashing too. I then went on to explain some of the shit that has changed my mind!! So, you believe the "smile you've had / got cancer" brainwashing - good for you. Yes, I am angry that I can see that pink glamourisation is crazy and does little if anything to help. When you say "people that are trying to help you" - do you mean the woman who asked "are you angry that you're not getting enough sympathy" - or those who have been rude and uncaring to me the whole time I've known them, but wore pink yesterday and "tried to help me"? My point exactly!!!

If they really wanted to help they would ask us, talk to us, and listen to us. They don’t do that, but then put on a pink shirt and eat a cupcake and tell us to smile and think pink. It's bullshit. A small minority are "trying to help us". Most couldn’t care less about the reality or how we feel. It's all about the food, the trinkets and the parties and the 'see I'm a good person, I am aware and donating - I don’t care about what real women who have had it feel or the reality'. How many of the people I've known who ran away in fear and abandoned me when I was walking around with no hair, would have put on a pink t shirt this month to "try to help"?

How many of us have known women who do the opposite – the ‘cancer sympathiser’s’ who were all over us when we wore the headscarf and were going through treatment yet now can hardly spare us the time of day because it’s all over now and you have to get over it? For them it’s over..they assume it’s the same for us, and put their pink t shirt on again in October and “support” us. I can only think of two woman who volunteered their time to give my parents a break and drive me to my radiotherapy session 2 hours each way. They only did it once, but at least they bothered at all - and by the way, both were women who'd had breast cancer that I'd reached out to. No woman that hadnt had it, and wears the pink t shirt in October offered. This is the kind of thing that would really help people going through it. We are entitled to take the blinkers off and feel angry.

Whilst attending a work education course, during chemotherapy when I had severe chemo brain and couldnt think straight, the course leader was at times obviously annoyed with me, and seemed to go out of her way to take the "not give me any sympathy or special treatment approach". When I apologised to her and told her I couldnt keep up and remember everything as I was going through chemo, she seemed agitated and said "Yes, someone I work with is going through it and we know"..her tone implied that she felt annoyed and as though we were some problem that they had to put up with and probably that we were faking it to get sympathy or special treatment. Whilst I realise that people like this are the exception rather than the rule, it's still something I experienced and feel angry now that she's probably wearing a pink t shirt too during October. So, when you say they are trying to help us, you are missing my point. They dont understand, dont really want to help us, dont want to know about the ugly reality of BC, yet go mad during October and pretend they are helping and know what we're going through. How are they to us when we need their help the most?

I believe also that I called this thread a place for those who are sick of the nonsense to vent. As you can see, I'm not the only one who would like to do that. So please respect how we feel and refrain from belittling us and putting us down because you disagree. Perhaps start a thread for those who love the pink circus. If you feel positive all the time, never sorry for yourself, never really angry, never want to scream with frustration or feel misunderstood or in any way exploited I take my hat off to you. Personally though, I have experienced those feelings, still do from time to time, mainly thanks to Pink October and don’t want to be a good girl who just swallows the anger and frustration and wants to pretend it's just a happy learning curve.

Yes I am angry, yes it stresses me out - feel sorry for myself?! I guess some times I do - how many of us have never felt this way from time to time if we are honest about our feelings? I have never once said "why me" because I think well why not me? Why not me, but someone else? So, I am not ashamed to admit that from time to time I feel angry, sorry for myself and stressed out. Whilst I don’t wish it was someone else and not me, yes, I have cried, I have been angry, I have felt the frustration etc.! Why shouldn’t any of us feel this way?! As women we're taught, "smile, care for others, don’t upset anyone" and so on. Well sometimes you just have to vent, and scream and say what you're really feeling! I had to shut up yesterday, I had to feel the frustration of knowing that there would have been women saying "how ungrateful and negative is she" when they have no idea. This is my safe place - where I can talk about my feelings and vent. I don't appreciate being told I need more love or laughter in my life and being belittled when I let off some steam. I think we hear enough of that from doctors and all the people we encounter who don’t understand and tell us to get over it. I haven’t let BC bother me much at all this year - until the last couple of days, thanks to good old October and all the pink stuff. So, if I sound angry and stressed, that's how this pink stuff affects a lot of us! Are we allowed to talk about that?

