Anti Pink: Enlighten me

Denise, Good perspective! We have moved forward in so many ways, it is true and thank goodness. Now, it's 1 in 7 women that will be diagnosed of breast cancer.  We need to improve those odds, hopefully more advances in medicine will come.

Music Lover & Glennie - thanks for telling me about that book! My library has it. It looks fascinating.  Can't wait to read it!   

I know my aunt was horribly disfigured and mutilated would be the best word from her descriptions.  She had reconstructive surgery when she was in her mid 60s then remarried!  She was so utterly happy at the end of her life!   She died before my diagnosis.  I often "talk" with her and tell her "I understand" now. 

Recently, I found out a high school friend's mom had BC when we were in grade school also in the 1960s.  I did not find out until I was diagnosed in 2011.No one talked about it including her daughter with whom I was a good friend.  Her mom also lived against all odds but died recently of something else.  

I was just reading thru this post and I am SO glad there are other like minded women like me! I also don't like the "survivor" stamp. Survivor to me says "it's done and over" when it's not and may never be. And if you are a "survivor" and it comes back what does that make you? I think I like "recovering BC victim" better! Victim has more of an evil intonation which is what BC is, it is not pink it is black. 

I, too, never knew about all the different forms of BC until I had to take a crash course and now I am much better informed. And as far as BC being a "gift" can I re-gift it to someone? Not that I would but really a gift? No thanks! 

Linda

noon rider...yes I have been there. Lived in Minnesota for 6 years. I just find that attitudes about pink are different in different parts of the us. People don't really get the pink backlash thing everywhere. Sorry if I made Eagan sound more rural than it is. 

Yes, Maya is very talented.  Sad that she lost her mom so young.

I just googled her for the heck of it.  She was born here in my town,, Gainesville, FL!  How weird is that?  never knew it.

I agree about pink washing and how these disease is trivialized and thought of as the good cancer "no one dies of breast cancer anymore" I was told MANY times.  This is the as a result of pink, they see all the survivors prancing around in boas and tutus looking great and healthy and while that is GREAT and yes there are lots of women surviving and thriving after BC - that's all they see.  No one talks about stage 4, or even advanced cancers or aggressive cancers.   Many people that I have met personally have their experience shaped by "my aunt ...... has bc at 75 it was removed and she was fine!" - with all this education and awareness I am still dumbfounded at how little the general population knows about BC.  Even my mother in law insisted that "you'll be fine just like me" - well no,  your tumor was 2mm grade 1 removed by lumpectomy no rads req'd, VERY different then my situation.  I know im a little off topic here but my point is that education seems to be very narrow in its scope.  I feel like I have to justify why this diagnosis has shaken my core because the general belief is you got treatment =you're cured go back to life already!

That said, I am doing the CIBC run for the cure here in Toronto in October.  I struggled with doing it.  I watched Pink Ribbon Inc several times and I do question a lot of these charities.  I did my research, asked a lot of questions and in the end I decided that the money was going in to the proper areas (research, trials etc). I did it last year and it was fun and I did feel a community with the women I was walking with

but no pink boas, tutus, or wigs for me!

We all have our preferences for semantics....I detest..."survivor"....I dislike "warrior".....I prefer "veteran". To me, it relates to having gone through something that will always, forever be a part of me, not always "visible to others", but connects me to those who "get it". 

Im the dark and spooky type... October is my fav month, Oct 13th is my birthday. Now October is all pink and fluffy instead of dark and spooky. I do have a different perspective on all "pink" stuff since Ive joined this club. I had not a clue what was involved behind the scenes for the people with BC.  Im still a newbie learning my way around and making more friends (doctors). and I fully agree with the Op's post.  

ninja is awesome. I like veteran as well. I dislike survivor for a number of reasons. I am also ok with plain old patient.

So sorry tangandchris,

I am 38.  People also assume that because you are young you will fair better.  I'm still doing chemo.  I say I'm surviving.  

Agreed. I'm mad at the lack of real info and real dialog in the media.  I wonder if they talked about metastasis, aggressive cancer, recurrance, the realities of chemo, etc they'd scare people away from screening.  It might be harder to sell pink toasters!  

Hugs!

thanks Librarian- best wishes to you in October-

I was asked to speak last year after a group of girls i met here celebrated 5 yrs in the mountains. I added that part of the trip was to spread part of the ashes of one that didn't survive. People need to hear both sides of the story. While the number of survivors is rising, there are still those that will lose the battle or will develop secondary caners. Stage IV has little funding. It also irks me that Sept. is Childhood cancer month (also grossly underfunded) and MORE HIDEOUS to me than BC and the PINKTOBER bus is pulling into the station by mid month...

I chose to go flat. I get pity looks from time to time and that's okay- Hollywood has put the perky recon boobs on the story and it makes women fear BC less because after all look how wonderful '_______' looks. You can't even tell she had BC...exaclty!

You can tell I have had it- it is obvious i had it. Recon wasn't for me... But it also places an opposite face on BC

I agree with several posts...i tend to not gravitate to pink fluffy people..WHile i am thankful to be here 6 yrs later I have lost some wonderful friends to BC and that is a story that needs to be heard. BUT they won't be your focused group for PINKTOBER. 

No one talks about the number of surgeries and PAIN that some women go through for recon.  I had decided that if I needed a mast. I would do both and no recon.  I was able to do a lumpectomy, so...  I'm lopsided, but in no rush for the knife.  Maybe if I lose this extra 20 pounds....  but it sounds like I'll find more with Tamoxifin when that starts!