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

everybody seems to want my money , I’m stage 4 and not going to walk around with a pink ribbon.

You totally should have gotten a discount! We need as many silver linings as we can get.

I've grown a mixed mind about it recently. I used to be excited about it, even though pink is not a fave color. But lately I've been seeing some very good points floated about pinkwashing and companies cashing in on breast cancer "awareness" to boost sales. They advertise anything and everything with pink ribbons, regardless of if their products are of use to cancer warriors and survivors; but they are vague about which organizations they are supporting (assuming they actually donate any of their proceeds at all). Or even worse, companies that sell "Breast Cancer Awareness" products with known carcinogens, or that are associated with industries that have confirmed links to cancer-causing byproducts.

Awareness is great, and research for cures are fantastic. Early detection absolutely saves lives, but prevention in the first place would be the ideal. I've become kind of cynical overall this past year, and some of that may be coloring my view.

Since my diagnosis I never participated or gave anything to any breast cancer awareness thing in the month of October. Many of the reasons why others have already said. Having survived I'm now on a yearly schedule for mammos and wouldn't you know it is due in October. Really don't like to be reminded but realize I need to go. Still have some anxiety of being tested.

I lost my sister to this disease in Aug 2024 and since then my feelings have changed. I do participate or make a donation in her honor. Doing a 2K walk on the 18th and made donation the PA breast cancer coalition while renewing my driver's license.

I have a unique view since I also have had kidney disease most of my life (diagnosed at age 9). I have spent a lot of time raising awareness about getting kidney function regularly checked (may have saved my mom's life recently) and used to go all out for Kidney Walks (Sept in my area) with green ribbon (green or all organ donation and donor awareness) but after a few years got discouraged that it seemed the Kidney Foundation (of Canada) was more focused on how much money you raise instead of how many people you reach to spread awareness.

I used to get frustrated with how many clothing items, toilet paper roll outer packaging, batteries, tissue boxes, etc, had the pink ribbon on them. I understood awareness, but it seemed overdone. With the green ribbon, we could not get anyone to notice, but the pink ribbon was everywhere, and it was later found out that the money wasn't even always going to research, etc, but that companies were abusing the symbol, knowing that their items would sell more if they simply slapped a pink ribbon on it.

Ribbons, in general, are designed to get people talking and to show support, especially when participating in events that raise awareness. However, if the funds are not used as intended or people are abusing them by keeping the money, then they are not serving their purpose.

Also when I read what exbrnxgrl said, it reminded me how frustrated I was already from Kidney Disease and how they always say your 2nd kidney is a spare when it really isn't. So just like with Pink Ribbon, seems they ALL do that sadly. Hide the negative stories and put the easy happy stories out front. Sure, most kidney donors are fine but I actually know someone who was in perfect health who donated a kidney to his niece and has had so many major health issues ever since and they do not know why and have not found the cure for his crazy blood sugars and bowel issues ever since operation. So it doesn't surprise me that BC does that as well.

I do remember even before I ever had Breast Cancer, but how extended family members had died of other types of Cancer, how I wondered why they don't use the Yellow Daffodil as that was the symbol for ALL cancers when I was a child and I don't think that ever changed. Yet all we hear is about one type of Cancer. Breast Cancer. Sure there is some awareness which is good and money going to research more treatments that have been helping with less side effects, etc, but it also seems more is pushed on what people will react positively to like "Save the Boobies" instead of true educational awareness.

@miriandra no silver linings. Going from bc diagnosis to stage 4 within a week , I went from the optimistic fluffy pink ward on the ground floor to the actual oncology ward hidden away. No more volunteers dressed in pink , just the raw reality.
I even have to pay for my own water I drink in hospital … So no I’m not donating a cent.
Before my diagnosis I joined walks and marathons to fundraise. I even knitted boobs (oh yes). I was so naive still.
And i sound so bitter , I’m ok really 🙃🙃 just venting.

Having just recently been diagnosed /w BC and not yet had my biopsy…. I really don't know what to feel. Due to personal reasons, I've kept this from my entire family/household. After Diagnostic Mammogram & Ultrasound I have a mass in my right breast and BI-RADS Category 5 - Highly suggestive of Malignancy. I continue to do research, being careful of where/whom I'm getting my info from. And have a biopsy scheduled Nov. 3rd, 2025. Of course I have more questions than answers, but at least I've tried to look into it all. After seeing all of you that have been through SO much - how did/do you do it?

They tell you to stay off line because there's so much scary information - and misinformation - on the 'net. But there's also so many support groups and people in your corner.