We're all discussing the fear factor here, but this very good article HERE emphasises why worry is such a big part of our cancer experience.

Like fear, worry is ever present, and like fear no amount of awareness ever prepares you for this aspect of the disease.

Hi PoseyGirl. I do not want to trivialize fear's power and the resulting worries (great observation, BTW) it spawns, but this was sent to me by a good friend while I was in treatment. It helped me, and others may find it helpful as well. "Hope is the only thing stronger than fear." For someone with terminal stage IV cancer, of ANY variety, this may appear superficial and trite. If so, I sincerely apologize. But to live without hope is to surrender to fear, fear leads to paralysis and paralysis leads to despair. No matter what trials, health or otherwise, may face me, I hope I have the strength to avoid traveling that path to a truly living-hell in which many patients suffer daily.

nihahi, I knew when I made this post that some might find it objectionable, but there are as many paths through cancer as there are its victims. I'm suspicious that, for some, hope, provides comfort. My comments were not intended to place a guilt trip on anyone. Having this disease is stressful enough, even minus the element of guilt. Stress is detrimental to our health. It raises blood pressure and suppresses the immune system.

In all aspects of health, reducing stress increases the possibility of avoiding some of life's inevitable anguish. Anything that reduces stress MAY help. Some do so by relying on a god, some on their medical professionals, some on their family connections, some on the gym and some chose otherwise. Whatever path one follows should not be judged by anyone. Nor should one choose to accept the mantle of guilt associated with any societal "judgement". As the Pope said, "Who am I to judge?"

I'm a male with breast cancer. I started this process by wracking my brain as to what could have caused this. There's virtually no cancer in my immediate family, and absolutely no breast cancer! I'm a former smoker. As a kid I was fried many times at the beach before there was sunscreen. As a biology teacher, formaldehyde exposure was inevitable and constant. I decided that putting the guilt on myself served no purpose. It is what it is. Genes mutate. DNA repair breaks down. S_ _ _t happens. I just want to be as positive as my circumstances will allow me to, and they very well may go down hill rapidly. But I have no idea how I'll react at the end, in whatever form it takes (cancer's not the only tool of the Grim Reaper.) All this may look like B.S. then, and I may have to publicly recant. Hope is not the cure for cancer, but its opposite is despair. We all find ourselves somewhere on that continuum. We should neither judge, nor accept judgement for, our own personal circumstances.

Fiddleman, I think your post is lovely. No matter how cliched the word may look or sound, we shouldn't blame the sentiment and ideology because of over packaging.

My husband has said to me several times through all this, "how do you fight a ghost? With a ghost sword". Meaning you have to fight fear with its true foe. Hope is one of those. Or prayer. But it's a spiritual or mental weapon that is needed.

Thank you for this..

I wrote an essay on hope and fear a year ago: http://malebc.org/hope-and-fear/

I'm now not sure that I stand by all my thoughts back then, but I still believe we face conflicting emotions based on basic human attributes.

Really, though, we all hav to find strength from within us to deal with all the crap that comes our way, and who's to say what's the best way to do this. It's just whatever works for you.

Honeybadger...great suggestions!

That's one hell-of-a-good-idea HoneyBadger! Seriously - A campaign that doesn't deny or sugar-coat the truth yet will attract people who want to have a good time when they donate. It would provide more cancer education than a rock star benefit concert and not commandeer anyone else's special day.

Spreading awareness??

Alleviating fear of breast cancer?

Donations?

Uncertain of the mods thread aim...

In my experience these are theground issues that keep people from getting the best possible medical care for breast cancer:

1. Money

2. Time

3. Location/access to high quality medical care/ tests and trials

4. Knowledge medical practitioners, patients and their supporting family/network

Fear that stops a man or a woman from seeking medical treatment is the result of

- not having one or more of the above

and

- being faced with an illness that is life threatening

There is much reason to hope in early Stage disease - there is also REASON to fear.

Breast Cancer kills women and men everyday.

I thought we all agreed you can't take the Fright out of Breast Cancer?

