My Little Drummer Boys: What I think about Pink.

Thursday, 2 October 2014

What I think about Pink.

I celebrate the diversity of life and that we make up our own minds when we make a purchase.

It's Pinktober again.

I've come to dislike the plethora of pink merchandise - commercialism of pink ribbon and breast cancer for profit.

I'm just over two years out from my Breast cancer and two days into October I've seen some bizarre campaigns to promote awareness or in the name of donating to research.

Several breast cancer bloggers I follow are disgusted about one hotel chain's plan to raise money and awareness for breast cancer - by promoting a woman in a provocative pose with their “Get into Bed for the Cause” campaign offering guests luxurious pink sheets, pink robes ...

I am just as appalled.

Each year an increasing number of pink products are being pumped out and pimped with a pretty pink ribbon.

Breastless and bald doesn't make an advertising campaign. The all things pink and pink ribbon has been hijacked by some ~~unscrupulous and~~ well meaning companies whose purpose is to boost sales, push products on the public because they will donate 10 cents to cancer research or awareness.

Yes, while contributing only a fraction of the profits they proceed to lure people into buying for a good cause - yet are you really donating to charity or to the cure ?

Make a bigger difference by donating directly to your Cancer charity of choice.

We're aware. Please find a cure for my friends diagnosed with 'terminal' secondary (breast and other) cancers that will ultimately cut short their life and give them grief and suffering trying to outlive the treatment.

Many were diagnosed early and it made no difference. The cure is what we need.

This is what breast cancer really looks like, not a woman in bed, legs in the air - adorned in a pink robe.

I'm a survivor of life, and all its challenges so far . I don't know if I will survive my two different cancers. I say I had Breast cancer , if someone wants to know and I'm a warrior not quite a survivor. I will live in it's shadows always.

My battle scars from the storms and wars I've weathered remind me every day. There is no avoiding it I feel even when my clothes cover the scars.

♥

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sandykay66 35p · 561 weeks ago

Trish I applaud your honesty and bravery! Incredible post.

"Breastless and bald doesn't make an advertising campaign". Well said!

"Make a bigger difference by donating directly to your Cancer charity of choice." Exceptionally well said!

Here's to the hope of one day living without the 'monkey on our backs' that clings to us all our living days after a cancer diagnosis in so many diverse and confronting ways. Xxx

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1 reply · active 561 weeks ago

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Trish 114p · 561 weeks ago

Thank you Sandra and that is my wish to slay that monkey for good.

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Lisa · 561 weeks ago

Hi Trish. Yes, it's Pinktober again. As a 10 year survivor I must say that all the pink and the glamorization of breast cancer is really a bitter pill when I see the results of the treatment that has kept me alive for 10 years. But yesterday I got to sit a table in our benefits fair and sign women up for screening mammograms. It gave me a platform to talk to a lot of people about breast cancer and breast health. It also met a few of my co-workers who are also survivors. I was able to point them to a breast cancer rehabilitation center in our neighborhood that is funded by Komen, Avon and Kroger. Without Pinktober I doubt I would ever get this platform. If it makes it so that I can help other women possibly avoid chemo I will put on the stupid pink ribbon and go with the flow.
My recent post Occupy Pinktober: Repost of Telling Knots Post Pushing Up Daisies by Tracy Willis

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2 replies · active 561 weeks ago

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Trish 114p · 561 weeks ago

Thank you Lisa and you did a great job.
I do go with the flow because part of me hopes that , those dollars will be the ones that find a cure for metastatic cancer in all forms .
In the last 2 weeks I've been asked to speak publicly at the local Relay for Life and to the local papers (twice) on my cancer 'journey' (different aspects).Though I break into a sweat at the thought of public speaking (haha I tell hundeds on my blog/social media) and sharing my personal story I overcame the fear .
I still hope it made sense and the reporter got it right (she muddled things up last week).

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Lisa · 561 weeks ago

I'm sure that if you speak like you write, you did fine. Thank you for your comments. I do very limited public speaking, only to people whom I know well. Otherwise, I volunteer for video, sound and lighting. I understand your stance that all cancers deserve funding. So far I have only been diagnosed with a few basal cell sarcomas and I understand that isn't anything like what you have. I have choked up and cried about the torture that small children have to endure to treat leukemia. We all need a cure. My mother died of malignant melanoma, three uncles and my grandfather of pancreatic cancer, my grandmother of lymphoma and a brother in law of lung cancer. We all need cures. But breast cancer is the only one I can speak too. I hate the glamorization, but I love that platform. That other cancers and diseases get ignored make me sick. But I want not only a cure for breast cancer, but a prevention so my daughter isn't facing what I did. I wish the war on cancer was already won, but I'm glad that the nation isn't calling for us to pull out the troops. My hopes is that if we continue to make our voice heard we can work toward that cure.

My recent post Occupy Pinktober: Repost of Telling Knots Post Pushing Up Daisies by Tracy Willis

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kittenflower 2p · 561 weeks ago

That's so true! There's so many products that offer a donation to charity from our purchases, usually 5c, sometimes a whopping 10c! I know people who've bought things they couldn't really afford because a tiny margin was going to cancer research. I would love to see real progress, real contributions.
My recent post I Will Stop Those Mean Bugs!

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sammie71 49p · 561 weeks ago

Bravo, Trish. Well said. You're so right, if we want our pennies to pack a punch, we really should be donating to our cancer charity of choice. Thank you for being a brave and inspirational voice of reason. Here's to findiing a cure and getting out of the shadows.
My recent post Bumbu Bali Cooking Class – How to Become a Balinese Masterchef

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havealaughonme 84p · 561 weeks ago

I agree that it's sad that so many companies appear to also be cashing in on this Trish...(and just quickly, in regards to reporter telling your story, maybe ask to see it? As a journo I know I would much rather get the facts straight... can't hurt to ask) Em xx

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Alicia · 559 weeks ago

You make an excellent point in the way we should be donating when it comes to cancer. It's opened my eyes to the wiley ways of some businesses.
My recent post A dusty Pines Enduro

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Thursday, 2 October 2014

What I think about Pink.

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