Take the Fright Out of Breast Cancer™

Sara536

A major paradigm shift is needed!

Pink should be past by now. If I remember right, the whole pink thing (hats, balloons and all) was a way to point out that breast cancer was neglected because it was a woman's disease... that women were powerless and ignored and we weren't going to take it anymore. The juxtaposition of pink balloons with a loud "in your face" banging on pots and pans attention getting approach has always turned me off and scared me away from involvement. I'm very grateful that it has been effective but I think the movement has to grow up now and take it's place among the adults- not compete with the kids for candy.

Traveltext, I hear you. I don't think you should be relegated to marching with a blue balloon in a sea of pink. How to get real in this situation? In this breast-obsessed society what is the position of women with mangled breasts and men who have to point out that their breasts are more than rudimentary decorations? Why do I think that our role is to make already rich doctors and pharmaceutical companies and ad-executives even richer?

Traveltext

Once this issue gets elevated to a Change. Org petition it will get national coverage with negative ramifications for BCO and the whole pink charity industry. It's obviously one step too far and I hate it that it is my favourite bc charity that has crossed the line. I also feel used. We were asked to pour out our hearts about cancer and fear and then got this frightful, tacky campaign presented to us as something we might like to be involved with.

It's a trick, but it's certainly not a treat.

Sara536

Traveltext,👍🏼

kcat2013

I did the survey that BCO put out a few months ago regarding this campaign. In the survey I raised my objections to it, specifically my objection to using the slogan "Take the Fright Out". Apparently BCO doesn't pay much attention to it's own surveys.

Sara536

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Has anyone noticed that BCO is calling this a "grass roots" campaign?

Are we using different dictionaries?

Spookiesmom

Travel 😍

Meow13

Why hasen't the moderator reponded? We are the people, don't they hear us?

Sara536

There are always more people where we come from. 🤔

farmerlucy

Yup - it's a stinker.

Sara - true that. Sad.

mrszinnz

At first, I thought this must be a joke but it isn't funny.

Halloween and breast cancer have nothing to do with each other nor should they. This is in wincredibly poor taste. It's an insult to all and especially to all the men and women whom early detection did not , cannot and will not save. You reminded me why I don't come here for support.

mebmarj

Sent in message to moderators:

"one of you started a thread inviting members to visit the new "campaign" page. It was started on 9/5 and no one has replied to any of the comments or suggestions.

Either you have no response because you misjudged how it would be received or you have been absent and really need to give some thoughtful feedback to members, including myself, who are clearly disappointed in the "campaign" which doesn't seem grassroots given the big name sponsorships listed.

Many await your response."

Traveltext

BCO have the launch party planned for 7 October:

"Join us for a night of dancing, open bar, dinner, and desserts at the first annual Take the Fright Out of Breast Cancer Philadelphia Launch Party. This costumes-encouraged event will kick off the month's national campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We hope to see you at what promises to be a night of fun and festivities for a great cause"! HERE

That gives us time to turn this big ship around. Any Philly members who might like to picket this event?

The Underbelly people are upset about Pink Halloween as well:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunderbellygroup...

Outfield

Well, I've begun my own personal online backlash.

PoseyGirl

Well, it's a free world and if BCO doesn't address any concerns here and reconsider, you can go to Philadelphia media. My guess is they'd cover it.

However, BCO, the goal isn't to embarrass or ruin your campaign. The goal is to get a response from you and for you to consider actions even in spite of your investment. You do good work, but this approach is tacky and sets education back.

JUst realize that if you go forward, there really is a strong risk of you being covered in a manner that isn't becoming of you. Yes, bad PR is still PR, but hopefully that's not what you'd want to be known for

LilacBlue

We can post on this thread all we wish. The fact is, this campaign has legs and is up and running. Parties are being formed, tickets sold, it's a done deal regardless of what is posted on BCO by the members of the Community.

SoCalBC

Revolting

Outfield

LilacBlue, it may be a done deal but that doesn't mean we don't have a voice. We don't have a voice if we choose not to use it. In my lifetime, I've been a major whistleblower (in NY Times, on national TV) and seen my huge organization - much, much bigger than BCO - flip up its ugly underbelly for the country to see. That was different in that they had no good motivations at all for what they were doing - just greed - but the idea of personal agency is the same. People are sometimes truly powerless, but that's different than giving away the power you do have.

In a twisted way, I am much less offended by this event advertisement than by what the moderators posted, which was directed to us, the BCO community, not potential donors. This is ignorant but probably well-meaning stuff from a golf and tennis club, with a long-retired NFL player's name on it. I don't expect the club, the retired player, or any particular individual in the group photos on the "Jaws Girls Care" website to understand, much less have foreseen, the reaction of the BCO community to this post. Maybe some of them have had breast cancer, but I would be very, very surprised if it were all of them and it's very easy to misstep when attempting to do something good for somebody else if you don't truly understand their situation and how they may feel about it. I do expect BCO to have had a clue this would be offensive, so the moderators' post insults me to a much greater degree than another drop in the bucket of pinkwash.

