Let the Festivities Begin!

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pupfoster1
pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

OCTOBER---PINK RIBBON MONTH.  GACK!  I truly wish I didn't feel this way, because I know that even if the knuckleheads producing pink ribbon erasers, pink ribbon toilet paper, etc, etc MAY bring some awareness to our issue, but it is SO wearing on me.  I am also doubly disappointed as The Scar Project, the one BC related awareness/fundrasing event that I am TOTALLY behind has been delayed here in DC.  They get it.  Cancer is NOT a pretty pink ribbon.  I know some of you ladies ARE pink ribbon ladies and please believe me I hold nothing against you for that, it's just my issue I suppose. 

Anywhoo, hope everyone is well and hanging in there.

Love,

Sharon 

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  • lanagraves
    lanagraves Member Posts: 596
    edited October 2012

    I'm still not sure how I feel about all the Pink Ribbon crap. I'm all for awareness. I certainly don't want anyone else to have to go through this. At the same time, I really don't like the idea of being bombarded with it constantly for a whole month.

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  • kar123
    kar123 Member Posts: 273
    edited October 2012

    I was just about to post my vent about "Pinktober" and then I saw this!  I'm so glad somebody else gets it!  All my friends and family don't understand why I hate it so much.  Let's see...Can anyone name one other disease that takes over restaurants, malls, dept. stores, grocery stores, television, etc.....  I want to go about my daily life and try not to think about breast cancer for 1 hour and in October I can't go 1 minute without a pink ribbon reminder.  Really, how many people aren't aware at this point?  I know a lot goes to research for a cure and prevention, but can't they do it a little more quietly?  I can't even drink a glass of wine without feeling anxiety first because of the research that it may do more harm than good for us gals and second there is a friggin pink ribbon on the bottle! 

    Ugh!  I am also sorry to the supporters of ribbon if this offended.  I don't know what the answer is, but I wish we could find it!

    Thanks for letting me rant!

    Kelli

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited October 2012
    No pink lady ribbon here!  I'm on your side with this one! Smile
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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited October 2012

    I hate it because every time I go to the grocery store with one of my kids and they see a pink ribbon (and they are everywhere in Oct.) they are reminded that their mom had bc and all their fears surface.  They never say anything but I see it on their faces.

    I also hate it because people seem to expect us to go the the walks-like because I survived I owe it to someone to go.  I love that there is fundraising and awareness.  I went to them for several years but I finally got to the point where it took too much of an emotional toll on me when I returned for a day of walking/running/sea of pink.  It would take me days to shake my feeling of doom and gloom.

    So, you are not alone.

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  • 116
    116 Member Posts: 108
    edited December 2012

    Pink Stinks! :)

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited October 2012

    If I had any doubts before, I don't any more. Seeing the Dallas cowboys with pink gloves and shoes makes me want to puke.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited October 2012

    My eggs have pink ribbons on them! I got mad with the radio person talking about bc awareness. Isnt it sad thats all they ever say. They never tell you what you need to know: breast density stuff, self exams, etc etc.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited October 2012

    I guess what irks me most is that what started out as something with good intentions has turned in to, once again another money making scheme for a lot of manufacturers.  How many of those $ actually reach any BC organization (if any in some cases) is so sad.  People can be gulible and think, "oh if I buy this product with the pink ribbon on it it must be helping....."  I guess SOME $ from SOME ligitimate sources make it, so I should be grateful for that.

    Sharon

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  • MandalaB
    MandalaB Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2012

    I am not a fan of it either.

    Pink Ribbons Inc just showed up on Netflix, too. I got halfway through before I had to turn it off-it was emotional.


    I have ranted and raved and written my letters - I told my mom about it all and she got it- but then she thinks I'm crazy. and that I shoudl stop being angry at it.
    lol.
    her cancer wasn't exploited.

    and my one friend can't understand why I don't like the pink ribbon and got snippy with me for not wanting to one day join the survivor parade in a pink feather boa.
    No. I don't want that. Sorry if YOU don't like it.
    wtf?

    there are legitimate charities- and there are the poopyheads.

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  • teeballmom
    teeballmom Member Posts: 322
    edited October 2012

    I was thinking I was the only one who was getting tired of the pink ribbons. 

    About a year before my DX I went out and bought a bunch of pink t-shirts to give support (which I want to chuck out the window now) and to my horror now, I also ordered pink checks with the pink ribbon on it (4 boxes of them).  Everytime I write a check I'm reminded about BC.  At the time, my DH said not to order them, but did I listen?  Absolutely not.  If I wasn't such a cheapo I'd order new ones and shred these. 

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited October 2012

    Here's where I am with the whole pink thing.

    People want to support the throngs of women who have, or have had, breast cancer.  They truly want to do a good thing.  I appreciate that.  I get it.

    At the same time, I attended a "Making Strides" event this year, and was struck by the celebratory nature of the whole thing.  Women dressed in wild pink tutus, pink feather boas, pink wigs, pink striped socks.  Dancing and celebrating and partying.  Tee shirts everywhere--"I (heart) my boobies."  "Save second base!" 

    And I got to wondering.  This past year, I've lost my breast, my lymph nodes, and my hair.  I've been through months of chemo, thirty-seven radiation treatments, and spent three months treating an open radiation wound.  The wild celebratory atmosphere and women dressed up in ridiculous outfits feel, to me, to be a trivialization and infantilization of my disease and my fight. 

    Also, it completely misses the point.  I don't particularly care about saving my ta tas.  I want to save my life.  I hearted my boobies, too, until a surgeon had to amputate one of them in an attempt prevent my disease from spreading.  I would rather have my life than my boobies. 

    Where are the men with testicular cancer dressing up in wild boxer shorts and tee-shirts that say "Save the cojones!"?  Or people dancing about with cauliflowers on their heads wearing tee shirts that say "Brain cancer awareness!"? 

    I'm plenty aware of breast cancer, thanks.  And I had a perfectly fine mammogram in June 2011 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2011, just three months later, so I'm not so convinced that "early detection" is the panacea it's touted as being.

    Awareness, education, mammograms are all good things.  Now lets throw money at finding a cure.   

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2012

    Hey Sharon!  Yes, I totally get the Pinktober crap.  When I was first out of treatment, October Pink really upset me.  I guess I was so raw then.  Now, 3 years out,  I still hate the Pink Think this month, but I'm not as angry over it.  The one thing that makes me "Aware"  every time I see the pink ribbon  stuff, is that yes this diagnosis is not cured yet which means that I am not considered "cured", I'm just waiting for the NED status to change to new progression from some of those little bugger cancer cells showing up somewhere else.  That is what the Pink reminds me of when they say race for the cure.Undecided

    image

    Barb

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited October 2012

    sbelizabeth-

    I just wanted to say I LOVE YOUR POST about this topic.  That is exactly what I want to tell people but don't.  I especially love the part you wrote about it not being all about saving second base.  I have always been uncomfortable with the connotation of "save the ta tas" and "save second base." I am uncomfortable for the reasons you say-trivializing, the analogy of breast cancer to testicular cancer and the fact that early detection did nothing for me-mammo did NOT pick up the lump I felt.

    But, not many people, or at least the people who have not had bc, get it.  It's not their fault-they haven't had the life experiences we have had.

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