Pinktober Revolution
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And the war on cancer that then President Nixon declared has been such a success. Government is not going to be our savior. They're getting big bucks from big pharma. Until we stop tolerating companies putting arsenic in our rice, chemicals in everything we injest, wear, and put on our bodies, and the FDA approving medicine that often hurts us more than it helps, we're just going to keep getting sicker and sicker. I agree with Frederick Douglas and his quote below.
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This is my Pinktober Revolutionary Satement which I have put on facebook because I am being plagued with 'pink' requests. Its similar to what others have said.
Pink doesn't find a cure or help patients
It is almost October and many of you have sent me requests about supporting breast cancer causes. Many of us who have been through breast cancer would like you to know that we are against the commercialisation of our disease. We understand that you have the very best intentions when supporting causes that claim to help breast cancer awareness, research and patients. However, we urge you to be selective with your support, especially when buying the products that seasonally turn "pink" in October. The truth is very little of the money raised goes to breast cancer research or to the patients in need. Awareness is no longer the issue - we need to find the cause and cure, as well as supporting patients in treatment and those who have metastatic cancer.
I personally ask those of you in NZ to donate directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation of NZ or the Breast Cancer Cure Research Trust. For friends overseas, please find organisations that directly fund research and patient care.
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Ladies--please read the website for the National Breast Cancer Coalition and all they have done and their plan for succeeding by 2020. It is a collaborative effort including government and the petition will go to the newely elected President. It doesn not ask the gov. to solve the problems. The NBCC acutally has focus and the focus is not on awareness.
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Mini, I couldn't agree more. That quote really sums it up. I fear cancer (all cancers) will quickly reach epidemic proportions...and still nothing will change.
The thing that bothers me the most is that whole 'early detection' nonsense. I don't know ANYONE who has cancer, that knew they had it until they had symptoms. Who do they think they're fooling with that phrase? After billions of dollars and decades of research, that's the best they can come up with? They should feel quite foolish, yet they keep throwing that around likes it's some great discovery. I hate that....shame on them. Just as I was typing this....another commercial for colon cancer "Cancer can be beaten; early detection is the key". Don't know whether to laugh or cry.
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gracie1 - Let me introduce myself ...
I was symtom free ... no lumps, bumps, nodules, dimples, or anything. I was in prime physical condition - I was not sick at all.
My breast cancer was discovered in a routine mammogram that was compared to the last mammogram. This repeat mammogram was followed by an ultrasound and core needly biopsy on the same day. Once I had a breast surgeon, she ordered a breast MRI. Each test revealed more. All of the specialists said that it was completely reasonable for me to not have detected anything with breast self-exam as it was not palpable to them either. If I had waited for symptoms it is highly likely that I would still be waiting.
I don't consider my cancer 'beaten' because being stage IIIa with positive nodes and the presence of lymphovascular invasion ... there is a possibility that cancer cells are in my system somewhere. I'm going to start Tamoxifen next week. So although I am not stage IV, I also cannot consider myself 'cured'.
I am, however, extremely thankful that there are 'early' detection methods available. It would be more than a disservice if these detection methods were thrown out in the search for a cure. We need it all.
Diana
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Hi Diana. I realize now I didn't word my post properly. I should have added the word "personally" to "ANYONE I know". I know many are diagnosed early with bc due to routine mammograms. Personally, I was diagnosed at a young age, so the people I hang with and know the stories of just happen to be those with like circumstances. No routine mammograms....mostly "you're too young for bc" speeches. I also mean cancers other than breast. I don't know anyone diagnosed with, let's use liver cancer as an example, that had the benefit of early detection. They went to the doctor when they weren't feeling well....know what I mean? Sorry for the confusion.
I do have to disagree however, that finding bc at Stage IIIa is early detection. In Situ cancers yes....anything beyond that just doesn't qualify as early detection for me. JMO.
edited for sp
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If there was a blood test given starting around age 30 that would detect elevated tumor markers, then that would qualify as "early detection". There are lots of tumor marker tests, but each one is specific to a certain kind of tumor, such as PSA men get for prostate cancer. You would have to give every test appropriate and then determine if any are false positives. At least that would get the docs looking. Right now most of the tumor marker tests are not sensitive enough to detect a growing tumore BEFORE there are symptoms that lead people to see the doctor. Even in the case of ovarian cancer, where there is a good test, CA-125, unless you ask for it because you have a family history or something, it is not given. I have a friend who was just dx'd with stage 3 ovarian cancer and only went to the doctor because she couldn't pee and thought she had a kidney infection. Turned out the ovarian cancer was so advanced it was blocking her ureters and she didn't know it. Sucks.
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I opened up "Home Beautiful"................yesterday when it came in the mail......was fingering through it, and you would not belive all the shit that is pink...........there were pages and pages of crap........of course preparing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.........what a bunch of shit..........................I was so pissed I threw it in the trash, called the phone number, and said "you magazine and its ads are an insult to every woman who has had BC"..........do you really think buying Pink shit, is gonna help us find a cure........................well here is what you can do for me.........since my satisfaction is guaranteed by your magazine for the quality of its content..............cancel it............cause I 'm not satisfied.........and of course............send me my refund which is also a guarantee..........I will donate it to a "cancer charity" that gives 100% to BC......................it felt good to do that......................lol.......you don't mess with this bitch when it comes to BC................................hugs.
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Alyson - I think you summed it up nicely. Mind if I cut and paste?
dlthnm - Your experience mirrors my own. No one was more surprised at my diagnosis than me. The doctors could not feel my lump either.
