The Assertive Cancer Patient

How LOW Will Komen GO?: The Winners

Choosing the winners in our month-long competition to find the tackiest, most trivial, most offensive pink ribbon products endorsed by the Komen Foundation wasn't easy. As readers of this blog know only too well, during October we cancer survivors have had to run the gauntlet of tacky pink crap whenever we ventured into a retail establishment. (One easy answer: Stay home. Vote with your wallet.)

However, allowing for personal biases on the part of the judge (me), some clear winners did emerge. And they are:

Grand Prize: to the blogger Dubutaunt, for her entry: Jingle Jugs for Life

Jingle Jugs sells life-size boobs, or "racks," that bounce in time to the song "Titties and Beer." Its market? Frat boys.

From the Jingle Jugs Web site: “Our newest version of Jingle Jugs comes with a pre-recorded breast cancer message. A second re-recordable chip allows the user to record a message of his or her own choice, such as a favorite song, your favorite team's fight song, a romantic message, a political commentary . . . all to which the Jugs will dance and move in synch.”

Debutaunt’s comment, in a letter to Komen: “... Honestly, I can't see in any good conscience how you can justify accepting money from this vulgar company. They sell a product that is so putrid and heinous, but are justifying it since they donate a ‘percentage’ to breast cancer organizations -- then show proudly their giant check to Komen.”

See Breast Cancer Jingle Jugs

First Prize: to a Canadian reader named Nancy for: Pink Wedding Gowns for the Cure

This entry was an editorial feature in “Brides” magazine. ABC News had this quote:

"With this gown sale, we hope to harness the power of the wedding dress — an icon viewed around the world as a symbol of hope for the future — to impact the lives of seriously ill women in a positive way," said Millie Martini Bratten, editor in chief of “Brides.”

Watch the ABC News clip

Judge’s Choice Award: To the Mars/M&Ms Company for: Pink M&Ms

I have been boycotting M&Ms and all Mars candy products for more than a year, because I think the pink M&Ms trivialize a very serious disease.

This year, I turned the pink M&MS into a mosaic titled, “What I See in the Mirror Every Morning (And It Ain't Pretty).”

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@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

How LOW Will Komen GO?: The Winners

I just sent this press release on to PRWeb for distribution. Winners, please e-mail me to claim your prizes.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2007

For further information:
Jeanne Sather
jeanne.sather@gmail.com


Seattle blogger and breast cancer activist fights pink ribbons with humor 

The Assertive Cancer Patient Announces Winners in the First Annual “How LOW Will Komen GO?” Contest

SEATTLE—Oct. 30, 2007—Local blogger and cancer patient Jeanne Sather has announced the winners in a contest she hopes will show just how absurd pink ribbon cause marketing, as practiced by the Komen Foundation, has become.

Entries in the contest have been posted to Sather’s blog, The Assertive Cancer Patient (www.assertivepatient.com) during the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Entries, all pink-ribbon products claiming to donate a share of their profits to Komen, included pink-ribbon English muffins, pink M&Ms, pink boxer shorts (which one Arizona sheriff was reportedly requiring all inmates of his jail to wear), pink wedding gowns, and more.

The winners are:

Grand Prize: to the blogger Dubutant, for her entry: Jingle Jugs for Life

Jingle Jugs sells life-size boobs, or "racks," that bounce in time to the song "Titties and Beer." Its market? Frat boys.

From the Jingle Jugs Web site: “Our newest version of Jingle Jugs comes with a pre-recorded breast cancer message. A second re-recordable chip allows the user to record a message of his or her own choice, such as a favorite song, your favorite team's fight song, a romantic message, a political commentary . . . all to which the Jugs will dance and move in synch.” (http://www.jinglejugsforlife.com/)

Debutaunt’s comment, in a letter to Komen: “... Honestly, I can't see in any good conscience how you can justify accepting money from this vulgar company. They sell a product that is so putrid and heinous, but are justifying it since they donate a ‘percentage’ to breast cancer organizations -- then show proudly their giant check to Komen.”

First Prize: to a Canadian reader named Nancy for: Pink Wedding Gowns for the Cure

This entry was an editorial feature in “Brides” magazine. ABC News had this quote:

"With this gown sale, we hope to harness the power of the wedding dress — an icon viewed around the world as a symbol of hope for the future — to impact the lives of seriously ill women in a positive way," said Millie Martini Bratten, editor in chief of “Brides.”

