October's Daily Encounters with "pink stuff"

my first year I felt just like you...it was like everything was a reminder I could die. Two years out it bugs me less. If the items benefit BCRF I am happy to see them. 

I actually try not to go shopping much during October.

Yes rachelvk, please write an article. Like cookiegal, I am also 2 years out, but the pink stuff still makes me want to puke.

I call it "pink washing" - what we used to call "green washing" when companies that POLLUTE like mad, make a "donation" to an environment al cause if you buy their product.  Of, course, if you read the very fine print, it's a "donation" of .00000000001% of the purchase price.

If we KNEW the money was going for research - good research, I think most of us wouldn't feel so USED by all this Pink ( I call it PINK PUKE Month) - and being asked to click, click, click, save box tops, eat yogurt ( I happen to be dairy free!) is annoying, and I just avoid it when ever I can.

Thank goodess the pink is only one month.  This request to "click, click, click" seems to go on until someone does?  Maybe not, I don't  know.  Not being on Facebook, Twitter, or any other "social media" I also avoid some of the junk that way too.  SO, looking forward to following this thread to seeing the most ridiculous use of PINK!

Was in Walmart just the other day and saw a pink Swiffer Wet Jet.  I am a year out and last year the pink drove me crazy.  It seemed to be everywhere I looked, but this year I am more use to it I guess. But I don't need it in my cleaning supplies to remind me.

OMG, your post is sooo funny.  I thought I was the only person who felt totally overwhelmed by PINK. I start chemo on Oct 11th and  just can't seem to get a moment away from stupid boob cancer reminders and just need to breath for a moment.  I even received pink junk mail the other day.  I realize that I am over sensitive at the moment and usually would have never have a negative word to say about those who are trying to lend support.  That being said........enough already, good Lord!  I sure hope all this pink shit from retail establishments is sincere and really is meant to support those who have to cope with this disease and not just an easy way to "jump on the band wagon".  Sorry if my thoughts have offended anyone, talk about mis-placed anger ha ha.  On that note, Have a happy day:)

I don't care if it DOES benefit BC research, I say fooey. As Chickadee says, it's exploitation. 

I won't patronize any of these outfits that exploit BC to make themselves look like good citizens. Period. 

Nice job, mdg.  Those are great finds. 

"rock" started a thread similar to this 3 years ago, giving it the name, "Pink:  Not just for Pepto Bismol anymore."  It's in the "Moving Beyond Cancer" forum.  (That seemed like an appropriate place, since all the pink stuff was keeping us from "moving beyond cancer.")  I bumped that thread so y'all can see 3 years' worth of this stuff. In the meantime, here are two I remember from that thread.

The official title of this awareness campaign is, "Kick Cancer to the Curb":

This next one really doesn't need a comment.  The photo is copyrighted, but re-publication is allowed if the source website is cited: http://www.illdigital.com/breast-cancer-awareness-garbage-truck/ :

This afternoon, my dh and I were driving through a town near where we live.  As we entered that town, I noticed that all the road signs had huge, pink ribbons tied around their posts.  Even some of the trees and bushes had those big, pink ribbons on their trunks. I was thinking, "Hey, that's really sweet -- someone in this town must have had a baby girl, and everybody is celebrating her birth!"  I turned to my dh and pointed out the ribbons, noting that someone in that town must have a new baby daughter. 

Even as I said the word "daughter", I had this sudden realization... "DUH!".   Yeah, right.

otter

I wasn't even aware of how rampant Pinktober was until I went to Bed Bath & Beyond the other day. Pink ribbon travel mugs at the register. As if these cups would be as helpful as an early detection mammogram. Blech.

I can't wait until this month is over.  I was in Panera's - pink bagels.    I thought I was in the minority with the pink hating - I put a lengthy note on facebook about how much I detest this month and I think I may havce offended some of my breast cancer friends.  But is it REALLY necessary to plaster the entire world in pink to remind women to do a self exam or have a mammo?  Really.  Our local A&P looked like someone dumped Pepto Bismol all over everything in the store. 

My stand is that it IS exploitation -it's a politically correct move on the part of the companies -meanwhile, they are paying their marketing and packaging folks to design all new containers, ads, blah blah and they are reaping a profit.  Because most people will opt for the yogurt with the pink lid rather than that without - it IS a marketing ploy.  And they ARE profiting off the shirts, key chains, etc etc. 

Yup - totally tired of it and we're only 5 days into October.....meanwhile we still have no cure..we're faced with mostly the same medications we had 30 years ago......it sure doesn't benefit those of us drowning in bills.  I applied to a breast cancer charity fund to help pay my BC bills - and while I was told that I do qualify, they were "sorry, but there are no funds left".  Hm..interesting.  

I know some of the ladies on the stage IV board were asking some serious questions about where the $ goes.  Someone quoted that only 19% of the Susan Komen funds go for research - 40% to "awareness".  Not sure where the rest of it goes and when they were asking, it seemed that none of the stores or companies really knew either.   

I love that 'donated the breasts" by the way - going to remember that next time I get asked at the supermarket checkout line to donate $1.   

I am sooo glad to have found this thread!!! Honestly, before I was diagnosed a year ago, pink was my favorite color, now I'm definitely mulling over a new signature color for myself!  I understand that the gist of this is so raise "awareness", but most of us are very much aware that breast cancer exists, and for me the onslaught of pink ribbons and merchandise proves nothing more  than financial gain for the companies using pink to endorse their products and increase sales.  While a percentage supposedly goes for cancer research, there's still plenty of money that's being made under the guise of "for the cure" sales tactics.   October for me is the beginning of Fall, a time of Harvest, Halloween, and a seguay into Thanksgiving and Christmas, my two favorite holidays of the year.  Retailers can pink all they want, but I say bring on the candy corn, pick some apples,  and watch the leaves change into the brilliant colors of the season!  And mdg, I'm stealing your snarky response

I am nearly five years out from the end of chemo, and all the pink stuff still irritates me and depresses me.

October use to be one of my favorite months.  Now I dread it.

Lat Saturday, 10/1, I went to a marching band competition and decided to wear a new pair of hot pink shorts with a pale pink tee shirt. As I came out of the stands at intermission, a woman looked and me and gushed, "How nice!!!  You dressed in pink for breast cancer awareness."

She is lucky to still be alive...

I do think the pink garbage totes are appropriate. Cancer is garbage. I got a flyer for "Bingo for Boobs."  I think that is terrible.