Junif - I will believe the government's ability to find a cure when I see actual progress. I hope they come through, but we all know where the road to good intention leads.
Gracie - I share your concerns. I just read an article whose authors believe there will be an increase of up to 80% in cancer dianosis' over the next 10-20 years as China, India and Packistan become more "westernized." If I had money to invest, it would be in companies that make cancer drugs and MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound equipment.
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my DD just told me her friends family is makin a huge donation to komen..I screamed no no.let me ask the sistas who know exactly who to give it to ...I'm not sure so I'm comin here.doesmanyone give 100 present to research or even come close..I know the ones that don't but I don't know who does
I'm talkin a big chunk of money.
They live in ny but I don't think it matters
Just want the money to go in the right hands
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granny - Goggle cancer research hospitals, breast cancer research hospitals or whatever type of cancer they most want to support. The first ones to pop up should be in your area. The donation should specify that the money be used for research into the cure and prevention of the chosen subject. By law when a donor specifies that the money is to be used for a specific purpose it must be spent only for that purpose. Some of the money may be directed to support of the specified research but it must be remembered that no program can operate without direction and support. You can't have research without the necessary equipment to work with, without money to buy it, someone to buy it , an accounting department to pay for it and track the cash and an administrator to see that the whole process works.
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GrannyD,
The Pink Daisy Project gives all donations to their programs which directly benefit patients http://pinkdaisyproject.ning.com/page/get-involved
and the Time for Research program gives 90% (pretty good) to research by sponsoring research time. I have an account set up for this for my shirt biz.
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Hey Gals,
Here I am getting ready to go to Walmart in my new shirt!
P.S. This is a large Unisex T, it's a little big on me.
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Love the shirt Shells. Well done!
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Wow...great shirt. It is so clear and readable. Is it on both sides?
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Thanks. Gracie!
@ Painterly,
No, but I can put it on both sides. It just costs a little more. And I kind of think part of the message is missing, it needs another thought. I think it should also say Give to Research or something like that on the back. These shirts are custom so I can make them say anything.
I see you are a Sarasotan part of the year? I love Sarasota! We were also dx'd the same time.
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Shells,
Love the t-shirts. Question about the survivor shirt. Should it really say "you're a only cancer survivor when you die of something else"? I really like this one because I saw a documentary the other day that gave me a perspective none of the cancer Doctors gave me, because it is there job to be positive and upbeat. A guy on this documentary said "my aunt was declared cancer free 5 years after treatment but died from recurrence 6 months later". This hit me like a bucket of cold water. Here I have been feeling confident since I only had a lumpectomy, radiation treatment, and now tamoxifen. Honestly, I would really like to live to be 100.
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I saw the same show and had the same reaction.
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That's the ? in the back of my mind since ending my RADS a month ago. Was it enough!!!! ?
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TexGal, thanks for pointing out my typo! Duh. I corrected it. That shirt saying was by request of one of the members. It goes back to the old question of what we should call ourselves, really. It's hard for me to call myself a survivor already, just two years out, but I'm not an active patient. We need another term for our "hopefully waiting for the other shoe not to drop" situation...:) Ideas??
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I wore my focktober just ask me today to Walmart..o a guy with 3 ladies asked me.
So I told them from A to Z..then he asked me how I know all this and I said I'm a bc survivor.they all hugged me and promised to pass on the word..did my job and I'm proud to get the word out even if its one person at a time....the promised to pass the word.
Ans I took the info for the family that want to give the large donation...
Gave daughter the shirt pink revolution.....stop pimping the pink...0 -
Learning the iPad....excuse the typos
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Granny - hope your friends find the ideas helpful.
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TXGAL--the Komen website says that they consider you a survivor from the day you are diagnosed...don't what they are smokin'! What was the documentary you saw? The new Pink Ribbon, INC. documentary is being released on CD in 2 days.
amazon.com/Pink-Ribbons-Inc-Susan-Love/dp/B00768M7XC/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1348408851&sr=1-1&keywords=pink+ribbons+inc
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When did the world stop using the word 'remission'???? Stats only go to 5 years so stats are not accurate!! The guys mom dying six months after being told she was "cured" is just so friggin' ironic, but it validates what I've always said. THERE IS NO CURE FOR BREAST CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is just so bloody SIMPLE.
LOVE the tee-shirts!!!!! I like the looseness Shells, looks more approachable than a tight one.
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Junif,
The documentary I watched was Food Matters. Can't wait to see Pink Ribbons Inc. I have watched several documentaries about food on Netflix, partly because of the breast cancer, because DH and I are 43 and fat, DH has autoimmune disease we have not figured out yet, and because I was diagnosed with Celiac disease 5/21, 2 weeks after breast cancer diagnosis. Right now I am following the Primal Blueprint and have lost 13 lbs. in two months and I feel very well.
I am glad I found this thread. I have learned a lot.0 -
TXGAL--thanks for the info..ironic that about a week ago I put some of the food documentaries in my 'que' on Netflix. I'll start watching them this week.
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I call myself a cancer exister. I'll be a survivor when if I die of something else. Hopefully at a ripe old age.
Food Matters is good, as is Forks Over Knives. There's also a good one out on stress and how it affects the body-also on Netflicks. It's called Stress; Portrait of a Killer. It's very good at explaining how the body works and how stress affects the body-both good and bad.
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Barbe, Obit in the paper today described a woman who was a survivor for 30 years but died of complications of breast cancer. Clearly not a survivor if she didn't die of something else.
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I love Stop Pimpin' the Pink! When I get back to work, that's the one I'm ordering!
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