Well, it's that time of year again. Did you know that October is a month that's brimming with "awareness"? Take a look at the month of October on the Wikipedia page for the list of commemorative months and you'll find multifarious examples such as: National Country Ham Month; National CyberSecurity Month; National Toilet Tank Repair Month; Hunger Awareness Month, and many more. But none of them can hold a candle to the most heavily promoted: Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Or as I like to call it, Corporate Manipulation of A Trendy Disease Month — and I include the big name nonprofits in this category.

In case you haven't heard, I have a bone to pick with the breast cancer industry and if you please – please don't ever buy anything pink in my honor ( for the back story read my post When Pink Stinks).

I'd like to dedicate this post to dear Kate's father who succumbed to PANCREATIC cancer — a cancer for which there is little awareness. Did you know that November is National Pancreatic Cancer Month? Well it is. And purple is the color of the ribbon. Not that these are the things that truly matter.

My point is that breast cancer is the sexy disease that gets all the big money PR and it bothers me. A lot. I feel for those – and their family members – that have one of the less "popular" cancers. Would Ford Motors or Yoplait Yogurt attach Colon Cancer to their product? You know the answer. Don't encourage or support this scheming trend in consumerism, please. Stretch your awareness above and beyond the glossy media campaigns and don't be swayed by schmaltzy rosie colored adverts. For some good reading — from my favorite alternative sports writer — check out Dave Zirin's article, The NFL Is Thinking Pink.

I wish you all good health.

Posted in Cancer

6 responses to “Flavor of the Month”

maja

October 14, 2010

thanks for writing this! i’m not sure if you knew this, but my 3 year old has been battling cancer since april. those in the pediatric cancer community are among the ones who feel put out this month. did you know that last month was actually pediatric cancer awareness month? research is ridiculously underfunded, where are the big corporate donors to the cause? here’s a great organization that is doing a fundraiser for kids this month- http://pablove.org/pablove-across-america/

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Sylvie

October 14, 2010

Dearest Maja, I’m so very sorry for both you and Diego. My heart goes out to you both.
I think that PabLove needs to come clean and show how their dollars are being spent. You know that I’ve been scorned by the cancer industry and I hold a pretty powerful magnifying glass to the medical “professionals” and fundraisers because of it. PabLove’s web site is too vague for my comfort.
I will talk to you more by email, but I’m glad that you are bringing your experience to light and I encourage everyone to go to your site to read the details of the criminal treatment your son and family received. It is absolutely unforgivable.
http://diegolove.posterous.com/how-we-found-out

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Sylvie

October 14, 2010

I want to duplicate this comment that I made in response to a reader’s comment on my post, When Pink Stinks. I think it helps clarify my stance:
“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, headaches, and nocturnal vomiting, 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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molly

October 15, 2010

yes.
and,
agreed.

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Sylvie

October 15, 2010

You’re a smart woman Molly.
P.S. I need to look for your cards at Bookshop Santa Cruz!

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Mia Bella Candles

August 3, 2011

Very nice and I highly agree. Thanks for the information and photos here.

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