I’m dyeing my hair purple today. My son has been begging for purple for a while now, but I’ve been sticking with pink — until now. 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.
People, do you know what you’re shopping for? T-shirts and dog collars and candy and soup, all painted a pandering pink. I’ve actually heard people say, “I’m buying this because I want to support breast cancer.” You want to support cancer? Or the people fighting cancer? And who, exactly, are you supporting?
The day the Susan G. Komen foundation sends out a brochure with research that I can fund is the day I’ll shop for the cause.
In the meantime, instead of supporting some unknown organization, service, or research with some unspecified “portion of the proceeds”, I’m sending my money directly to the organizations that match my goals. I’m also lobbying Congress to fund research into the causes and pathologies of breast cancer with letters like these, the template for which can be found on the Breast Cancer Action website:
After more than 20 years of Breast Cancer Awareness Months, people in this country are still incredibly confused about some of the basic facts of breast cancer. A recent poll by the advocacy group Breast Cancer Action found that most Americans (74%) mistakenly think breast cancer that remains restricted to the breast can be fatal.
The reality is that only breast cancer that spreads to the vital organs is life threatening. But doctors don’t have the tools to tell a woman with certainty at the time of diagnosis whether or not her breast cancer will spread and become life-threatening.
For the sake of the 200,000 women who are diagnosed with this dreadful disease every year, it is time to prioritize research—and funding for research—that will enable doctors to answer a woman’s most basic questions upon diagnosis—“Will I die of this?” and “What should I do next?” As federal funding for cancer research is in danger of being cut, this is a perfect time to refocus and reprioritize. Only more focused research will allow doctors to predict the spread of breast cancer, whether it will become life threatening, and what the best course of treatment is for each woman.
We need to do more than just shop for breast cancer. More than just wave the pink flag, wear our pink t-shirt, point to our pink hat.
Funding mammograms isn’t going to end breast cancer. Feeling smug isn’t going to, either. Please, make this the year that you demand more research into the causes of breast cancer, not just into slash, burn, and poison treatments that treat all breast cancers the same because we can’t tell how they’re different. Spend your money on a stamp and write a letter to your senator.
Cancer isn’t pretty, and it sure as hell isn’t pink. Don’t let the “cause” marketing geniuses rope you in and shut you up. Show them you’re smart enough to pass by the pink and take charge of your own health. Your life may depend on it.
— Lori
Categories: Breast Cancer, Women
