Comments on: Do Something Besides Shop for Breast Cancer

By: Erin Wimberley

Erin Wimberley — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:57:18 +0000

My name is Erin Wimberley. I am a team member for the annual Relay For Life sponsored by The American Cancer Society. Team Members are responsible for collecting donated items for our “pink basket” raffles that will be held on 06/18-06/19/2010. I was wondering if your site would be willing to donate any items for our raffle? Raffle tickets will be sold for the drawing and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Thanks for your consideration.

Erin Wimberley
“Think Pink”
Team Member

The AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
“Relay For Life”
Pawnee County, Pawnee, Oklahoma.

(405)612-7914
ErinRaschel7783@hotmail.com

By: elayne

elayne — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:12:00 +0000

Hello…I’m with all the people who are sooooo tired of Pink. I’d love to find anything with the color Teal Blue… Yup! That’s the support ribbon for Ovarian Cancer. And, so, my journey is to inform EVERY woman who looks at me with those “Deer in the Headlights” stare…why? Because there is absolutely nothing out there! Nothing! Women are dying every day from Ovarian Cancer… Yet, no magazine articles (maybe one or two) and, all the hospitals, doctors offices, grocery etc are promoting buying “something” to fight Breast Cancer. How much money is given in grants to all these entities? I have a special beef with the American Cancer Society who…would have offered me a chance to buy a specially made wig IF I had Breast Cancer. Why? Well, they get grants from the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation…

Anyway, to all the women who read this… Just tell 10 women and ask them to tell 10 more about the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. And, never…never…allow any doctor to tell you that because you’re a certain age… You get fat around the gut!

Thank you for allowing me to vent…

Elayne…a very determined woman…

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:56:26 +0000

How about spending funds on informing women on strategies to prevent breast cancer? Cancer research is almost always animal research, and I am not about to spend one cent torturing other living beings. Cancer of any sort is a nightmare. I am not about to condemn my little brothers and sisters to that particular hell.

By: DANA

DANA — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:11:35 +0000

I don’t want to be associated in any way with that cute little disease, breast cancer. Or worse, that most feminine of all activities: shopping for breast cancer.

what are you talking about cute there is nothing cute about breast cancer.

By: heidi

heidi — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:33:15 +0000

I agree totally – you really have to look closely to see who funds RESEARCH, that is the key. I am fortunate to have found an organization that does only that. As a breast cancer patient, this is absolutely crucial. i dont want my daughters to have to go through this!!

By: Belle

Belle — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:59:01 +0000

I think its good that people buy the breast cancer products although the companies that sell these products should be made to outline how much is being given and what exactly for because some companies do use the logo to boost there own sales and only give a tiny percent and i think the customer should be told this.

It was launched originally to educate people to check and i dont think theres anything wrong with continuing that but some companies have used this for there advantage making people unsure now whether they should buy things like this anymore from any charity which they should they just need to make sure they now where its going.

By: debutaunt

debutaunt — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:27:37 +0000

What???

Addressing the comment about not buying wristbands from a-holes who resell them for a profit?

You don’t think those icky licked lids don’t buy the Yoplait CEO a new Ferrari and a trophy wife? They donate something like $1.5 million max yet the profits from *just* the Yoplait line of yogurts made $1.1 BILLION – with a B – last year. The estimated profit from the campaign a few years ago was $24 million. That year they donated about 150k. They won’t even tell anyone exactly what they make off the lid campaign. And they are part of the General Mills family. You think they can’t afford more than a million max? (and that’s only if people send in a gazillion spit lids)

Google “Think before you pink” and “The Assertive Cancer Patient” for some real shockers! Oh, and Google “Jingle Jugs” They donated 50k to Komen.

Pink is sick. Donate directly to a reputable charity that funds research, not just begs awareness or provides mammograms – (e.g. every state already has a program to fund mammograms)

Instead of getting Kitchenaid folk a bump in their stock – If you know someone with cancer, do something for them PERSONALLY. But them a grocery card or groceries for them. They will be fatigued. Babysit their kids. Pay their electric bill or copays. I had people give me an iPod Nano for the waiting rooms (Leukemia and Stem Cell survivor here). I also got Target gift cards and Amazon $$. Buy them something practical that you know they wouldn’t buy themselves.

Btw, I had my stupid pink blog for a long time and only WISH I could change it to a lovely shade of yellow.

P.S. I had many friends on my floor who had stem cell transplants for breast cancer. Maybe donate to the Leukemia Society since they actually fund research for adult stem cells and don’t spend money on marketing. Yes :P My 7 year old and I plan on raising a million bucks for them! teamzoe.net (and thanks for letting me vent a little here)

By: Em

Em — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:01:17 +0000

Personally, it makes me feel a bit sick and a bit violated to think that these companies and organisations are benefiting from the fact that I have cancer. Cancer is about the individual – it’s an assault on an individual and no amount of t-shirts and ribbons or yogurts or sweeties can make that better.
I’m a person – a real person – not part of a marketing campaign.

By: cole

cole — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:54:14 +0000

I understand the points you try to make and agree on some but I think you came out as much more hostile than you probably intended.

Just going pink or buying pink may not accomplish as much as donating directly to a company or group and knowing exactly how much of your money will go to which aspect of cancer awareness, treatment, detection and research but any awareness at all, no matter how vapid, is more and better than existed a few years ago. It’s a step, at least, in the right direction.

It is frustrating, though, when people jump on the bandwagon without any forethought. I’m part of a forum where members were ‘awarded’ pink ribbons for having pink usernames and avatars yet they never provided any information, statistics, links or prompted any educated discussions about breast cancer so while people were aware, they remained rather ignorant on the subject.

So I do agree that we can do more and it never hurts to point it out but don’t scoff as what is being done, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Also, in the way of doing more – I’m sure mammograms are just the tip of the iceberg but are they not also important when it comes to detection?

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:43:38 +0000

Thanks for all the comments guys — great discussion! By all means, if you want to shop for pink items, feel free. They *can* be an opportunity for discussion. However, if the reason you’re buying is to get money to cancer researchers and local screening programs, consider donating to these programs directly instead. You don’t need the marketing middleman.