I wear pink. I wear pink because it is my favorite color. I
especially like the pastel shades.
It’s October.
For a few years after I was diagnosed I wore a pink ribbon
pin every day during the month of October. I even gave out pink ribbon pins.
Over the past two years I have learned that breast cancer
is not about awareness. It is not pink footballs and ribbons on food packaging.
The truth is that cancer, any type of cancer can and does kill. When it comes
to breast cancer in the U.S., over 40,000 women are expected to die this year
alone. Additionally, it is estimated that over 2,300 men will be diagnosed with
breast cancer in 2015. And 85% of breast cancer occurs in women with no family
history of breast cancer. [www.breastcancer.org].
My friend Linda is
one of this year’s statistics. A statistic that has remained relatively
unchanged in 40 years. [See Ann Silberman's blog].
As a result of my very real experience with breast cancer
and breast cancer death, my perspective has changed. It has changed from one of
pink cheerleading to one of avid research supporter.
Last year, I lost my pins. Literally. I took that as a
sign. I wear pink because it is my favorite color; not for awareness. We are
aware. What we need is a cure.
If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor. And on Twitter @relucsurvivor.
Amen on the final comment and image!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, ironically in October, a few years ago. She seemed to beat it, yet in 2011, she died from lung cancer - and multiple other cancer cells throughout her body. Doctors surmised they never really got all the cancerous tumors and cells from the breast cancer. I also lost my Dad to lymphoma, back in 2002.
So yes, we are aware, of all kinds of cancer. We should wear colors because we like them. What we need are cures.