If a person chooses to approach their cancer by wearing pink, I can't and don't judge that. If a person chooses to approach their cancer by refusing to allow themselves to acknowledge any fear, I can't and don't judge that. If a tennis club runs a benefit that offends a percentage of the people it hopes to benefit, I do judge that, but I don't feel scorn and any "education" would be very gentle. But if BCO chooses to feed us, as a group, a huge line of condescending, innacurate, insulting BS, I don't feel very gentle and I'm not one to put up and shut up.

Spookiesmom

Seems like I read Komen, Am Cancer and other big names cancelled events at Mar a Lago after Charlottville. Supposedly big fund raisers.

So if they can cancel those, why can't this disgusting disgrace be cancelled? None that I can see.

Meow13

The one scheduled in Boston sounds even worse Miss Pink Boobie or something like that.

Moderator has taken to stage 4 thread.

Mucki1991

can't we focus on treatment changes and cures. Oh and how about a like button so we can agree with what others have posted ????

PoseyGirl

With ya, Outfield.

sbelizabeth

I must add my voice here. Breast cancer is a sneaky, insidious monster that steals our peace, breasts, body integrity, self-image, relationships, jobs, wellness, and sometimes our lives. It's frightening, ugly, and disfiguring.

Every October, I feel like my (reconstructed from belly fat) breasts have $$ signs on them.

Let's "ease fears" by finding a cure. Right now there's a lot to be afraid of.

LilacBlue

Outfield, I respect your abilities, experience and where you are coming from. I'm not saying put up and shut up. The discussion to stop this particular campaign before it happens is over - that is the done deal. I am with you on the advertisement being more palatable, than what is up on the top of the page. It would help if the mods drop the blanking and respond, two way communication will help.

Outfield

Agreed LilacBlue, it would help if they responded.

marijen

No it's not contained - everything here shows up at Google. Too bad they didn't ask us first.

Anonymous

Dear Mods,

Please, please read the responses posted here. We all are in agreement that Halloween needs to be left alone. There has been some excellent and helpful feed back here. Please take the positive suggestions and incorporate them into your fundraising campaign. We understand that running this website is costly. Approaching the more active threads with requests for financail support would certainly generate much needed revenue. Imagine if every BCO member donated as little as a dollar each?

BCO has been the most important part of this cancerous chapter in my life. The boards are my lifeline - I have been blessed with the dearest of friends because of the boards. Although not all are the same stage, we do share the same fears and the same hopes.

I am Stage IV De novo, soon to be going on 5 years. No matter what stage, cancer is scary. Until the millions raised by "charities" is used 100% for research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure, the fear will never ever go away.

Moderators

We thank you for your comments and feedback, and we truly appreciate how honest you've been with us.

We chose to name the campaign Take the Fright Out of Breast Cancer, because we know that a breast cancer experience is filled with fear. Breastcancer.org's mission is to provide the information and support that helps people reduce and manage those fears. We know we cannot eliminate them. So instead, we are trying to help people find the courage, information, and support to deal with those fears. For those who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, we are trying to help them manage any fears or anxieties that might stand in the way of them getting the benefits of what early detection can offer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many people have different feelings about this time of year. Regardless of how we feel, this is an important fundraising and awareness opportunity, so that we can continue to be there for you.

This campaign is currently being supported by many, including men and women personally affected by breast cancer.

Although we may disagree on the approach, we hope that you recognize that we are all working toward the same goal.

Tammy0211

We are not working toward the same goal. The awareness campaign has jumped the shark. Not only is there not a person on the face of the earth who is not aware, people are beginning to resent it. People with other cancers hate it. People with breast cancer resent it. It's too much. They've taken football and made it pink during October. Now you're taking Halloween and making it pink. We'd really like to do some things in October that aren't pinkified. Sometimes we like to not be reminded. This in-your-face advertising is backfiring.

And, you said in your original post that the money raised during this campaign will go to awareness and website improvements. Not cool. Not cool at all.

Please, shift the awareness campaigns to research campaigns. That's what we need. Research. We're all painfully aware.

Moderators

We think research is vitally important but our organizations's mission is to provide people affected by breast cancer with information and peer support.

mrszinnz

Are you people not listening?? The community you serve is offended and doesn't support your goals and activities. Instead of showing thoughtful concern, you forge ahead. It's clear BCO does not care. I'm disgusted and will lobby against it.

If your mission is to provide support, then listen to what we are saying.