I feel especially sorry for myself when I have to put up with shit like pink trinkets and cupcakes being giggled over by a bunch of women who don’t know what it's like, and don’t care either - did you read what I said about some of my experiences? If you've never encountered an insensitive comment, or felt frustrated and angry about what you've been through I would think that you've lived in a pretty perfect world. Cancer isn’t fun or glamourous and while I have worked through my experience - (we all have haven’t we, we had to!), nothing about it was fun, pink or sparkly. Whilst I am grateful for some people who did do nice things for me and the resources I did have compared to women decades ago, I'm talking about the reality of what we have gone through, compared to the glitter, the sparkle and the commercialisation of breast cancer - seemingly mainly supported and applauded by women who haven’t gone through it, and like to pretend they know how we feel yet turn away from us when we might try to show them the ugly reality of BC - the headscarves, the anger and depression, the fear and stress of waiting to hear another scan result, crying, our scarred and disfigured breasts, or lack of breasts, attending the funeral of the woman who sat next to us while we both had chemotherapy, for young women like me there’s also the grief over what having had BC means to my future, and my need to be loved and desired. I could keep going on and on couldn’t I but I will stop there!!

Do they want to know about this? Do they understand it? Doubt it, it's too "negative" and it might mean we're just feeling sorry for ourselves and angry as we're not getting enough sympathy! They prefer the sparkle and the pink t shirt. They fear what we've experienced and hope that by buying into the pink they will be overlooked. They will not deserve breast cancer like they think perhaps we did. How many of us have had to look at the Pink October posters that tell us what the risk factors are - alcohol, our weight, whether we've already had kids and breast fed, and so on. So, I asked my surgeon when I was diagnosed "Was my breast cancer caused by this or that like I'd read?" He answered "we don’t know what causes it". Yes, there is no rhyme or reason to this disease. Young women get it, old women, fat and thin, rich and poor, those who don’t drink those who do, those who are health fanatics and those who aren’t, those who have had babies or breastfed and those who haven’t. So, I don’t appreciate Pink October telling me I deserved my BC because I didn’t do this, or did that. Then all the women who don’t understand how I feel are most likely secretly thinking "well that's why she got it”. Angry much? Yeah I am.

Pink October actually started as a small, non-commercial idea to direct money to actual research. Estee Lauder and her mates then took over, ignored that the woman who started it for noble reasons refused to be involved with them and expressed her wish that they didn’t commercialise breast cancer and it snow balled from there - money to be made. Whilst it may have had the positive effect of getting people talking about it and making women feel okay about talking about cancer in their breast, it has done little else except capitalise on, commercialise, sexualise and glamourise a very serious and ugly disease.

The breast cancer industry is cranked up to full pelt, pushing women into the system and selling trinkets, whilst doing very little to educate andseek to prevent. I was told to take hormones that could have ruined my health - in other ways other than breast cancer and is being pushed onto to us by a pharmaceutical company that is making billions out of it, and skewing the trials and results to produce false results that declare that their product helps - it does not. I decided to make an informed decision after doing some research - but I wonder why I was not told all of the facts and given research references and asked to make an informed decision and then my decision respected and honoured. When I told my oncologist that one of the reasons I was not doing what I was told was due to the higher risk of uterine cancer I was just told "we will just remove your uterus if that happens". Really? That is the answer? What a flippant and appalling comment to make to any woman - let alone me as a young woman with still time to maybe have a child who was childless before BC!. I was glared at and then told all the scare tactics that actually took me from a relatively calm and balanced state of mind to major depression and anxiety that took me years to work through. I threw him off guard. No one says no to them! No one thinks for themselves and makes an informed decision regarding what they feel is best for them and their life! How dare I do that!! Besides, it means less money for him if I dont take the drug - no follow up appointments! His treatment of me after my decision was appalling. Yes I'm angry about it and coming here and venting and saying "fuck" a lot seem to help me somehow.