Judge’s Choice Award: To the Mars/M&Ms Company for: Pink M&Ms

Sather has been boycotting M&Ms and all Mars candy products for more than a year, because she feels the pink M&Ms trivialize a very serious disease.

This year, she bought several bags of pink M&Ms and made a mosaic titled, “What I See in the Mirror Every Morning (And It Ain't Pretty).” A photo of the mosaic is posted to Sather’s blog (See http://www.assertivepatient.com/2007/10/mms-cancer-the-.html).

Sather, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, and now is living with metastatic disease, has been writing about pink topics this month as part of her crusade against turning breast cancer into a marketing gimmick. According to Sather, "I have finally realized why the whole pink ribbon/pink marketing thing makes me so angry: I feel exploited."

Her blog posts this month include “Prostate Cancer Ken,” a companion to "Breast Cancer Barbie," a doll released by Mattel last October, and “Benign Girl,” who is Breast Cancer Barbie’s little sister.

Also as part of her “Boycott October” campaign, Sather has been sending free buttons to anyone who asks for one. The button (which is pink) says: “Boycott October,” and in smaller type, “Don’t buy pink products. Don’t exploit women with breast cancer.”

Sather most recently made headlines in Canada and the United States, and as far away as China, for her search for a Canadian husband, and the free medical coverage that would come with such a marriage.

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Debutaunt Takes the Battle to Komen

My friend and fellow blogger, debutaunt, wrote Komen a letter about Jingle Jugs and the company's affiliation with Komen. (I use the word "company" loosely here: This outfits markets life-size boobs, or "racks," that bounce in time to the song "Titties and Beer." Its market? Frat boys.)

The Komen staffer who answered the letter appears to have lied, but (to give her the benefit of the doubt) maybe she just ducked the question. Note the word "national" in her reply. The check was given to the Orange County chapter of Komen.

Debutaunt said in her letter, in part:

"Desirous of giving back to the community, the Jingle Jugs founders have initiated several charitable gifts and programs, including their “Send a Rack to Iraq” program to support the troops, and ”Jugs Across America.” Jingle Jugs has also recently donated $50,000 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Orange County chapter."

Please also see the attached photo (from http://www.jinglejugs.com/photoalbum.html) of a giant $50,000 check from "Jingle Jugs" to the Susan Komen Foundation for the Cure. I know that the goal is to raise money, but to me, this is kind of like the Holocaust Museum accepting $50,000 from "JewsSuck.com" or something. "Titties and Beer" indeed!

... Honestly, I can't see in any good conscience how you can justify accepting money from this vulgar company. They sell a product that is so putrid and heinous, but are justifying it since they donate a "percentage" to breast cancer organizations - then show proudly their giant check to Komen.

She received an e-mail reply from Sylvia Bodell (Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244 P: 972-701-2168 | F: 972-855-1605)

Sylvia said: In the case of Jingle Jugs, there is no national partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

So who was that accepting the $50,000 check, Sylvia? Or did Komen give the money back?

A footnote: You can watch Jingle Jugs' TV commercials on YouTube. The claim is that the commercials were banned. My guess is the company never tried to air them on network TV. Even the networks are smarter than Komen.

Watch Jingle Jugs' TV commercials on YouTube

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@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

How LOW Will Komen GO?: Some Late Entries

Actually, a number of these entries in our How LOW Will Komen GO? contest have been sitting in my e-mail in-box for a week or more. But anyway, here they are now.

From Amorette
High School Bans Breast Cancer "Awareness" T-Shirts

Amorette says, "What gets me is that the whole thing is one big roil of confusion. It looks overtly explotative, for one. But then their moms ... and they're only high school students. Not sure how to feel about this one."

Note from Jeanne: The shirts said "Save Second Base." Sounds to me like high school students pushing the sexist window to see if the adults were dumb enough to let them get away with it.

One more:
"Oh ... forgot about the syndicated morning show, 'The Daily Buzz,' with their 'Man-Up' campaign....'Support your wives and girlfriends by giving them breast exams.' Not sure how I feel about that one either.

"In both cases, it's like the potential for decency is there and it falls a little short."

Get those entries in, folks. The winners will be announced tomorrow.

The winner gets a lifetime supply of Boycott October buttons and the use of my 1964 Corvair for a weekend whenever he or she is in Seattle.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Calling All Melanoma Survivors!

Attention, melanoma survivors: A reader needs your help.

Cory, a young woman who had a melanoma removed four years ago, writes that she lives in constant fear of a recurrence, even though she is doing everything she can to make sure that doesn't happen. She writes, "... there is a not a day that doesn't go by that I don't fear melanoma is somewhere in my body undetected."

