Pink ribbon campaigns trump blue ribbon campaigns

Traveltext

Despite claiming the lives a comparable number of men and women, prostate cancer fundraising is the poor cousin to breast cancer funding. Given that it's Prostate Awareness Month now and the big pink month of October is nearly here, it's worth comparing the efforts of groups raising funds and awareness of these two diseases. In my current predicament, I'm following both blue and pink campaigns and I can see big differences.

In the US, prostate cancer research receives less than half of the funding breast cancer does, and when it comes to fundraising, there's no prostate charity that raises more than a fraction of the big breast cancer charities. Of course, while an underlying factor is that women are more aware and outspoken about health matters, and men often shy away from discussing heath matters, there's no doubt that saving breasts has a public allure than sparing the prostate, a walnut-sized gland buried in the body below the bladder. Not much cool factor here.

Breast cancer is an emotive topic and women turn out in huge numbers to support "pink" events and therefore raise both awareness and funds to a much greater extent than for a male disease. Louder voices mean more political visibility and greater public funding. Because breast cancer groups are mostly fixated on using pink to denote breast cancer, the community is not aware that males get the disease as well.

The failure by men to discuss prostate cancer is very evident when looking at the different support blogs for each disease. Women are busy seeking help, advice and supporting each other way more than men do. They understand the importance of social media as a tool for their wellbeing, and a recent study has found that women who talk to other people online shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer may be more satisfied with their treatment decisions. Even on the prostate cancer blogs, you will often find it is women seeking help for their partners.

The campaigns for breast cancer are sometimes themed around young women with the disease, despite the fact that older women primarily get the disease. And while men make up one per cent of new cases, they never feature in fundraising campaigns.

Many companies have been quick to jump on the pink bandwagon to boost sales in October, giving often not more than a token amount to a cancer charity. The list of products is pretty crazy too, including sugary products, cosmetics with carcinagenics in them, alcohol, and fatty foods. And many breast cancer charities have more marketing employees than researchers, and often up to 50 percent of monies raised go to administration costs.

So, what to do? Give to the charity of your choice, but ask them two simple questions: how much of my donated dollar will go to admin costs, and what will the rest be spent on? If you are happy with the answers, give generously and be happy that you have donated wisely.

Alitxu

Just out of curiosity. Are you trying to say that if Prostate cancer does not get the money that it deserves if the fault of the Breast Cancer campaigns and that we should donate to Prostate cancer instead of Breast cancer because they are wasting their money of publicity?

Traveltext

No, I know the bc campaigns are hugely successful and good on those charities for tapping a rich vein of community concern for bc. I'm saying donate to any charity you wish, just ask the two questions to ensure your money's not wasted.

Alitxu

Just a few extra comments:

"In the US, prostate cancer research receives less than half of the funding breast cancer does" --> The number of people with BC is also double than the number of people with PC, so it is normal that they receive more funding.

"there's no doubt that saving breasts has a public allure than sparing the prostate" --> I find that comment offensive. It is not about saving breasts or prostates but saving LIVES. And considering that many cases the BC treatment involves a Mastectomy which is a major surgery event and a traumatic one, your comment goes beyond the pale.

"breast cancer groups are mostly fixated on using pink to denote breast cancer, the community is not aware that males get the disease as well" --> I though that in a modern society like we are living, color does not matter. I find that frivolous at best.

"The campaigns for breast cancer are sometimes themed around young women with the disease, despite the fact that older women primarily get the disease." -->I am not sure where you get your factoids, but as someone that was first diagnosed at age 32, I can tell you that the amount of information available to my case was comparatively small. If you are insinuating that they BC campaigns use young women as publicity prods, I think that you are way off the mark.

"Many companies have been quick to jump on the pink bandwagon to boost sales in October" --> Which is not something that it is to be blamed on the BC Awareness and fund-rising campaigners, but on corporate greed. Off topic.

I could go on, but sorry, I can only qualify your posting of negative ranting. I think that you should look at whatever issue you have and stop blaming.

MelissaDallas

Alitxu, perhaps you are not aware that Traveltext is male and has both breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Alitxu

Hi Melissa,

I can see in the profile at the bottom of the post the diagnosis and treatment of the Breast Cancer. I am sorry that he has to battle also PC, but I stand by my comments.

When I was first diagnosed I was 32. there were many treatment options, e.g Hormone replacements therapies and similar, that were not an option for me. I was frequently frustrated by being a minority in the forums and I can understand that he is frustrated too. But cancer, any cancer, is not a Men versus Women issue, not should it be treated that way regardless of personal circumstances.

Traveltext

Alitxu, Getting breast cancer at 32 puts you in the category of one per cent of new breast cancers. Men make up one per cent of new cases too. Your cancer and my cancer are, statistically, rare. Now look closely at the pink campaigns and tell me if you can find any hint that men need to be aware they can get this disease too. If you want to look through the links in my signature you'll find references to all my "factoids" including proof that later diagnosis of men leads to poorer prognosis and earlier death.

As to prostate cancer, the numbers are similar and the chances of each sex getting each disease in their lifetime is also similar.