The attitude is / was "we dont care at all about you, your quality of life, your overall health, we just expect you to do as we say, dont ask questions, smile and allow us to happily go back to our fabulous lives, you see we are rich thanks to people like you who are sucked into the cancer industry". We are told what to do, what to think and what to feel - by the cancer industry and now by the pink industry. I am fed up with it! We are being told what to do, what to think and what to feel each October by misguided people who tell themselves they are "trying to help" but have no idea about the facts and seem to have little interest in talking to us and learning about the reality of breast cancer. There is no money in prevention and education. Not negative, just realistic. And yes, the same women who turn away in fear when they see you looking sick and wearing a headscarf, will then turn up years later at the "fun" night out and wear pink and pretend to be "supportive". Angry much? Yep I am. October has turned into an example of greed and ignorance. If they truly want to help they will start listening to us, they would demand that companies turning things pink to make more money were exposed, they would be not carrying on in a way that doesn’t help and turning away when we try to express how we feel.

Moonflwr912

there is much wrong with Pinktober. But occasionally good happens. Wrong- for example. I am in the hospital right after my BMX. One of my friends comes to visit and brings me a mug, hat, mittens, and plant in pink..... right-but she was there for me everyday during chemo she would call to check on me when I was alone. Heart was in the right place just wrong way of saying I care.

My way of handling "save the ta tas or I love boobies"- I say " I would rather save/love the person. " short sweet and makes them think. Maybe enough to realize what they are actually saying or to give you time for a teachable moment. Just my way.

And PS: id eat the cupcake, well, just because, you know, cupcake! LOL

Much love to all the PEOPLE on the board.

grammaB

This is my first October after my dx. Before I was the daughter of a mom that passed from bc. I never bought into all the "pink" stuff. The only things I ever purchased specifically said all or a portion of proceeds went to bc research.

I agree with Ariom, what started out with all good intentions has morphed into something that is based on greed. Oddly the thing that really ticked me off this year was the "pink" White House! How much did that cost?? Certainly that money could have done so much more being donated to research.

rubyredslippers

I forgot to mention - when asked why she was wearing the pink t shirt to work "to support breast cancer". Indeed. Buying the pink stuff supports it. It's a pity that they arent wearing the t shirt to "support the women who have had it, or have it". I had it, no one cared how I felt and no I wasnt wearing pink.

MaryLW

The slogans like Save the Tatas and I Heart Boobies ignores those of us with Stage 4. We need slogans like Save the Hip, Save the Liver. save the Lungs. Hmmm...not so cute, though. The t-shirts would have to be black. I'm tired of being asked for donations every time I turn around, too. I NEED donations. I'm paying over $900 per month for my cancer meds.

rubyredslippers

Hugs MaryLW. I am so sorry that this is how this pink month makes you feel. I agree. It is very very wrong, and infuriating that there are t shirts with slogans such as you have mentioned, and what I think is even worse "Save 2nd Base" with two baseballs where the breasts are. That's just it, this disease is being trivialised, sexualised and glamourised, maybe even chuckled about by people who have absolutely no idea how this kind of thing might affect a woman who has, or has had breast cancer. Yet we express how we feel and we dont have a sense of humour, are wet blankets who dont like to have a little fun or just feel sorry for ourselves! Argh. And yes, like you say, there is that feeling too of 'we expect you to donate, after all, it's all to help you'... maybe we dont want to donate because we dont want to support this rubbish and we know it's not helping much at all. The recipient of yesterday's annual 'breast cancer celebration' is an organisation that is doing stuff to help by funding breast cancer nurses, but not in our town. So why do we keep raising money for them? Why isnt themoney being given to local women or groups? Women like you who need a hand? That is exactly my point.

moni731

Hello all! I also agree. They have ruined October! Was my favorite month..... now it's pink! I was pretty neutral about it all until 2 years ago, donating only to well researched fundraisers, now it's nauseating! But I have to mention that when it first started, it was much more tastefully done. Now it is 'anything goes' regardless of taste. I bristle at all the crap, and nor do I want to be called a 'survivor' and let people know. I'll know whether I was a survivor when I die of something else, until then, I plod along like everyone else. This year, October is especially painful, as my sister was dx'd last month and is starting chemo. I cannot even imagine how our stage IV sisters feel being reminded of 'awareness' continually. I am sure they are 'aware' of it everyday. Research should be the focus, but I guess that is not as 'cute'. Just waiting for the end of the month........

