Poll: How does Breast Cancer Awareness Month make you feel?

moderators

Select the answer below that best matches your emotions and expand your thoughts in the thread below.

linsnyed

hopeful and motivated to help spread the messaging

The pink color is triggering.

aprildavies72

hopeful and motivated to help spread the messaging

To me, anything that can bring awareness, regardless of the "money making" opportunity somewhere for companies, is something positive and good! Breast cancer took a lot away from me, thankfully it didn't take my life, and I "feel" October so much differently now, because it was my fight too. I just can't see anything negative in this. But that's just my personal opinion.

sf-cakes

isolated because I don't feel represented

Being Stage 4 during breast cancer awareness month sucks, all the messaging about "if you catch it early, you'll be fine" - is simply not always true. Feels like getting slapped in the face every day. Thank god for all the October halloween candy, lol!

bchmom03

irritated and triggered by the constant reminders

Look up how much the Susan G Komen CEOs make!! Also, Breast Cancer Awareness?! We are all aware of it! What about Prevention…..? Then no need for a cure. I do not like that the color Pink has been hijacked! Also, such hype. I dread being at a retail store check out and being asked to support BC Awareness Month! I donated my breasts.

dm8521

hopeful and motivated to help spread the messaging

While I appreciate the the feelings of those who dislike the reminders and marketing use, I still feel it is the perfect time to remind, gently or forcefully, my friends and family to get screened. I can post my reminders as well as share the ones posted by others, all month long, without disclosing my own situation or feeling guilty about so many reminders/memes.

Denise D

minniesmom

angered about brands using the month for marketing

I never liked the color pink, even before I had breast cancer. Now I despise it! It isn't about the color, though. I just feel like isolating a month to become "aware" of something cheapens the effect. I live with cancer 365 days a year. I don't need a reminder that I have it. I need people on my side who are actually working on a cure, not trying to sell me a product. It's just like the scammers on Facebook who send messages to everyone about how natural remedies will cure my cancer. It's totally pointless! And sad.

undaunted

I'm 90 years old and have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Although I'm in perfect health otherwise, because of my advanced age, I've opted to do nothing…just live the rest of my life as normally as I can. I have a wonderful, woman doctor and she doesn't disagree with me and has promised to care for me until the end. I live in a senior apartment with levels of care and so far, I'm still in the "independent" section and able to care for myself and enjoy many of activities here. But if/when I need more care, I will move to the assisted living floor. I truly feel I've found the perfect place to spend whatever time I have left. Shirley B. I'm also not a "pink" lover.

rockym

angered about brands using the month for marketing

I've always felt that the companies are try to make a few extra $$. Often the proceeds from purchasing their products go to "Breast Cancer Awareness." You will see that often. It means nothing.

exbrnxgrl

mixed emotions, some positive, some negative

https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/comment/5905361#Comment_5905361

Thank you! I really, really wish that everyone, including our lower stage sisters, would reflect on how marginalized stage IV is through the fluffy, pink crap. One day, one freaking day for the only type of bc that is terminal and while deaths from bc have decreased somewhat, it has been a mere drop in the bucket. Don’t ignore stage IV!
As I said earlier , I appreciate the dollars it has brought to bc research but it feels like a slap in the face as we are marginalized and almost hidden since no one seems too interested in the fact that tens of thousands still die every year. In the whole fluffy pink awareness movement, we are simply the failures that no one wants out front to make people truly aware of what bc is.