Topic: help me explain not embracing the pink

i don't wear pink.. too girlish.  i don't have problem nicely telling people that pink is not me, that i certainly do not want to advertize the fact that i have cancer,  i never wear logos either (altho i suppose if I had a huge Louis Vuitton music bag i wouldn't hide over it. 

To me, the color pink, on a washed out by chemo face that lacks hair, is the absolutely worst choice,  I wear a khaki baseball hat cause if matches everything and actually makes me look healthy in contrast... even without eyelashes. 

i don't think would ever DARE to give me anything pink, come to think of it. (i would save pink gifts and leave them at the cancer center).

Thank you for letting me share in your pink dislike.

My uber tough son, age 15, got himself a pink, shiney, breastcancer ribbon key chain which i am oddly proud or tho.

For over 8 years I have had the same battle! I do not wish to offend anyone kind enough to think of gifting me or throw stones at anyone who finds comfort in pink. but to me it is a WHIMPY color & I am incensed by the marketing!

I HATE PINK! I do not believe that buying a pink blender is going to raise awareness at MY house---everyone who enters already knows I'm riddled with the beast! So let me buy a regular stainless blender on sale & just donate to research--PLEASE

I am tired of ppl trying to appear PC in order to make a friggin buck!  Oh, how I COULD go on!!!!!!!!!

LOL & thanx for the rant space!!! That felt so good I may be back!

yep---a color for each, but those members belong to secret clubs! Maybe we should take a lesson>>>>????? LOL & HUGS

thanks for bringing up this topic.  i'm with you 100 percent. although i think the marketing of pink for breast cancer is brilliant and has brought awareness to the public and therefore hopefully more funding, i don't wear anything pink or wear anything that's associated with breast cancer. when i was first diagnosed, i went to a seminar about breast cancer, and it was a pink convention--pink notebooks, pens, shirts, hats, sweaters, purses, pins, stickers, magnets, you name it. obviously some people feel a great solidarity and kinship this way, like a sorority; some people wear the pink to spread awareness to others. i think whatever brings us a level of comfort dealing with our breast cancer is good. i'm a political and human rights activist and march in anti-war/pro-peace, gay rights marches, so i do join causes i believe in and work for them. the way i spread awareness of breast cancer is to publish my self-portraits of my bilateral mastectomy (san francisco magazine, april 2009) and spread the word about early detection. but i don't wear anything pink or anything with the symbol of the breast cancer ribbon. your post has made me examine why i don't. i never really thought about it in depth before; i just knew i didn't want to be part it. but after really thinking about it, i realize it's because having breast cancer and mastectomy and chemo and radiation has been traumatic for me, and aside from my photography and trying to help other women that way, i don't want to think about breast cancer any more than i have to. i already think about it every single day when i look in the mirror. i don't want this cancer to be my identity. maybe down the line when all this is way behind me, i'll feel more inclined to join that pink sorority. i was given lots and lots of pink stuff when i had surgery. i gave it all away to goodwill. my explanation? "i'm just not into pink." 

Well, sometimes, it's easier to wear pink when you don't feel like putting on your wig or your makeup .. wear a pink scarf on your bald head, your pink shirt and guess what?  No one stops you to ask why you have no hair. 

I don't know why there are sooo many pink things and when someone gave me a set of pink candles with the symbol on it .. I didn't know what to do with them.  They didn't match my deocr. And the big overszed sweat shirt with a huge pink ribbon? I only wear it at home when it's cold outside ... Otherwise I feel like the advertisement for bc! 

But it's the marketing companies that should be forced to come up with something else .. our friends are just trying to show support thru a donation to our cause while getting us a gift.  So like has been said, we graciously accept the gift.

Cancer Sucks t-shirts ...  there were never more truer words written on a t-shirt!

The color pink doesn't go well with my complexion (red head)  ... I absolutely did not want anything pink.  However, after participating with my son's high school in last October's Making Strides for Breast Cancer (oldest BC walk in the country), I changed my mind.  It was not easy walking into all the stores and seeing the pink displays.  Time has mellowed how I feel. 

I also participated in my daughter's college's Relay for Life and found so much support from these kids.  One of my friends is undergoing chemo right now and a bunch of the high school girls had pink hair extensions put in to raise money for breast cancer.  I figure if all these teenagers can raise money and awareness, I can wear pink!