MaryLW

on one of my stage 4 threads, someone said that when people ask her if she is a BC survivor, she says, "No, I'm a BC succumber." They forget that a lot of us die from this disease.

juliaanna

I'm sick of seeing the 5 hour energy drink-raspberry pink commercials!!

Also, fed up with articles that say "How you can Prevent Breast Cancer". As far as I know, the only absolute ways to prevent breast cancer-don't be born or be dead. Snarky, yes, but how many of us have eaten right, exercised, had children at the "right" age, breast-fed, did the exams, had no family history, etc., etc, and yet here we are.

JuanitaB

Rubyredslippers, I am applauding and crying at the same time. Thank you and everyone else for speaking up against pink washing breast cancer. I, too, am sick of the nonsense.

barsco1963

I admit that I have naively purchased pink items in the past thinking that I was helping to support bc in some way. It hasn't been until the last 2 yrs or so (since dx) that I have realized what pink washing and cause marketing are all about. I now am more aware of all of the pink crap that is out there and that often little or none of the money actually goes toward bc support. I believe that there are still many people that have not been educated as to what bc is and how it continues to affect those dx every day of their lives. Many people still believe that they are helping by buying pink products and attending pink parties etc.

So - I took my anger and frustration and turned it into an educational opportunity. Last year I held the first coffee day (all coffee sales & donations went to the cause) at my sisters restaurant on October 13, MBC awareness day. I live in a small village (1100 population) and raising $400.00 for MBCN was a success in my eyes. This year I took it a step further. In addition to the 2nd annual coffee day (which raised over $600.00 this yr), I held a fundraiser (first time effort) which included a silent auction, a live auction, a 50/50 draw and a community painting (which everyone in attendance was able to contribute). This was not only an mbc awareness campaign, but an educational evening as well. I posted the 13 facts about mbc around the room, I posted thoughts/feelings/comments from mesters around the room, and as the MC for the evening, I gave a little speech about what mbc is, how it affects the lives of those living with it and what can be done to make sure your $$ goes directly to an organization that will use it for it's intended purpose.

I am very please and proud to say that with the help of two of my sisters, a community that is filled with kindness and generosity, and lots of hard work, the fundraiser was incredibly successful and a total $5,000.00 was raised from both events. This was all done with a $0.00 budget.

So I guess what I am getting at is that, yes the commercialization and sexualisation of it all does disturb me. But I personally prefer to take every opportunity I can to help turn it all around and have bc awareness become bc education. I use facebook to spread the word with facts, real life stories etc. I believe that I am slowly getting the word out there that bc is not pink or pretty and that there is no cure. We need to send our $$ directly to organizations where they will provide the best bang for our buck!

I know that many of you are angry and very frustrated with the perception of others that they are "helping" by wearing pink, buying pink, eating pink etc and all of the energy spent trying to fancy up bc because no one wants to really hear the ugly side of it all. But the more we educate, talk about it and let others know the reality of it - perhaps it can be turned around. Not in a day or a month or maybe not in a year, but with persistence I believe it is possible. (yes, I am an optimist)

MaryLW

Barsco, I applaud you for being proactive and using your knowledge and obvious skills to educate people and raise money for MBC. Thank you, and best of luck.

Ariom

Barsco! That is exactly what this should be about! Well done, you should be applauded for that great effort in fundraising and raising awareness!

rubyredslippers

Excellent Barco. I agree that that is what this "BC Awareness month" should be about and that's what it should be doing.

I hesitate to make a facebook post before October runs out as I am worried about the usual "we dont want all that negativity" "we are nurses we know" response from those on my friends list. I want to do it, but not sure. I usually only talk here because I know that others understand and we can all share our feelings. Should I? Should I post what I've written above on my facebook page?

Ariom

You know what Rubyredslippers, I don't know if it is worth taking the flack that could come from it. I know from my own experience, when I have stated the information that we have posted here to friends and aquaintances they have stared at me, and I swear I could hear a cricket chirping! Then, they tell me I have never been a negative person, so why has this brought it out in me. I really don't know how to respond to that, but I know that I can say it here and I am totally understood.