Breast Cancer Awareness Month feels like one long month of industry advertising. An industry of fear. Even the language is violent. I don't want to FIGHT breast cancer in an "ARMY of Women" (Avon and Susan Love's new project) in the WAR on cancer. I don't want to be labeled a SURVIVOR after BATTLING this mysterious disease that an industry presumes to know how to treat.

In fact, these days much of western medicine is fear based. I expect you to know me well enough that I don't need to go into detail to explain that I value medicine in specific circumstances, where it is cleary needed, where the benefit outweighs the risk, and that I do believe there are truly thoughtful and dedicated health-care-givers. Having said that, there is a very predatory side to the medical community and pharmaceutical companies. Never has it been more evident how very much like drug pushers they are as witnessed by the glut of magazine and television advertising designed to lure the populous into becoming users.

Now it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we see the myriad of companies that are gaining from others' misfortune. I'm talking about Pinkwashing. I will leave the details for you to discover if you choose to at Breast Cancer Action.

The trendiness of breast cancer disturbs me. It's far too much focus on one type of cancer, "… and coming up fast on the rail in second place it's testicular cancer in yellow." But what color ribbon would you sport for cervical cancer, brain cancer, or prostate cancer?

I'm weary from having been through the cancer mill. I've seen the dark side of the industry. It goes without saying that I'm grateful to be alive. I'm grateful beyond measure for so many kind gestures and well wishes. But I also believe that for every person who is alive in this challenging and tumultuous 21st Century, we are all survivors.

Posted in Cancer

11 responses to “When Pink Stinks”

Di Overton

October 22, 2008

WELL SAID! You are so right and you of all people should know. I salute your stand and will make sure people come here and read this.
Hugs
Di

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Catherine dée Auvil

October 23, 2008

I saw the news about the new Army of Women and it made me sad for the same reasons you mention.
This is a great post.

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staceycostello

October 23, 2008

Bravo Sylvie!
Your wisdom and insight is appreciated.
xo
Stacey~

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HappyHibiscus

October 23, 2008

Check out the new documentary. “Healing Cancer From The Inside Out.” I recently purchased it, and am still reeling from the amazing information.

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Sylvie

October 23, 2008

Thank you special friends 🙂
And thank you for mentioning that documentary Happy Hibiscus. That’s a great one. I remember it revealing how we may get up to half a dozen cancers in our lifetime but that we never realize it because our bodies heal themselves. Not everything needs intervention.
A reader of the blog sent me this link to a George Carlin routine that has some similarities to my post:
http://books.google.com/books?id=tAhEQKB1b8MC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=carlin+war+on+poverty&source=bl&ots=zrpzg6_GzP&sig=jnsSt27YfD3O1r_cPu-o-MtqucM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA109,M1

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chez shoes

October 24, 2008

Well said, Sylvie. I just went through my own minor BC scare (benign, but monitoring carefully) and got a really quick education about all things breast cancer.
My own rant against all things pink is here: http://waywardbus.wordpress.com/category/pink/

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Kathy

October 24, 2008

Right on, Sylvie! Seems everyone is trying to make a buck from this “trendy” disease. I have had uneasy feelings about all this PINK business, but have never expressed them because I have not personally experienced breast cancer (though I know several who have).Thank you for validating my opinions on the subject of pinkwashing; and thanks for the link to George Carlin’s book. He really puts everything in perspective, doesn’t he? Thanks to you I’ve started my day with chuckles.

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Dolce Chic

October 25, 2008

I couldn’t agree more with what you said. Wonderful post!!!
On a positive note, I love your banner. I’m a gemini, and I too am all of the above 🙂

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The Deco Detective

October 25, 2008

This is an eye-opener! Thank you for making us aware of this. I had no idea that companies who “support” the battle against breast cancer would actually sell stuff that might make you ill from the same disease. The irony is massive…

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Caroline

October 14, 2010

Thank you for another insightful message. For years I have thought that I don’t need to buy a pink hat or a pink electric mixer or pink gardening tools to support cancer research. I can donate to the cause directly.

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Sylvie

October 14, 2010

I’m glad you found it insightful Caroline. Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and good intentions, but I would further say that there is no “cause” to donate to. The cancer industry — and make no mistake, it is a very big money maker — has little to no interest in finding a cure. I mean no offense to any of the well-intentioned people in the medical field, but beyond their scope and influence there is some major profiteering going on.
People who feel compelled to do something about cancer, instead of spending and donating towards it, should actually use their power as consumers to NOT buy certain things – like cell phones, Wi-Fi modems, etc. – and to not contribute to the proliferation of Electro-Pollution. That would go a long way to reducing people’s risk of cancer.
We just had readings done with meters in our home to determine the amount of electro-pollution we are currently living with. We found that my son, who suffers seizures, has no less than five Wi-Fi signals from the neighbors coursing through his bedroom. Additionally there is a collection of cell towers on an adjacent hillside to our home. We are now searching for a new living situation that is less harmful…
I should say that the electronic aspect is just a starting point. You could also make an effort to buy organic foods, thereby not contributing to the cancers caused by pesticides and GMOs.

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