Welcome to
October! And, we all know what that means. That’s right, it’s time for pink,
for the grandmother of all “awareness” campaigns, it’s breast cancer
“awareness” month. As an aside, October is also liver cancer awareness month,
but I guarantee that we won’t see any emerald green ribbons wrapped around
trees or on lapels.
For the next
month, the world will be festooned in pink ribbons, a veritable tidal wave of
pink will send those gold (childhood cancer) and teal (ovarian cancer) ribbons
from last month spiraling to the depths of the awareness ocean. Did you see a
yellow or teal ribbon on a box of cereal in September? No. Well, then, it’s
time to ask why. I am sure that when I head to Shop-Rite next week, I will see
plenty of pink merchandise. There will be “awareness days” at baseball and
football games; there will be golf events for a “cure” and plenty of races or
walks for a “cure.” Here’s the thing, though.
There is no cure
for breast cancer or any cancer, for that matter.
I’ll let that sink
in for a moment.
There. Is. No.
Cure.
Ribbons and
“awareness” don’t change that fact.
Is cancer
treatable? Absolutely. Many people are treated successfully, go into remission,
and continue to live their lives. Am I
one of them? I’d like to think so. I’ve had cancer. Twice. I had Hodgkin’s
lymphoma, diagnosed when I was 14 in 1981. So, I was a member of the childhood
cancer club, long before the gold ribbon thing. I was diagnosed with breast cancer
last year when I was 49. It was caught early during my annual mammo and
ultrasound. My treatment was successful. And yet, and yet, I don’t pretend for
one single moment that this can’t change. It’s insidious, cancer.
One in three
breast cancer patients has metastatic or Stage IV disease. That means that the
cancer has spread from the breast to someplace else. It can happen any time; it
can be an initial diagnosis or can be diagnosed months or years after
completing treatment. It can happen even if the original breast cancer was
caught “early.” No one knows why this happens. Almost no one survives
metastatic disease. If you know someone who has died from cancer, that person
died from metastatic disease. Yet, notwithstanding that one-third of all breast
cancer patients will be diagnosed with metastatic disease; according to
Metavivor, only 2 to 5% of all money for breast cancer research is dedicated to
metastatic disease.
This year, if you
want to make a difference in the fight against cancer, please consider
supporting organizations that actually are putting dollars to work to find a
cure or that are providing direct support to cancer patients. Ask the important
questions: Where does the money go? Who does the money help? Use Charity Navigator to verify a charity’s
accountability. Here are some ideas:
If you know
someone who was recently diagnosed or is in treatment, and you want to help,
but are not sure how or what to do, may I suggest offering specific support,
such as an offer to come to treatment, go for a walk or go out for coffee; to
help with grocery shopping or laundry following surgery; and, of course, meals
always are appreciated (as long as you clear taste preferences which can go
wonky during treatment), as are cards or notes. I saved every single one that I
received. They still make me smile.
If you want to splurge, then consider these great companies and organizations, all started and run by survivors:
·
AnaOno Intimates: A lingerie and loungewear
company designing exclusively for those who've had breast reconstruction,
breast surgery, mastectomy or are living with other conditions that cause pain
or discomfort, www.anaono.com.
·
Diva for a Day: Nominate someone to be a “Diva”
and she'll have a beautiful, restorative day, www.divaforaday.org.
·
Fighting Pretty: “Pretty Packages” are care
packages intended to empower women battling cancer to feel strong, beautiful and
fierce, www.fightingpretty.org.
Cancer happens. Cancer sucks. Cancer kills -- too many, too young, too soon.
We need to come together to make a difference.
We need to move beyond the ribbons.
We need a cure.
Our lives are depending on it.
In Memory Of --
Nan A., Breast Cancer
Patrice B., Pancreatic Cancer
Ted B., Liver Cancer
Patrice B., Pancreatic Cancer
Ted B., Liver Cancer
Bob C., Prostate Cancer
Champagne Joy, Breast Cancer
Lorraine M., Breast Cancer
Peter M., Brain Cancer
Jim O., Throat Cancer
Thomas W., Pancreatic Cancer
Thomas W., Pancreatic Cancer
In Support & Honor Of --
Erica A., Breast Cancer
Mark B., Prostate Cancer
Lorry B., Breast Cancer
Steph B., Breast Cancer
Karen B., Breast Cancer
Liz B., Breast Cancer
Chiara D., Breast Cancer
Lauren D., Breast Cancer
Dana D., Breast Cancer
Gina D., Breast Cancer
Peggy G., Lymphoma
Karen G., Breast Cancer
Dana H., Breast & Ovarian Cancer
Maureen J., Breast Cancer
Tom K., Melanoma
Mary K., Breast Cancer
Nancy L., Breast Cancer
Melanie L., Breast Cancer
Shea L., Lymphoma
Lori M., Lymphoma
Peggy M., Breast Cancer
Brendan M., Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Laura M., Breast Cancer
Diane M., Breast & Lung Cancer
Susie M., Breast Cancer
Nora M., Ovarian Cancer
Mike M., Bladder Cancer
Christie O., Breast Cancer
Rachel P., Breast Cancer
Maria R., Breast Cancer
Cassandra S., Breast Cancer
Jen S., Lymphoma
Joanne W., Breast Cancer
Karen W., Breast Cancer