It took me a while to get to this point .... my daughter wears a pink BC bracelet everyday.  She was 19 years old, and driving her mom to radiation treatments, genetic counseling, etc.  My 15 year old son is considering a career in pharmacy because of my diagnosis.  So, whats a little pink, I figure!!??

wow, what fantastic replies, every one of them!  Thanks so much!  It was really helpful to hear the "other side" and it opened up my mind a lot.  I still don't think I'll ever be a pink bc wearer except in specific cases (like when I do the Race for the Cure walk next year in Indy, with a friend who's lost 2 sisters to bc -- now that's a time I can see wearing pink, and proudly!) but I'm really glad those of you who do wear it shared your side.  I gained a lot of insights and have a new perspective on at least part of the issue.   I'm glad of all the thoughts and opinions -- helped me solidify my own thinking and helped me understand a lot more on all sides.  And some of you made me laugh, too, so thanks for that!  Laughter feels SO good!!

I'll make one exception to my t-shirt rule: if I get one like ddlatt's, I'd wear it

I wish I had time and energy to reply to each of you but my chemo today has me wiped out... please know how much I appreciate all you've shared!  Y'all are the greatest!!

Oh no.....and I've gone and stuck it on my username!!!! 

Kidding aside.  I never really gave it any thought, but I understand how someone might not want to embrace the pink.  Especially for what it stands for..... and this pink is on everything and everywhere.  It is a little overkill. 

While I don't see me wearing all this pink stuff...just not my style....I'm not offended by it.  I am too busy coping with the real thing to worry about it.  But I certainly see why someone would have a negative point of view about it.

Was I crazy to put "pink" in my username????

I have always been a black and blue girl.  Never wore pink.  I have no idea why I have turned into a sap with my clothing by I did.  I now where girly colors mostly pink, but hot pink with gray or black, or purple and pink. 

I am ordering a shirt that is black with hot pink boxing gloves on it that says "I fight like a girl".     I dont feel like I am advertising it.  The fact that I went from a DD to NOTHING asvertises it already.  I still have my hair as chemo has not started yet. 

For me the pink ribbon or bc saying makes people think, even if it is just for a minute.  I dont know how I would feel if people gave me stuff like that because it is all very personal.  Some shirts I see I would never wear, some I love.  Some are so sappy that I think what do they think we are weak?   But others speak volumes, like the link above ( I love it!). 

I find it interesting that I now wear more pink than ever.  I even die my hair hot pink (that is just the teenager coming out in me). 

I am so glad a thread was started on this subject.  I was never one that wore pink - really only had 1 pink sweater and 1 pink blouse that was given to me as gifts.  Pink was a color that just washed out my complexion as I have a very light complexion and yes.....I have always refused to go to those tanning booths due to fear of skin cancer.

I HATE THE COLOR PINK NOW!!  Why.....because it is the symbol of breast cancer.  I am one that faces reality and never goes into denial.  I have BC that is the botton line but it is nice to have moments when you can forget about it even for 1 hour of the day which is especially hard for me as I just finished my last chemo treatment today and I have had to deal with some pretty bad SE's but not only that, being bald is a 24/7 reminder to me.  I will not buy anything pink or wear anything pink.

I am more than happy to discuss my BC with friends, family, and even strangers if anything to encourage women to start getting regular mammograms and not wait 12 years in between like I did.  I had a lousy technician that did my first mammogram 12 years prior and due to that experience just kept putting it off until I noticed physical problems with my breast.

I was diagnosed December last year.  In March of this year my husband bought me a square diamond pendant for our anniversary from a custom jeweler.  His designs are one of a kind, he never duplicates his designs which is why my husband buys me diamonds every year from this particular jeweler.  The pendant design was absolutely beautiful with round brilliant diamonds and baget diamonds, etc.  HOWEVER, right smack in the middle is a pink sapphire stone.

I have yet to wear the necklace and more than likely will take it back and beg the jeweler to put in a different color stone.  My husband just wasn't really thinking of the correlation between the color pink and BC and he didn't realize how much I hated the color pink since I got diagnosed.

