This isn't my usual topic of blogging but it is on my mind this month since it is breast cancer awareness month. If I offend anyone, I apologize ahead of time. That is not my intentions.
Breast cancer awareness month gets under my skin. The whole idea of wearing pink and buying pink things drives me crazy. I have nothing against breast cancer. My heart hurts for all those who are battling it or have family members that are battling it or have lost that battle. But what does wearing pink do? I think that most Americans are aware of breast cancer now. I applaud those people who are encouraging early detection as opposed to awareness. That's where our focus should be now. I saw on the news about a radio station who was providing mammograms for the first 107 people who came. That is wonderful. I honestly am not going to do a self exam because the NFL is wearing pink shoes or wristbands. I'm not going to do a self exam because the White House is lit pink for a night. I will do a self exam when I actually learn how to do it. I would like to see a Breast Cancer event where women are taught explicitly how to do a self exam. I don't know how to do one. I have looked at the countless diagrams in magazines and the thing you hang in the shower. But I still don't feel like I know how to do one. (Side note: I did find a video on the Susan G. Komen website that showed how to do a self exam.) Early detection is the key to preventing breast cancer.
I think it is time to move past the breast cancer awareness stage and start making people aware of other terrible diseases and types of cancer. I have a personal stake in this. My uncle died three years ago from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). This is a horrible disease that I knew nothing about until I was affected by it. Since I've been affected by it, I have met other people that have been touched by this horrible disease. There is no cure and no real treatment for it. This is a disease that needs awareness.
There are many different kinds of cancer besides breast cancer that need awareness. We all are affected by disease of some kind. It is important for us to remember that wearing pink or changing our facebook status is not a cure. It isn't even anything but a way to make ourselves feel better. If we want to do something for these diseases, participate in walk or races that raise money.
I want to encourage you to join me in learning how to do a self breast exam and then to do it each month. The only way we can put a dent in breast cancer is early detection.
I have several family members who have been affected by breast cancer, including one who is battling it now. I see your point that wearing pink in and of itself doesn't achieve much, but I must say that the hoopla surrounding the month led me to raise $120 last month for cancer treatment and research. I know that it isn't much, but I am almost certain that I would not have been motivated to raise any at all had it not been for the pink.
ReplyDeleteMy point wasn't to discount anyone raising money or battling with the disease. My point was that there is a lot more to preventing and curing a disease than wearing pink or changing a facebook status. Raising money is great way to do that. I thought about this a lot after I wrote about it and I think I changed my mind a little about the pink. It just frustrates me how much attention breast cancer gets when there are so many other types of cancer and diseases that aren't treatable. Breast cancer is so treatable because of all the awareness. I just think it's time to spread the love and get the word out about other cancers and diseases. Thanks for the comment.
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