Brace yourself, September is slipping, inexorably, to Foctober

I am not as vehemently anti-pink as some, as I rarely get angry over much (stage IV goes much better without anger for me) but, I just saw a piece in my local news that had me saying "Really?. The Ritz Carlton in SF is serving a pink cocktail this month called "the girls". It appears to include two nipple like floating raspberries. Really?????

jeez, now cocktails and shots often have some pretty sexualized names (and there are a few that use slang for breasts in their names already) but they could have done without tying it to breast cancer/Pinktober. I definitely also have some higher expectations for the Ritz Carlton compared to some some campus or dive bar.

Blessings, I used most of your post and put this on my facebook.  Thank you!  It is being very well received:

Breast cancer 101 time. Feel free to share this post. Breast cancer is a very sneaky disease. I was diagnosed earlier this year with IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) and had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Unfortunately, I will always live with the fear of metastasis. During my last reconstruction surgery in August, I had 2 areas biopsied and they were ok. Now I have several new hard bumps we are watching that are probably just scar tissue or dissolvable sutures. I am checked every 3 months and will be on Tamoxifen for 10 years.

"Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers are metastatic at diagnosis; of these, approximately one-fifth will survive 5 years. Depending on prognostic factors, up to 30% of node-negative and up to 70% of node-positive breast cancers will relapse."

Yes even stage one, node negative breast cancer can recur as stage 4. There is no cure for metastatic breast cancer. So breast cancer is always on my mind, every hour of the day it pops up in my head. Hopefully that will get better as time passes. I really appreciate all the love and support from my friends and family this year! You have all been amazing.

Remember 1 in 8 of us will be diagnosed in our lifetimes so please check yourselves often. The earlier you are diagnosed, the better your prognosis.

We are now in breast cancer awareness month and we will be seeing pink ribbons everywhere, from our bucket of KFC chicken, to our box of cereal. Here is a post I'd like to share from a fellow breast cancer survivor:

As many of you begin to participate in the Annual “Breast Cancer Awareness” activities coming up, I just ask you to please consider these things:

1. Does the activity TRIVIALIZE breast cancer? NOT GOOD! This is a very serious issue.

2. Does the activity SEXUALIZE breast cancer? NOT GOOD! There is nothing sexy about breast cancer.

3. Does the activity generate income to be donated to a reputable organization that provides direct services to women in need? GREAT! Low income patients need all the help they can get.

4. Does the activity generate income to be donated to a reputable organization that funds research for a breast cancer CURE? GREAT! We all have “awareness”… what we need is a CURE.

5. If you put a “Pinkwashed” product in your shopping cart, have you checked to see exactly how much money from that sale is donated, and the name of the organization where the proceeds are donated? GREAT! If it is not stated, then the MANUFACTURER is making money off the misery of breast cancer patients everywhere. NOT GOOD! Pink ribbon advertising is not enough.

I got it from here.  Am I posting inaccurate information?

Journal article

Being stage 2 and node positive, I too am looking for a loophole in those stats. It doesn't appear to me that the info on relapse is nation or region specific, so it may not apply equally to those of us in highly developed nations. I certainly hope not. 

Still, it's extremely sobering (try terrifying).

I, too, would be interested in more specifics on the populations studied. It's interesting how frequently that info is missing, once you start looking for it.

All I know is that I can't handle thinking about that topic any more at this point. It's certainly one I'll take up again with my MO after surgery but it's just too grim to grapple with right now.

I was told 70% within ten years, chose to forget it until this reminder! Scary stuff........

I don't think you should worry about the 70%.  We all have different tumors and treatments that affect our recurrence rate. I'm sorry I scared people with this article.

Julie, don't be sorry you posted this information. I, for one, appreciate getting it.  All our situations are different as has been mentioned, but it's still good to know the big picture.  I won't spend my days obsessing about a quote from a journal, but it might motivate me to reassess my priorities. That's not a bad thing. 

Uggghh, peacestrength, you'll have that one for a long time. Not a limited edition, you'd really want!

Sbelizabeth - you just made me laugh...hard I agree, my stylists heart was showing compassion and I knew that.  She's been cutting my hair for over 10 years and is a kind person.   

But...I still would like to snap the pink flat iron in pieces...yes, I should look into exchanging it.  

It's a fine line we walk not looking like jerks yet trying to protect our feelings too.  Sometimes we just have to let it go.  However, when it's something you are going to use everyday, I would definitely contact the manufacturer to see if you can exchange it.    Firecracker, I have noticed too that the pink is not quite as bad this year.  Maybe our message is getting through.

Ariom - limited edition is right...thanks for making me laugh too:)

Kar123 - ((hugs to you))

The stats make me panic when I think about them...I've been told many different stats and it's confusing. I try to focus on all the long term survivors. 

I like that

NO ONE IS CURED TILL EVERYONE IS CURED..

I would wear a shirt like that

There is a stor a few blocks away from me...they do that kinda stuff

I just have to get there