Even if I could get through this issue - I don't have but a few outlets the necklace would look good with as I wear a lot of neutral beiaghe and brown colors, reds, etc.  I might have 2 outfits that I could wear it with.

What I tried to explain to my husband is that pink signifies BC everywhere you go, grocery stores, post office, etc.  It wasn't until I read this thread that other cancers have their own special color - would have never known this because it is not evident and in your face everytime you step into somewhere in public.

I saw this thread this morning when I jumped on line but only had 15 minutes to read some posts and didn't have time to respond because I had to head out to chemo.

Forgive me if I repeat what someone else has commented. I did not read all the replies previously written.I was like you too. I also am not a person who likes to be the center of attention, so still am not comfortable wearing Pink just to call attention to being a survivor. However, though I am still that way, my attitude toward Pink & awareness products totally changed when I actually read the story of SUSAN G KOMEN (the real life person) not just the organization. I could be wrong, but I think her sister started the Awareness Ribbon thing before anyone else or cause grabbed on to it.Donations from manufacturers that produce Pink Awareness Editioin items contribute MILLIONS for Breast Cancer Research and  screening & care for women. I was so very touched when I read the full length version of her story...and then seeing the SEA OF PINK and  felt the Spirit in the air when my 5 daughters banded together to do several different 3-Days and  other walks/runs in my honor, I now have changed and willingly and voluntairly have PINK everywhere. I don't wear it, but I made kitchen curtains out of breast cancer awareness fabric, I cuddle on my couch with a fleece blanket that my daughter's keno group made for me ( a blanket I originally kept in a closet so I wouldn't be reminded of breast cancer) Now, when I see these things, I think of the love and caring towards me that comes from them. The attitude that so many people do care and do want to help, they just don't know what to do besides shower us with Pink Stuff! I've learned to love and appreciate it. If I get something I do not care for or can not use, I just give them my thanks that they care and leave it at that. Yet, things that I at one time would not have displayed have found a nitch somewhere, just to remind me that I am not in this alone. NOT BY A LONG SHOT!

PS: For all those who resent the Breast Cancer Type T-Shirt gifts...try this. Sew 3 openings shut. Stuff the shirt with polyester stuffing or rags or something soft, yet un-needed.Then Sew up the last opening. Now use as a throw pillow or punching bag when you've had it up to your eyeballs with the Awareness novelties and merchandise. They also make very nice car wash and cleaning rags.Just out of curiosity though, I wonder how much money that actually goes to the cause does come from that stuff. Ya, the companies make a haul...but I think the score will be in our favor as far as help toward finding a cure. Sometimes their intention is for personal gain, but they actually end up doing a good thing when that was not really their real intent.Just some thoughts.

You know - when I was first diagnosed, people gave me pink bears with the ribbon on it, pins with the pink ribbon on it, shirts, totes, etc. I have to say I wanted nothing to do with any of it! I think that it was becuase I had not really 'embraced' my diagnosis. I did the walk last year, just 6 weeks after my mast. and I felt like a duck out of water and that I just didn't belong there. I can't explain it! While today I am not as adverse to the pink and memorabilia, I do have to say that I look at it differently. I see a woman in pink, or a ribbon on a car, or a pink ball cap, and I say a little prayer. It has raised my awareness which I believe it was intended to do. Still, my friends today know not to give me anything pink that is BC related.

One friend sent me a card that had a just a pair of red high heel pumps on the front. Inside it said, I thought that you could use a break from the BC pink. If I could find those cards, I would by them in bulk!

Here's to cobalt blue!

Hi NatureGrrl & others with a sense of humor.....  I just bumped up an old thread on the Moving Beyond  Breast Cancer Board called "Pink: Not just for Pepto Bismol".  There's some pretty funny stuff on there that pokes fun of all things being pink.  I thought you ladies would enjoy it.

I was one of those who actually got nauseated looking at pink things, and it wasn't just in public.  The only T-shirt I've kept is one my son gave me, and I kept a hat a friend gave me because even though it's pink, it's covered with silly mementos of things we've done together.  For that reason, it's not something I'd wear in public anyway.  LOL

 My physical reaction isn't as strong nowadays, but I recently gave away a cute little pillow someone had made me during treatment.  I guess the associations were just too hard to keep around a constant reminder.