Breast Cancer: My Big Pink Protest
October 16, 2008, by Cathy Fischer
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past couple of weeks, you probably are well aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. With one out of every eight women in America diagnosed with the disease, either you or at least one friend or relative you know has had it. I became “aware” of my breast cancer on May 23, this year. It was the day my life changed.
Most of my friends and family know, but I haven’t wanted to blog about it. I really don’t want to be the poster child. When my friend Ilana sent an email with the subject line that said, “Free Yoga Classes for Cancer Survivors,” I thought, why is she sending that to me? Oh yeah, right.
I didn’t sign up for this club, but now I find I am a card-carrying member. I’m doing really well, eight weeks past my second surgery. I got off easy, relatively speaking: I donated two breasts to science, but got away with no chemo, no radiation. I’ve an amazing team of doctors and strategists who have helped me navigate this medical journey. And an equally amazing band of angels, earthly and otherwise, watching over me, protecting me, gifting me, helping me day to day, showing me that I am loved and supported. I seem to have kept my sense of humor through it all—not that I haven’t cried.
But I’ve got to tell you I’m not buying into this big pink thing. The ribbons, the tchotchkes—I find it a bit irritating actually. I know I know. Money is being raised for good causes—sometimes—and other times, it’s just about manufacturers finding a way to make a buck that also makes them look good. Pink golf clubs. Pink boxing gloves. Pink rhinestone flip-flops. Pink, pink, pink! And some businesses only donate a pittance of their profits. Sheesh!
But not all goes unchecked. Through this great organization, Breast Cancer Action, I’ve recently learned of pinkwashers:
Pinkwasher: (pink’-wah-sher) noun
A company that purports to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon campaign, but manufactures products that are linked to the disease.
That is just not good.
BCA has a campaign called “Think Before You Pink.” This year they’ve chosen Yoplait:
“Yoplait is urging consumers to buy its yogurt in the name of breast cancer. But what’s under the lid might not be so good for our health—it’s actually made with milk from cows that have been treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH.”
They also list questions to ask before buying pink ribbon products. Yes! Now that’s what I call awareness!
I realize that I’ve benefited from the great strides made in medical research over the past five years—which I’m sure has in some part been funded by the “parade of pink”. Still, this pink thing just rankles me, and I feel that I’ve earned the right to say so.
I guess I’m not a joiner. I don’t belong to a support group and I didn’t wear the “survivor” T-shirt or take a bow at the Walk. It’s this man-made/chemical/environmental cancer thing that’s got me riled up. Dealing with the cause is really important and it seems as though the mainstream cancer organizations are mostly focused on the cure.
Research papers are white and so are lab coats, hormone-free yogurt too. And then there’s white light. I’m thinking white is the new pink. That works for me.
Read Cathy’s January 2009 update, “Wigging Out” >>
February 9, 2009: Breast Cancer Action announced today that their Think Before You Pink campaign has resulted in a landmark announcement by General Mills that, by August, all of its Yoplait products will be produced with milk that has not been stimulated with rBGH.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:36 am
sick o’the pink myself. lets get down to the whys and wherefores and leave the fashion accessories to Project Runway models and wannabes. In my own universe I have or have had 7 people close to me with the disease, 3 family members and 4 chosen family members. Whats it going to take. I’m sending a check to Breast Cancer Action today!!!!! You my girl!
October 16th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Yay Cathy! I couldn’t agree more, the donate by consuming/ feel good about shopping model has always felt not quite right to me, and when it’s exploited to promote a product that might actually be contributing to the problem – it is just so wrong. And yay to the BCA, who sound like an organisation well worth supporting.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I almost never buy to “save”. Tho’ I did buy a “Save the Ta-Ta’s” mug and T-shirt for breast cancer awareness because they just cracked me up. I agree, Cathikins, that attacking the cause really needs to live on an equal plain with finding a cure. And who decides which color gets assigned to which movement anyway? I’d have never gone pink. A lovely sage, perhaps….And, for the record, you’ve become one of my personal heroes through this whole awful ordeal. Grace and humor, baby…that’s so you.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:18 am
No need to be a poster child for breast cancer; you’re already a poster child for The Most Fabulous Woman in California!
October 16th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I totally second what cfnhollywood says! You are THE MOST FABULOUS WOMAN (but here I disagree with her) not just in California girlfriend but the whole damn world! But I would buy a tee or mug that says “Save Second Base.”
October 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hey there gals,
Yes, I agree…put your money where your mouth is and bring consciousness to the many enviromental causes that add to ill health. I have to say though….the pink thing has really brought breast cancer awareness to my 10 year old, and she is very compassionate about it when she sees it…..and very relieved that Cathy is healthy!
October 16th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
You are so right on, as usual! Is capitalism so embedded in our lives that we cannot promote awareness — and even compassion — without someone making a buck? Thank you for making us all rethink pink. Glad you are our guiding light.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
It’s obvious I’ve got smart, sassy, supportive peeps around me, just by your comments alone. Thank you everyone for making my world a better place by propping me up and making me smile.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Cathy, you are the white light and you receive what you give. Keep on shining your light, baby. We love you so much….Ethan, Jono, Lizi, Rick and Julie.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:54 am
You have poignantly identified the problem: when a serious cause is more identified by its symbols than its substance. No doubt about it the “Pink” thing captured awareness and was a brilliant symbol for a successful wakeup campaign. Now its time to take it further and go into deeper investigation of the causes. As Cat suggests, let’s shine a big white light on that need.
October 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Baby Boomer Bloggers May One Day Rule the Web…
October 21st, 2008 at 1:37 pm
From one member of the club to another, I thank you!
October 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Absolutely brilliant.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
F-ing Yoplait.
Cathy, you rock. Totally.
February 5th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Fact: Unfortunately, Breast Cancer is a business, one like no other. Like Christmas or Thanksgiving, Breast Cancer Month is a huge commercial holiday, a month to ‘Think Pink’ all the way to the bank- with Companies aggressively capitalizing on the distress and suffering of those who have/had breast cancer. It’s done under the guise of raising awareness- Oh yeah, breast cancer is big on the list of money making cancers.
It has always been my contention that the main concern of the Pharmaceutical & insurance companies, the doctors, et al- is treating cancer rather than establishing concrete ways of preventing it or curing it… Stop it before it becomes a problem. They put a man on the moon, why can’t they find a cure for cancer after all these years.
If companies really want to help, they can do so by firstly, eliminating all the poisonous chemicals & gases that’s found in everything everywhere around us and our kids; in our clothes, food, drinks, fruits, carpets, laundry, etc. and coming up with a cure for all cancers; but they won’t do it due to loss of revenue. It’s a multi- billion dollar business- Pink is just a piece of the pie. You can’t get away from the pink- folks will give you pink everything once they realize you are a breast cancer survivor- I try to remember that they mean well. Like your perspective on pink. Thanks.