What Does Pink Ribbons Mean To You?

[nightlite]

And here are some more articles on it:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2324204/

http://www.thestar.com/article/11248...pretty-in-pink

I'd like to say I'm surprised but I'm not. A lot of the funding goes to salaries (how many times do we hear stories of Charity CEO's raking in huge salaries) and I think it's very hard to find where to donate your money.

[lekate]

I read about this earlier in the fall, I've never bought products for the pink ribbon campaign or any in general. I make donations directly to the charity/hospital/research facility.

I stopped in my tracks when I did read the fine print on a pink ribbon product - "funds go to breast cancer awareness campaigns". I'm pretty certain EVERYONE in North America is aware, let's help the patients and their families!

[Bamboo_Shoots]

In university My girlfriends and I wanted to plan a fundraiser since one of our friend's moms has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer (She survived and is doing great now) And pink ribbon turned us down saying they didn't want any sollicitation done to raise funds... Thought it was weird for a foundation to refuse fundraisers...

[Lynn49]

That organization has gotten too big for their britches!
I just feel so sad for those 'walks' with women all in pink...survivors and their families, raising more money for an institution that is scavenging on their bones! Yes! I feel THAT deeply about it!

[Brandy Hunter]

breast cancer is a treatable disease
too much hype and marketing about it
not all cancer leads to death, especially breast cancer.

[Miss_April]

Just ignore it. Irked me to.

[Brandy Hunter]

Just ignore it. Irked me to.

fine. lol

[frugal50]

why the scatchy head?
this is positive news
My bf works in oncology and the death rate for breast cancer
has dropped significantly.... it's now a treatable disease
I know many women who survived breast cancer
this is progress!

[Lynn49]

why the scatchy head?
this is positive news
My bf works in oncology and the death rate for breast cancer
has dropped significantly.... it's now a treatable disease
I know many women who survived breast cancer
this is progress!

I have no idea about that reaction either, Frugal.
Here'sa few statistics that may clear things up a bit...they're US figures but I'm sure it's not significantly different in Canada:

TRUTH: Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the U.S. Almost every minute, a woman in the U.S. dies from heart disease. Nearly five times as many women (200,000) will die from heart attacks alone this year than will die from breast cancer


Since 1984, more women than men have died of heart disease each year. Women have a 28% increased risk of dying as compared to men to die within the first year after a heart attack.

Heart disease threatens all women, even those as young as 30 and 40.For example, the rate of sudden cardiac death of women in their 30s and 40s is increasing much faster than in men their same age—rising 21 percent in the 1990s.

http://www.womenheart.org/resources/mythstruths.cfm

Your facts are correct: not all breast cancer leads to death, and it's a very treatable disease now, if caught early. Detection, I belive, is the key, rather than the therapies used, which have not changed significantly over the years.

I think that it's SO PC to wear pink and sigh, and nod in agreement with everything pink, that it's hard for women to see what the real culprit is that is KILLING us!

You said nothing wrong.

[lekate]

Oh I read somewhere saying that breast cancer is so "marketable" because it's something everyone loves (men for attraction) and because of the milk/breastfeeding thing/life, etc.

Try and market prostate cancer (making waves now but considering the pink campaign has been around for about two decades....)

[Lynn49]

So true...breast cancer is a sexier appeal for funds.
Although few would admit it.

[frugal50]

So true...breast cancer is a sexier appeal for funds.
Although few would admit it.

I agree Lynn! even celebs are jumping on the bandwagon about breast cancer.... trying to cash in on the treatable disease, meanwhile.... heart disease is the number #1 killer.

[Miss_April]

Lol.

My reaction is VERY valid for personal reasons. Having watched 2 family members die painful deaths from breast cancer and now a close friend of mine having found a lump on her breast 2 weeks ago. Breast cancer is not just some very treatable cancer that has to much hype and marketing.

This is upsetting me a lot.

So to me, the pink ribbons mean a lot. I wear them all the time. I wear in hopes that they remind women to get breast examinations and not to forget that women are still dying of breast cancer.

[Darth Penguin]

let's not forget approx 10% of breast cancer cases occur in men.

Men have a higher chance of dying since they tend to be less aware of the symptoms and tend to delay treatment due to embarassment factors.

[frugal50]

Oh I read somewhere saying that breast cancer is so "marketable" because it's something everyone loves (men for attraction) and because of the milk/breastfeeding thing/life, etc.

Try and market prostate cancer (making waves now but considering the pink campaign has been around for about two decades....)

yes, I read that same article too
I know women who are breast cancer survivors and they
even agree.... the marketing of breasts is over-exposed
you go to any retail store or CIBC and they're selling everything pink
including kitty litter