Pinktober is upon us

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finallyoverit
finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
edited October 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

This will be my 2nd Pink (or should I say Puketober) since my Stage IV diagnosis. I still hate the month. I hate all the pink everywhere. I hate all of the "awareness" talk. We are all well aware, thank you very much. We need a cure, not more ridiculous pink tchotckes.

Okay, rant over. Come on November! (To tell you how much I hate pink - you will never catch me wearing it, anything pink has been removed from my house and all pink flowers have been banned from my flowerbed.)

PSA- No offense intended if you enjoy pink, like to dress yourself in it, plant pink flowers or look forward to the month. I'm glad you do.. I'm speaking completely for myself. :)

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  • Snickersmom
    Snickersmom Member Posts: 926
    edited October 2018

    Last year after my diagnosis and BMX, I wa all gung-ho for anything to do with raising awareness, but now that over a year has passed, I'm over it. My cousin's wife, who had BC about 6 years ago and had lumpectomy with radiation and chemo, brought me all kinds of stuff to remind me - blanket with the pink ribbons on one side and solid pink on the other, pink shoelaces, pink t-shirt, etc. Get the picture??

    Now I tend to feel like you do. I hate pink and what it represents. You are right - instead of saving it all up for one month, I'd rather have it out there all year long. We need a cure for this horrible disease that has taken too many of our BC sisters and will continue to keep striking.

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  • Sadiesservant
    Sadiesservant Member Posts: 1,995
    edited October 2018

    I bought into the hype when I was first diagnosed in 2001. Did lots of fund raising and participated heavily in our local BC fundraising events. For a number of reasons I backed away from it and now that I am stage IV I have no desire to get involved. Instead I chose to set up a bequest to my Cancer Agency for MBC research (no kids, no husband).

    Having said that, I still like pink. It suits my skin tones but now I wear it on my terms.

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  • susan3
    susan3 Member Posts: 3,728
    edited October 2018

    I still wear pink.....no symbols. My daughter often gets many phone calls in novermber, ranting I am going to tear down all the pink symbols of awareness. Every year I always get some "wonderful" gifts during this month. I say thank you graceciously. My friends do mean the best for me.

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  • lulubee
    lulubee Member Posts: 1,493
    edited October 2018

    Would you believe I got my Stage IV phone call on October 1 at 8am? That was 11 years ago today.

    So I have to just say no to Pinktober. It's a horror show.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2018

    A friend of mine gave me a get well balloon and a pink bucket. I call it the pink puke bucket.

    I hate awareness month and the pink.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited October 2018

    Why is there even a month for BC? I'm not aware of any other cancer having a month. It's too much.

    I think everyone is aware by now. There's nothing wrong with fundraising for BC or encouraging screening, but ... a whole month of pink everywhere?

    Although it was pretty funny when I got a call to solicit money from an organization I'd never heard of. When she finished going on and on about BC statistics and all the people I could help, I calmly told her that I was a statistic and had paid more than enough in medical bills.

    *** Edited to add that I didn't realize this was in the Stage IV only thread. As much as October's craziness bothers me - I can only glimpse how many of you must feel.


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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited October 2018

    One of my biggest gripes is the “hoopla” environment that many feel is necessary to discuss breast cancer. Like its a big celebration. As though to discuss the deep seriousness of the subject is too difficult, so it’s watered down and completely misses the mark.

    Several years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper on bc month. I emphasized that the superficial aspects of it no longer make the grade, and people need to demand more is done with their donations towards research and a cure.

    I also think many people without bc are sick of the pink party atmosphere.
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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2018

    1 day down.. 30 to g

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  • LoveFromPhilly
    LoveFromPhilly Member Posts: 1,308
    edited October 2018

    pink bucket??!!! 😂 that is soooo weird and funny!


    I am feeling a bit grumpier than usual!

    I saw a car go by yesterday with some bright pink GIANT paper mache boobies on top. Although it was difficult to distinguish what it was exactly. Two women next to me on the street were like, “WHAT is THAT??!!” I was giggling to myself!

    I didn’t really understand or even know that there was so much controversy around the whole pink thing until after I was diagnosed last year and then started to learn.

    I love the color pink - but I am also not a fan of this odd celebratory experience of breast cancer and the approach feels strange to me, because I am as aware as possible about it. And I was before. But now I am more than I ever wanted to be.

    I think it’s like this realllly annoying reminder that yes, I do have breast cancer...but at the same time I am trying very hard to forget about it just for like maybe one hour a day. Just not think about it at all. And this whole pink month thing just pushes remembering it over and over again.

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  • Sue2009
    Sue2009 Member Posts: 228
    edited October 2018

    A couple of weeks ago I was getting blood drawn & I noticed a woman in the waiting room dressed all in pink, including her shoes. I could not help myself, so I sat next to her & said, well u r really outing your self as to your type of cancer. She laughed & said yes, she has only worn pink since her Dx a few years ago. Yikes, not me, I like pink too, but hate Pinktober. Yes all the cancers have a color & month, but I guess there is more $$$ to be made w/BC. No one should be getting rich off our disease.

    A Dr my mom worked for passed on a bracelet to me that is beaded w/all the different cancer colors. I will try to get photo up of it. 💞 Sue.

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  • Sue2009
    Sue2009 Member Posts: 228
    edited October 2018

    image

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2018

    This is so revolting to me. One reason I hate pinktober

    https://komonews.com/news/entertainment/serena-wil...

    I am sorry she lost a friend to the disease but please...

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2018

    2 down.. 29 to go

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2018

    8.more.days

    I really don’t like wishing the days away, but I will be incredibly glad when we flip the calendar to November. All of the ridiculous pink items will magically disappear until next October and things will return to normal. Maybe the checkout girl at the grocery store will stop asking “if I would like to donate to the cause”. To which my answer is, “I donated 2 tumors, I think that’s enough.”

    So done with Puketober

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  • skyfly
    skyfly Member Posts: 85
    edited October 2018

    finallyoverit,

    It bothers me and I’m just a son. Maybe I’m prickly because it’s so new. I’m also bothered by how much cancer and breast cancer are a plot device or used in casual conversation. I never noticed it before but it really can pop up at any moment in any show, movie, podcast, video game, meeting, party, etc etc and it is just so visceral and jarring. The worst thing to ever happen to my mother and our family shouldn’t be a stupid punchline or metaphor for how someone is negatively affecting a basketball team.
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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited October 2018

    Just so you guys know someone is listening to the request for donations to go toward searching for a cure and not more awareness. This little guy with a big heart and huge imagination is hand making these keychains and donating proceeds to METAvivor for stage IV cancer research. (I may have influenced him a bit on what underfunded cause to donate towards.)

    image

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2018

    @skyfly

    First I just want to say, I’m so sorry you are here with us, but I’m glad you found us. Stage IV is a unique beast all of its own. You are absolutely right, the mention of bc can spring up at any time and often in very unexpected locations. We understand what you are going through. I really don’t like wishing my days away.. but I’ll be glad when October is over. All my best to you and your Mom

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2018

    Well, we made it. 1 more day and all of the pink garbage will be put away for another year.

    Hello, November! So happy to see you

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