My story: What Breast Cancer Awareness Month means to me
- 09/28/18
Every year, people, companies and organizations around the country recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The occasion brings a wave of attention to breast cancer, but many of those affected have mixed feelings about it.
Here, four women share their impressions of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: what is good about it, what they hope for it and what frustrates them.
Dara Insley, 48
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Diagnosed with stage IIIc hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
What I hate the month for:
I hate that the whole month is sexualized with memes and ads that make breast cancer out to be sexy. I have many friends living with metastatic breast cancer, so it’s potentially a whole body disease. It’s not just about breasts.
I also hate that wherever I go there is another pink ribbon on another product that may or may not actually support any kind of cancer help. I’m already aware and dislike the visual reminders of my own disease!
On the other hand, I am frustrated with everyone hating Breast Cancer Awareness Month because their X, Y or Z can-cer/disease/cause doesn’t get the same attention. Just because I got breast cancer and it’s popular for a month every year doesn’t mean I don’t care about other causes.
What I love the month for:
It has caused many a woman to remember her self-exams, to get a mammogram, or to see her doctor about “this lump,” which is exactly what good comes directly out of the month: awareness that it can be happening in your own body, not that it happens only to other people!
And, that some of the products do support various good and worthy breast cancer causes like Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
Wanda Johnson, 62
Houston, Texas
Diagnosed with stage IIa, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer
Historical events have played an important role bringing breast cancer to the limelight, sharing the message that it is no longer a taboo subject, highlighting the importance of research and need for funding, and let’s not forget fundraising for the cause.
It has been extremely important to focus on the role of early detection for the prevention and successful treatment of breast cancer. However, so much more needs to be done to educate and encourage those impacted so they can take their journeys from a perspective of hope rather than despair.
There needs to be more messages about access to care and the types of resources available in the clinic and beyond to assist survivors’ progress through their journeys with the hope of a better quality of life. Add to this list education about the availability and importance of participating in clinical trials and research studies while in treatment and beyond, because every person who receives a diagnosis of breast cancer is a beneficiary of previous successes and should participate at some level as a contribution to those who will be diagnosed after them.
Ilene Fogelman, 51
Weston, Florida
Diagnosed with stage IV, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
Jessica Shephard, 36
Tampa, Florida
Diagnosed with stage IIb, triple-negative breast cancer
Since my own diagnosis of cancer, I have started to think there is nothing wrong with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but the “awareness” piece has gotten washed out and it doesn’t go deep enough into the disease. It barely skims the surface. I know other survivors who share the same sentiment.
I share the names of those organizations that directly helped me during my diagnosis, treatment and even post-cancer on my blog and on my social media pages. I feel it is especially important to share these during a time when many are adding pink ribbons to their profile picture and while our pizza is delivered in cute pink boxes.
Before handing over money to an organization that says it’s for “breast cancer,” I ask that my friends and followers take an extra 5 minutes to use sites such as Charity Navigator to see how that organization distributes its donations.