My pink problem

I have been asked to address a panel of pharma people about social networking and its affect on patient care next week.  In my opening remarks, I have decided to say that I am bringing them a message from my BC sisters online: WE HATE PINK.  Just thought you all should know....

Am curious what the reaction will be. I am betting on nervous laughter.  I'll let you know.

(PS. I also never gave Pink Month much thought before bc. But I sure do hate it now.

Hi Linda...a fellow Minnesotan...thanks for the links..I agree, it isn't about being 'strong' or 'weak', 'courage' or 'coward', 'fighting and battling' or 'denial and hiding' - some make the 'choice' not to treat but for the majority - 'treat and live' or 'ignore it and possibly die' isn't really much of a 'choice' at all.  I am not brave, I just want to have the sun shine on my face, see the stars at night, love my family, and be a part of the world, such as it is, for as long as I can. 

I am wearing a pink breast cancer braclet today.  It was sent to me by a truly wonderful gal that I helped sponsor - my first time doing so ever.  It was to thank me for helping her when she was walking to help me (all of us)...somehow, despite my anti-pink attitude (its a big one), this gift I will cherish - it is personal, selected for me by her and given in the spirit of what the pink used to be before the mass commercialization.  I made a pact that I would wear no pink during the entire month - I have made an exception.

It's so good to hear that I'm not alone in the hating October pinkfest. It's just everywhere, it's like there's no escaping it. I just got a flyer that next week one day is "Breast Cancer Awareness Day" at my son's middle school. The kids are all supposed to wear pink. I just about lost it.  In our house every day is "breast cancer awareness day", why does my kid need to be bombarded with this kind of nonsense at school? It's like everyone just looks for an excuse to jump on that October bandwagon.

I sent an email to the Parent Teacher Association, which is sponsoring the day. I think this is just yet another example of people who are well-meaning, but clueless. And I'll admit that before I joined this club I was probably just as clueless. Maybe I'm more aware of it now since I've been diagnosed but it just seems to me that the breast cancer onslaught everywhere during the month of October is getting worse each year. And I hate it, for all the reasons that everyone has so thoughtfully brought up on this thread.

You all will just love this, which happened to me today....

As I'm about to walk out the door from chemo, one of the gals at the front desk calls me over (which puzzled me, as I pay as I come in, not going out). She then hands me a box wrapped in (of course) pink paper and topped with a (what else?) pink bow, saying "This is for you, from the office". Now, my b-day is next week which the onc nurses know about because I'm a longterm patient there so silly me, I think that maybe they were nice enough to get me a gift. So I gave her a very heartfelt "Thank you, you're very sweet!" and headed out to the car, where I then unwrapped the gift.

Inside the box (which was printed all over with encouraging phrases like "Attitude is Everything") was a BC-pink plastic sports water bottle (which I assume was made without BPA, although I didn't check, LOL!) and a BC-pink-ribbon pin mounted on a card which said in (naturally) big pink letters "Early detection is the best protection."  (obviously this was NOT a b-day gift, but instead a Pinktober one to either all their female patients or maybe -- could they BE so insensitive?? - only the ones being treated for bc)

What the (*&&%$#?! "Protection"??????? Against getting BC?? We all know that's a lie. Against mets? That's a long long stretch of 'logic' and circumstances. Against dying from BC? I assume that is what's meant, supposedly, although the catchy phrase is not further explained, supported, or verified. Talk about Pink Ribbon B.S.!!!!

I'm currently reading "Pink Ribbon Blues" by Gayle Sulik and find myself nodding in agreement with something on almost every page. A few very pertinent phrases that I've found so far are:

"The primary function of pink ribbon culture is now to maintain breast cancer's status as a women's health epidemic, uphold the image that society is doing something about it, expand the social and political influence of key players in the breast cancer movement, and keep the money flowing."

and

"The most controversial issue involves the survival benefits of mammography. Mammography may not detect fast-growing malignancies early enough to affect cure; it leads to more aggressive treatment... and it offers only a modest benefit for women age 50 to 70 and a lesser benefit among women age 40 to 49. Still, pink ribbon culture widely promotes mammography as the best weapon against breast cancer, fundamentally presenting it as a form of prevention, while omitting discussion of other causes..."

