30 facts in 30 days, Day 7

About a year ago, a list of the 50 worst charities in America was released, and 5 of them are pink. From paying for professional fundraisers to lining their own pockets, these are some NOT to send your hard-earned cash.

http://vitaminw.co/news/breast-cancer-scams-worst-charities-include-5-pink-types

I think tomorrow when I have more time (I just got a really nice wholesale order from a big fiber company!!), I'll talk more about lymphedema, since that's what I'm personally struggling with at the moment. 

30 facts in 30 days: Day 6

Can you imagine, in the midst of all the pink and sexualized slogans, being a man with breast cancer? While comparatively rare, men can – and do – get breast cancer. Cute slactivist social media games that admonish "keep it secret from the men" only serve to further marginalize men, when they should be included and educated."

"...men make up about 1 percent of all invasive breast cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society. Each year, that amounts to about 2,400 new cases scattered across the country. About 430 men are expected to die from the disease this year."

"I never... would have thought that a man could get breast cancer."

30 facts in 30 days, Day 5

Since the month is young and many people are asking "then what CAN I do?" I'm sharing a post from the founder of Badass Survivors, Melanie Childers. Short post from me today - please read her words.

Don't buy pink: 5 ways to make a real difference for breast cancer

30 facts in 30 days, Day 4

I'm kinda cheating on today's post, guys - I'm sharing something from Kathi Kolb, aka The Accidental Amazon. I really want to get into the marginalization of folks with mets/Stage IV and the pathetic lack of funding for metastatic breast cancer, but I don't have the energy right now. Ironically, it's because of my own cancer treatment side effects: I'm having a very painful lymphedema flare. So I'm going to give you Kathi's post, and in the days to come I'll talk about mets, and also about lymphedema.

When any of us is first diagnosed with breast cancer, one of our first visceral reactions is fear. And there is a good reason for that. Close to a third of those of us who are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer will develop mets. Even for those of us diagnosed with DCIS, non-invasive breast cancer, up to 10% will develop invasive breast cancer, and that 10% will then be at a 30% risk for developing mets. And yet, a miniscule percentage of research funds goes to finding effective treatment, prevention and cures for metastatic breast cancer.

From Metastatic Breast Cancer by The Accidental Amazon

30 facts in 30 days, Day 3

Melanie Childers of Badass Survivors shared this yesterday on Facebook, and I told her that it would be today's fact.

From We're Aware - Now What? A patient's perspective on the need for research, a Healthline article by Ann Silberman of But Doctor, I hate pink!

The Susan G. Komen Foundation (also known as Komen), by far the largest breast cancer charity, only donates 17 percent of their millions to fund research grants. And MBCN estimates that less than five percent of all charitable money goes towards research for metastases, the only form of breast cancer that kills. The rest of the money is funneled back into awareness and education. Races are sponsored, literature is distributed, breast self-exams are advertised, and of course, mammogram machines for clinics are funded. But little is spent to help save those who are dying in the last stages of the disease.

Most people are unaware of the reality of breast cancer, but even fewer are aware of the reality of stage IV/metastatic breast cancer. It's not an instant death sentence as it once was. Many people - because men get breast cancer too - live for years with stage IV breast cancer, changing treatments each time the current one stops working. Sadly, not only are stage IV patients marginalized by the lack of funding, but also by other patients. It's HARD to talk about, and a lot of early-stage patients, frankly, don't want to be confronted by their worst fears.

I think more on this will be tomorrow's fact. 

30 Facts in 30 Days, Day 2

How about something practical you can do in just a minute?

From Breast Cancer Action: 

More than 20 years after the introduction of the pink ribbon, breast cancer “awareness” has become a multibillion-dollar industry that benefits corporations more than women’s health. This flood of products and the widespread culture of “pink” have hijacked the breast cancer movement.

Join breast cancer activists from across the country and send a letter to corporations that are responsible for some of the most outrageous pink ribbon promotions.

Together we demand that they Stop the Distraction and turn instead toward clear alternatives that can truly make a difference to all women, from all communities who are at risk of and living with breast cancer.

Click the link above and add your name! Then, when you see other offenders, ask to see a manager. Politely ask if they have any idea where the money from the tchotchkes goes, and if they don't, ask for the number to corporate. Please, please, don't direct your righteous anger at them - these types of things come from head offices, not local branches of major companies!

Yesterday I was at Walgreens, and when I was checking out, the screen asked if I wanted to add a donation to Komen for the Cure. Of course the answer is HELL NO, but I gave the clerk a really quick "why Komen sucks" which he had no idea about. (See this 2012 post from Kathi Kolb, aka The Accidental Amazon for more.) I went to the front counter and asked the ladies there - gave them a little bit more information, doing my best not to word-vomit on them, and asked who I could get in touch with. They told me that the best number is the one on my receipt, and that I'd either be able to speak to someone directly, or told where to write. I'm going to make that phone call today, and will edit when I have more information. My plan is to ask if whoever makes these decisions has any idea the controversy surrounding Komen, and whether they would consider switching to a different organization, like Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.

More tomorrow!

"Happy" Pinktober, aka 30 Facts in 30 Days

It's Pinktober! And you know what that means. A plethora of largely-meaningless pink ribbons abounds everywhere you look. As a self-professed research junkie and pink-hater, I've decided to present 30 facts in 30 days to counteract the misleading bounciness of those happy smiling faces that often accompany the ribbons. I'll probably talk about other stuff too (hello, painful lymphedema flare), but in the meantime, here's Day One of Pinktober:

30 facts in 30 days Day 1: "From the beginning, the pink ribbon connoting breast cancer awareness has been embroiled in controversy. Today, some members of the movement wear it proudly, giving thanks for both the symbol and its attendant charity-dollar largesse. Others hate it with a passion. But to much of the media and the world at large, the ribbon is the breast cancer movement. Where did the ribbon come from, where is it going, and what has it meant along the way?"

Think Before You Pink: A History of the Pink Ribbon

Think Before You Pink » History of the Pink Ribbon

The woman was 68-year-old Charlotte Haley, the granddaughter, sister, and mother of women who had battled breast cancer. Her peach-colored loops were handmade in her dining room.

THINKBEFOREYOUPINK.ORG

I encourage you to do your own research, to make sure you understand where your dollars are going before you spend them on pink ribbon-adorned items.