You might like to look at Pinktobersucks.com, a site that records the concerns, over the years, of many, many women who are tired of the sexualisation of the disease, the waste of money on awareness at the expense of research and practical assistance for stage IV patients, and the rampant commercialism using dodgy products. In fact, further educate yourself on the topic and check out the Pinktober Revolution thread on BCO and read what women there think. It is these women who say they hate seeing younger women as publicity prods.

As to the importance of getting some blue on the pink, it matters to the men who didn't present to doctors because they didn't know men get this disease. It also matters to those men with a hereditary predisposition to bc that can't get subsidised annual screening.

DivineMrsM

Greetings to everyone this October 2016.

I wanted to check in to say that I am not seeing the flood of Pinktober Facebook posts. I haven't seen much about bc awareness on the news, local or otherwise, either. It's only Octber 2nd, but sometimes we get hit with it starting the last weeks of September.

Last year, I felt led to question others, in a kind way, about some of their support and even wrote a letter to my local newspaper that was printed in the Sunday editorial. This year, I have been more about observing.

I do wonder if this year's presidential election has something to do with it. Maybe the focus is elsewhere? I also wonder if maybe people are starting to realize we need action, not frivolousness, not comedic stabs at this serious matter.

octogirl

MrsM: I am not seeing them either, as much. I think the election is taking some of the attention, but would like to think there is more REAL awareness than in the past. Yes, we need action.

Traveltext

Welcome to October everyone, the BCO Pinktober chat is mostly over HERE.

littleblueflowers

I feel the need to throw my oar in here. Diagnosed at 34, and i rarely see young women portrayed in any breast cancer awareness locus. In fact, I feel the focus on older women can be very alienating to those of us under 40. I say this to point out we all have issues of inclusion in media and real life. Lets not divide this community along sex, gender, or age based lines.

Traveltext

That's a fair comment littlblueflowers, especially if you haven't noted the promotion of young women in campaigns recently where you are. Here, in May, one of Australia's largest bc charities featured a 32-year-old woman who got the disease aged 27. So, older women were critical that they had been forgotten. A bit like you feeling ignored as a younger bc woman there. As a side note, women in their early 30s and males both account for one percent of new cases each year. And yes, I agree the awareness focus should be spread across all demographics and both genders. On the gender aspect, we are at an awareness stage with male bc that women were at around 30 years ago. And hence I keep banging on about putting a token touch of blue on all the pink to at least acknowledge this situation.

DivineMrsM

Traveltext, thanks for the link to the other thread. I will follow it,over there.

It has been so quiet around where I live regarding Pinktober , that's why I haven't even rejoined the conversation on these boards until today.

rozem

I agree that BC has been sexualized in many campaigns. Breasts are part of sexuality and and as such I've seen a lot of instances where the cancer part is completely pushed aside for the breast part. I don't think any ads would show a prostate but how many feature beautiful natural breasts? not post mastectomy re-constructed or post lumpectomy scarred breasts? Today I walked in our local BC support run, while this is a great cause I couldn't help but feel totally offended by a group wearing fake nipples with their pink tutus

MelissaDallas

Kind of like the new HPV vaccine commercials say the girl got cervical cancer but don't specify what kind of cancer the young man got..

littleblueflowers

TravelText, Thanks for the response. I was and still am very ignorant about male breast cancer, aside from badgering my male friends to examine themselves. Thanks to you, i will educate myself so I can be a better ally!

cliff

prostate cancer exams were every time I had a check up. but in 24 years of going to the same doctor, not one breast exam, till I asked the doc, "whats this? it kinda hurts." it would have been nice to catch it before stage 4. why don't the insurance companies require them? they require prostate exams.

Traveltext

I have experience with both these diseases. It took me three months to convince my doctor to send me for a scan for my breast lumps, despite having family history of bc on my records. A stage III diagnosis meant heavy treatment and a poorer prognosis. Two years later, following an increase in my PSA level, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in a timely manner and treated at an intermediate stage. I'm now NED for both diseases. As an aside, it took me seven months to reach this stage with bc and just seven days to get to NED with the pc.

KBeee

I just saw this post due to the recent posts. I think education is needed for all types of cancer and people need to be encouraged to advocate for them selves. In the last few years, no shave November has become more and more popular. Some use it as an excuse not to shave, but others use it to educate and raise money. As much as I dislike many things about Komen (specifically, how little they give to real research), they have accomplished awareness. When my mom had BC the first time in 1992, no one talked about it. I would check the general awareness box off, but there is need for awareness about BC in younger patients and in males. Social media campaigns are cheap, if not free. I'd like to see more money go to research on all cancers...better treatments, why people metastasize, treating metastasis and cures. I have a good friend dying of neuroendocrine cancer; a cancer many people have not heard of. I almost feel guilty sometimes that there are so many resources available to people with breast cancer, but so few things available to people with rarer cancers. I spend October with about a Facebook post every few days with a little educational tidbit. I also scatter them throughout the year when I see an opportunity. So many things that are second nature to us are unknown to the masses. We all can do our part to educate (including educating medical professionals when necessary).