Comments on: Why I’m Not "Going Pink"

By: The Nay-Sayers

The Nay-Sayers — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 05:20:07 +0000

[…] it has been busy since I posted about breast cancer. I realize that I rather glad it worked out this way. My statement against the national pinkwashing […]

By: Erin Pitts

Erin Pitts — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:52:40 +0000

"A study by Yale University researchers showed that women who breastfed for two years or longer reduced their risk of breast cancer by 50 percent." http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_breast_cancer.htmlWhy isn't this preventative measure EVER stated my the big pushers of mammograms? The easiest, safest, most beneficial think women cab do for their babies also happens to be the best way to date to avoid Breast Cancer. Why isn't that shouted from the roof tops, put on billboards, t-shirts and facebook pages? Yes not all women chose to have children and yes some women can't breastfeed, but how many lives could be saved by emphasizing this fact?

By: Eugenia

Eugenia — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:17:38 +0000

Wow, you seem exceptionally bitter. I was very disturbed to see the link to this blog on a family member's Facebook page. Based on your rationale, it appears we also don't need a month for Black History, nor Child Abuse Awareness, nor Domestic Violence, nor any other cause that has a month designated for it. Who says that October is the ONLY month one can think about breast cancer? Just as with other causes, it's a month dedicated to that particular issue. As far as Susan G Komen–if my sister were to make it her life mission to find a cure for a disease that killed me, B.R.A.V.O. for her! Have you seen their books to know how their money is being spent? And as far as "knowing my risks and reducing them," how would you want me to go about eliminating a family history of breast cancer? And had it not been for breast cancer awareness month, stories about men suffering from breast cancer would continue to go unreported or receive less attention than women. But once again, since this month spotlights breast cancer, many people are speaking up.As far as memes on facebook, I feel just as I do when people make comments about my regular status: If you don't like what I have to say, please get off my page. Boycott facebook and refuse to continue having an account if you don't like what happens on there

[Note from Sherri: I have removed a mean-spirited comment made by Eugenia about the person who linked to my blog post her Facebook page. Really, fine, trash my post if you want. If want to trash the person who linked to me, take it up with them and not in some comments here.]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:31:41 +0000

Also – being a health and fitness professional myself – I don’t know what rock you’ve been living under but I can tell you that since I have been in the workplace and involved with fitness there has be an exorbitant amount of focus placed on the “health-seeker” and prevention of not only diseases like cancer but also diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, etc. The list is endless and the horse has been beaten to death with what the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise are for individuals with these issues or those who are looking to prevent those issues. Again, straight from the American Cancer Society’s website: http://www.cancer.org/Research/ResearchProgramsFunding/BehavioralResearchCenter/TheImportanceofBehaviorinCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/the-importance-of-behavior-in-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection.Your argument that “After all, Komen manages to blithely take in thousands in contributions from the very chemical companies who market products that cause breast cancer! They put on these hugely expensive races and events that push mammograms and say nothing about the causes or prevention.” Just shows your nieveity on the American thirst for money and entertainment. How do you think they attract these people? Ever heard of the phrase you have to spend money to make it? Well, it’s embodied in what you are claiming is so devilish of a practice. They put out the money and they make much more in return. Besides all this – I think my biggest problem with your argument is that you take ZERO time to stop and think of the people who are most closely associated with this movement: The SURVIVORS. What do you think it would feel like to be told you only have so much time to live? What about your wife? What will she do without you? These are questions that people struggle with every day when they get their own diagnosis. Paramount even to the survivors is those who do not survive? Are their lives worthless? Did they mean nothing? I bet you that there are a lot of people who would argue with you that they weren’t worthless and their lives meant a lot – and guess what: those people show up, they donate, they wear pink, they support the cause and they don’t complain that their tired of hearing the message even if it has become a mainstay. Get over yourself.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:31:16 +0000

I just wanted to add to the discussion. Hopefully this will get posted as it's a legitimate argument by a non-anonymous poster. First off, Pink is a color that has historically been closely associated with women since birth – look to when young girls are born – pink socks, pink hat, etc. Of course this color would be a common-sense choice for a disease that is so closely related to women. On that point though, you're right, women aren't the only ones who are affected by breast cancer and just because pink is the primary color of the awareness movement and men are not as heavily focused on is no reason to dismiss it completely. What I have a problem with is you using that argument to dismiss the fact that "Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000." – This comes directly from the American Cancer Society's website: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancerinMen/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-in-men-key-statistics. How can you look in the face of that reality and say that the breast cancer awareness movement is wrong or not worthwhile? As a previous post stated – the “facebook bra/purse” thing is not alone in the silly things that have been among the “cut-paste” status updates. There have been many others for many other different things. Who are you to say that something is completely worthless or without merit when there are many awareness “movements” out there that have more of an impact on an even smaller number of people? Are they worthless as well? Do those people matter less? Do those people matter more? Who is to say? My suggestion is that you wake up to the fact that you live in America, a capitalist society where making money is #1 and social responsibility is #2. We don’t live in a time where people stand up and fight anymore – more often than not they stand with just the one who created the problem (and profited) and work to find viable solutions/assistance for those affected by the original problem. Also – you claim the disorganization of funding of research? What do you think has happened over the “annoying” period of time that the breast cancer awareness movement has begun? You think it’s gotten less organized? Less supported? Social responsibility programs of capitalist firms haven’t popped up everywhere? Hello, NFL? Since Americans are obsessed with money and entertainment how many millions do you think the NFL has donated in time and money among the BILLIONS perhaps, trillions that they make each and every year? Shall we sit on our hands and not take what’s given or should we be thankful that anyone even cares a little? If everyone felt the way you do – there would be no awareness, there would be no donations, etc. TO BE CONTINUED IN SECOND POST

By: Keely G

Keely G — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:57:37 +0000

Men get Breast Cancer too! Pale blue ribbon for the Men and their families!!!!

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 09:57:04 +0000

Thank you very much for this article, I totally agree with you!

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:39:32 +0000

This is ridiculous. It's not about "Pink". It's about reminding people to go out and get their exams, take care of themselves, and support our loved ones that either survived or didn't. Why not have a common theme to remind people to do this? This is the most ignorant cancer related opinion I've ever heard. You can't bash "awareness." Come on. I'm pink and proud of it.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 09:42:56 +0000

Excellent. Apart from not wanting tell the opportunist where I might keep my purse, I am completely aware of Breast Cancer. I have had friends who died from it others who have had multiple operations . I am aware.

By: Anna B

Anna B — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:15:59 +0000

I appreciate your turning an eye to prevention as well. http://www.promom.org/101/ Numbers 4 and 6 on this list are greats ways to prevent breast cancer in the first place. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338838I know not everyone has the chance to nurse their babies, but every month counts. After five total years of breastfeeding, breast cancer risk is nearly 0%.http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/4/619.abstract