"The industry that benefits from the increased use of mammography and pharmaceuticals is at the core of what has become pink ribbon culture."

and one of my favorites so far

"Pink ribbon culture is built upon the early breast cancer movement... and is sustained by mass publicity, the cancer industry, corporate and political interests, and a steady revenue stream. ... At this point a pink ribbon on any product or service signifies the good cause of breast cancer. Eradication of breast cancer is the headline, but when looking beneath the pink products and consumption practices, breast cancer as a social problem has become little more than a brand name with a recognizable pink logo. Survivors and supporters walk, run, and purchase for a cure as incidence rates rise, the cancer industry thrives, corporations claim responsible citizenship while profiting from the disease, and breast cancer is re-stigmatized for those who question or deny the pink ribbon model."

Strong words but IMHO they ring absolutely true.

Btw, the box and items inside got tossed into the first trashcan I passed!

Lovemygarden: you hit on one of my sore points which is the focus on mammograms as some sort of protection. The media doesn't even point out that mammograms aren't 100% effective! I know I was duped.

Texas357, I'm with you on screening mammograms. I had ILC, too, and mammography never did anything for me except to give me a false sense of security.  But the message has to be a short one, so it's "Get a mammogram!" instead of, "Get a mammogram first, but if you have dense breasts or a risk factor for breast cancer, you should also be screened with MRI."

Hope it's okay to post here -

I got handed a little pink cup over the weekend that said "Remember to squish your boobies!" to encourage mammograms.  I was so ticked.  I don't have any boobies to squish anymore, and I am sick of the sexy tone when it comes to breast cancer. (Saw a tshirt the same day that said, "Save second base".)  WTH is wrong with these people???

The whole thing makes me want to throw up.  I cannot wait for this blessed month to be over and I have always loved October, Halloween, etc.  I'm seriously considering a career move to BREAST CANCER TROLL.  At least for one month a year.

When I paid my check at a local Bakers Square last week the clerk asked me, rather robotically,  "Would you like to add a dollar to your check to promote breast cancer?"  I said I thought I would pass on that.

First let me say that I have absolutely nothing against raising money for BC research or any worth while cause....but on the flip side...I really cannot stand all the pink ribbon stuff.  Should anyone really buy the pink Kitchenaid Mixer just because X amount of the purchase price is going to support BC?   Me, I am going to buy the color that best coordinates with my kitchen.   And, if that is pink,,....great.  I have not purchased one single pink thing since my diagnosis and do not plan on doing so.   Maybe I just do not want a constant reminder of that dreaded day.   

Best to all    

I just wanted to share this experience - yesterday I went to the grocery store and was asked to donate $1. toward BC. Sure, I said, and then asked how much of the $1. actually goes to research. The teller told me it was....hang on....2 cents. 2 cents??? You've got to be kidding me - needless to say I didn't donate as I'd rather donate directly to research in that case. Oh, and I sure got an eye opener in one of the hardware stores...they had a pink display so I went to check it out. Waterbottles, mugs, icescrapers, mitts, you name it. Companies are making a pile of money off of our misfortune and it's really starting to pi** me off! Talk about comercialized - I think I will post something to this effect on my facebook status, as a matter of fact. It's good to make people aware, after all.

Yup, I agree it's a marketer's dream but our nightmare. I saw toilet paper with the pink ribbon -- uh -- WIPE FOR THE CAUSE???? You've GOT to be kidding!

My first Pinktober, DX this April, and honestly, I've never felt good or even okay about the color pink associated with BC. My mother died of it, my friends died of it, and my clients have died of it. Seen, and been care taker to lots of end of life horror due to BC and other cancers & AIDS. So relieved to see there are other women out there, and here, who share my sentiments. I've been called a hero, survivor, herione, brave, smart, inspirational woman, etc. and while I appreciate the honor, don't feel like I'm all that. Life happens and you deal with it, including falling apart at first trying to figure out how to go about dealing with it. Was invited by a woman I know who had BC a few years ago to run a race or take a walk for BC earlier this month. Why? For whom?

In two days it will be November, National Suicide Month. What color ribbon is that? My brother killed himself in March, six weeks before I got the DX with BC. I'll soon deal with Novembercide, and then be done with it come December 1! Do all of our tragedies and traumas now require colored ribbons to be officially ackowledged? Thanks for hearing me out!

Same thing here: NOONE I know has had BC discovered by a mammogram. Everybody consulted after feeling a tumor