This is a month about which I have mixed feelings. I am part of a sisterhood now, like it or not. Part of a club that you are glad exists and who will welcome you with open arms, minds, and hearts but which you never want to join or have to welcome anyone else into.
While I do appreciate the attention breast cancer gets, I want EVERY kind of cancer to get attention. I want it ALL to be GONE forever. I want a CURE for everyone who suffers from ANY type of cancer once and for all.
Sometimes I feel bad for people with other types of cancer, they aren't talked about nearly as much...they aren't as 'popular'. I've never seen a run or walk for, say, colon cancer. As far as I know, there isn't a Colon Cancer Awareness Month...although there might be since Katie Couric is one of their spokespeople. The sad truth is your disease gets a lot more attention if a celebrity or someone they love gets it too.
Sometimes I feel guilty about wearing or displaying the pink ribbon even though I know I shouldn't feel that way. I know survivors who hate the pink ribbon (and October) with a passion. I know survivors who hate the word 'survivor' (I'm actually not too fond of it myself).
I was at a survivor's luncheon back before I was diagnosed this time and I was seated at a table with nine other women. One of these women was a beautiful, sophisticated older woman. She had been diagnosed about 30 years ago and was talking about how we should be grateful that people openly talk about breast cancer now as opposed to when she was diagnosed. She was saying that you didn't say the 'C' word back then, much less talk about *gasp* breasts. She was saying that it's so much more socially acceptable and how that is such a positive and healthy thing for all women and girls, she was happy that it was different for us than it was for her. Just looking around this huge room filled with 1,200 people who had all been touched in one way or another by this disease she and I agreed that it was so sad that her younger self never got that kind of love, acceptance, and support. It's something that makes you feel less alone and less scared.
Yes, breast cancer has a cute little pink ribbon as its symbol, but this insidious disease is anything but cute. Regardless, it is Breast Cancer Awareness month all month, so brace yourselves for pink ribbon overload. Even more so than usual, the pink ribbons will be everywhere. All of the October issues of magazines will have breast cancer articles in them, it'll even be on TV.
Don't get me wrong, I honestly do believe that these are all good things...if it reminds just one woman to do a self-exam or get a mammogram then it's a very good thing. If it saves just one life, then it's an excellent thing. If someone sees me with a cute little pink ribbon on my car or on my shirt and it helps them feel less scared or alone, then that's good enough for me.
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