• SUSAN G. KOMEN® ANNOUNCES $31 MILLION IN 2017 FUNDING FOR 98 BREAST CANCER RESEARCH GRANTS, WITH FOCUS ON AGGRESSIVE AND METASTATIC CANCERS

  Dallas, TX — September 26, 2017 — Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization, today announced 2017 research funding of $30.7 million for 98 research grants, with a focus on new treatments and understanding of the most lethal forms and stages of breast cancer. Komen funding to institutions in 25 states and 7 countries also includes research into new screening technologies, treatments for metastatic and aggressive types of breast cancer and disparities in breast cancer outcomes.For the first time, beginning in October, Komen is also giving members of the public the opportunity to directly fund specific research by participating in a crowdfunding initiative on Komen's website, komen.org."We are focused on new treatments, ways to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer patients, and a better understanding of how and why breast cancer spreads, so we can better treat metastatic breast cancer or prevent it all together," said Ellen Willmott, interim president and CEO of Susan G. Komen. "This focus on aggressive and metastatic disease is the foundation of our Bold Goal to reduce breast cancer deaths by 50 percent by 2026."Metastatic breast cancer – which is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body like the brain, liver, bones or lungs – is responsible for almost all of the nation's 40,000 annual breast cancer deaths. More than 154,000 people are living with metastatic disease in the U.S. today. By targeting metastatic disease (the focus of more than 41 percent of Komen's 2017 research investment), Komen is hoping to reduce breast cancer deaths dramatically in the U.S.This year's funding also includes $17.6 million to early-career investigators. "Funding for early-career researchers ensures a continuum of breast cancer research, across generations, which is critical in a time of tightening federal research dollars," Willmott said.Komen's 2017 portfolio includes*:37 grants expanding our knowledge of metastatic breast cancer and how to better treat it or prevent it;
• 37 grants looking into novel treatments for aggressive types of breast cancer (specifically, triple negative, inflammatory breast cancer, luminal B, and ER-positive recurrent breast cancer).
• 59 grants focused on new therapies, including 10 for targeted therapies and 20 for drug development
• 24 investigating drug resistance (why drugs stop working in some patients)
• 9 on disparities in breast cancer outcomes and 2 involving Big Data

*Eds Note: Numbers may add to more than 98 because individual studies may be classed in more than one category.Making a Personal Impact – CrowdfundingThis fall, Komen is making it possible for supporters to make a personal impact on breast cancer research through a new crowdfunding initiative supporting specific Komen mission programs. Beginning in October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Komen will highlight four metastatic breast cancer researchers and encourage donations to their specific grants, with an opportunity to have donations matched."Our community is always eager to make a personal connection and to know their impact on breast cancer research," Willmott said. "We hope that our friends and donors will come forward to help support these research grants in October, or to support our work in other ways."Komen's 2017 research program brings Komen's total research investment in breast cancer to more than $956 million since opening its doors in 1982, the largest of any nonprofit outside the U.S. government. In addition to research, Komen and its nationwide network of Affiliates serve women and men in thousands of communities. To date, more than $2.1 billion has been invested in community programs that provide education, screening and treatment support.

Wildplaces, you are pretty close to what research has shown. The Mods never answered at all when I posted a while back asking where they got the idea that fear of the disease or the treatment was a major barrier. I think it's a pretty reasonable question if they're bound and determined to use such an offensive campaign.

I'm disgusted and I wish I had never responded to any query about what my fears where, because they clearly don't care.

I've lost a huge amount of respect I had for this site. We are in the process of selling a house and I was going to donate when we finished, but now I think I'll put my money elsewhere.

No invite here, Traveltext.

Wildplaces, for me, you just said it all. If that doesn't get a response, I have no idea what will.

Agreed, SpecialK.

2:04 AM EDT October 2, 2017

The White House glowed pink overnight to mark the start National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States.

"During October, we raise awareness and encourage people to take steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer," First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement released by the administration Sunday.

"I encourage all women to talk to their health care providers about mammograms and other methods of early detection and what can be done to reduce that risk," it quoted her as saying.

The White House said that more than 250,000 US women and 2,000 men would likely be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

"To encourage women to take steps in detecting breast cancer early and to express solidarity with those who have been affected by the disease, the White House will be lit pink this evening," the statement said.

First Lady Melania Trump later tweeted a photo of the illuminated White House portico taken from within the residence, saying: "In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month we lit the @WhiteHouse pink!"

"Oct is Natl Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please talk to your doctor about early detection & reducing your risk. #BreastCancerAwareness," Trump said in an earlier post.

The American Cancer Society says breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States.

On average, American women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing the disease, the society says, estimating that more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2017 alone.

The White House was first turned pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 7, 2008. First Lady Laura Bush turned on the lights.

© 2017 Cable News Network, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.

I find (Thank you specialK!!! For reminding us what Our donations contribute to) the apportioning of funds to awareness campaigns in this day and age astounding!

In under 50 women with dense breasts MRI is probably the screeninginvestigation of choice - not currently supported by health schemes because of cost.

I wonder whether there might a place for an option where you can specify what you would like your donation to go towards - research towards prevention, early disease, late disease, services for Stage 4, services for single mothers with Breast cancer, male Breast cancer etc???

Mods any ideas ??? Dream a little dream! 😊🌷