Does this annoying anyone else???

I was diagnosed just as we headed into Pinktober, so very early on I developed a major repulsion from pink ribbon items, because they seemed to be everywhere I turned both as I waited the results of my biopsy, and as I was diagnosed.  Add to that the FB games and other associated things and I felt traumatized by the color pink.

But, aside from a friend of my mother's giving her some pink ribbon scarf thing, I somehow avoided being gifted with it.  And early on, either through casual discussions, or my own FB posts and posts on my blog, I made my stance fairly clear on this type of stuff.  My issue was partly about not wanting to be constantly reminded, but also the issue of how unclear it is with so many of these items, how much actually is donated, and to who.  I think most people get it.  And it was in a round about way so that I wasn't confronting people or anything. 

As to what you do with things people give you, that's a tough one.  Lots of times people get gifts they don't really have a use for or really dislike.  And in this situation, many people really don't know how a lot of BC patients feel about this stuff.  So it's probably best brought up in casual conversation and not when someone is handing over a gift. 

When it boils right down to it though, if it is distressing to you to have these items around, yes by all means donate them, or trash them for that matter.  It's one thing to hang onto an ugly painting someone gave you once and haul out once a year when they visit, and another to have to stare at something that makes you feel that way. 

Not sure if that helped, but I do share your annoyance. 

Yep! Got dx'd in September 2011, received a tsunami of pinkwashed gifts for my BMX and recovery. 

How about a fleece muffler with the breast cancer ribbon on it? Told DH I should just wear a sandwich board advertising the fact that I have BC.

And gee - those cocktail napkins with pink high heels and breast cancer ribbons will come in handy when I'm downing the martinis I shouldn't be having anyway!!!

But honestly, I have to say that the gifts I received were from family and friends I love dearly. I thanked them profusely for their generosity and dropped the subject.

But this past October 2012, I did quite a bit of "Pink Prevention" beforehand.

I posted on my Facebook page and my Caring Bridge page about the entire concept of Pinkwashing, and how companies were cashing in on the misery of cancer patients everywhere, and profiting off our disease. I asked everyone to please check every product carefully, and see exactly how much money was being donated and to which Breast Cancer cause. If it wasn't clear, then most likely it was a dreadful marketing gimmick.

I also spoke in very general terms about how constant reminders of BC were not helpful to many women.

I think my point was made. Haven't gotten any more pink ribbon gifts!

Making breast cancer pink only prettifies it - pink is a lovely warm colour and breast cancer is UGLY, DISFIGURING, PAINFUL, DISPIRITING and everything negative you can think of - I HATE the way it has been sanitised into something "nice"