Cory also wrote that a doctor told her that melanoma doesn't always show up as a mole, but can be internal, too. And she asks, "How do you detect that?"

Cory, I'm going to answer this one. The answer is, you need to ask your doctor that question. And you might want to ask how likely that is to happen to a woman like you who has had one melanoma removed and no recurrence in four years. I think he will tell you the chances are slim, but you'll feel better if you know.

And here is Cory's request:
"A person blogged on here that you never hear of people that have survived a melanoma and lived a long life talk about it...those are the people I want to find. Where are you?!?!?

Step up and tell your story to others that still struggle."

So, please, if you have had melanoma, and can give Cory some reassurance, please leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail and I will forward it.

jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Meet Benign Girl

Benign Girl, a Chinese Barbie knock-off, does exist.

I’ve heard from two blogging friends who have spotted her, either in dollar stores or flea markets. (Amorette sent me the photo at right.)

If you do see one, please buy it for me and I will reimburse you.

But in the meantime, I’ve found my own Benign Girl at a second-hand store in Vancouver, B.C. Paid $2 for the little darling and she is going to join my “Wall of Shame” as Breast Cancer Barbie’s little sister.

You can see from the photo how much Benign Girl resembles me as a child—the photo in the background is me at age 6—the same freckles across the nose, the same red-brown hair with thick bangs, the same chubby cheeks.

I haven’t played with dolls for decades, but I’m going to enjoy dressing this one.

The other night I gave Benign Girl a bath and washed her hair. Dried it with the hair dryer that I no longer need. Then I knit her a little white hat and a dress.

The Benign Girl Story
Benign Girl tries to live lightly on the earth. She doesn’t buy things she doesn’t need, and doesn’t buy products that come with packaging that can’t be reused or recycled.

Diet and Exercise
Benign Girl only drinks milk that is hormone- and antibiotic-free. Ditto for other dairy products.

She eats as low on the food chain as she can, meaning no meat or fish, lots of fresh produce and whole grains, and healthy proteins like soy and (hormone-free) eggs. She grows her own fruits and vegetables and buys locally grown produce.

Benign Girl exercises for an hour a day, rain or shine. She knows being overweight increases her chances of getting breast cancer.

Cancer
Benign Girl hates pink ribbon cause marketing. She thinks it exploits women with breast cancer. She wears a Boycott October button, even though she can hardly carry it.

When Benign Girl gets a little older, about 20, she will talk to her doctor about being tested for the genes that cause breast cancer to run in some families. But she knows most women who get breast cancer do not have one of these genes.

Benign Girl has joined the Sister Study.

Benign Girl loves her big sister, Breast Cancer Barbie, but she doesn’t want to grow up to be like her.

Join the Sister Study

Meet Breast Cancer Barbie

Meet Prostate Cancer Ken

Support this blog:

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Join the Sister Study

This October, in addition to boycotting products and companies that exploit women with breast cancer, do something positive to help: Join the Sister Study. (And sign your sister up too.)

From the Sister Study Web site:
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women aged 35 to 74 whose sister had breast cancer. It is a national study to learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. In the next three years, 50,000 women whose sister had breast cancer, and who do not have breast cancer themselves will be asked to join the study.

Note that the study will be looking at environmental factors--something that is sorely needed.

Read more: Sister Study

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More On HIPAA, and Marketing Cancer

The HIPAA violation at Swedish pales next to the problems I had at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I keep meaning to write that story, but other things get in the way.

Another thing I've been meaning to point out is the fierce competition between the two largest cancer centers in Seattle, SCCA and Swedish. I've been a patient at both and I worked for SCCA's marketing department for years as a freelance writer, so I've seen the marketing of cancer from the inside.

That's why I was so amused (but not surprised) to see that Dean Forbes, who handles media relations for SCCA, was reading my criticisms of Swedish on my blog. See his comment on the post 15 Phone Calls.

Don't worry Dean, I'll be writing about SCCA soon.

HIPAA Violations at Swedish

Swedish Cancer Institute, where I have received some of my care, has put me on its fund-raising mailing list.

And I’ve been getting letters, from the head of the cancer institute, the same Dr. Einstein who never answered MY letter; from Linda Hohengarten, director of oncology nursing; and—the gloppiest one—from Janet D. True, the chairman [sic] of the Swedish Medical Center Foundation.

How did the Swedish Medical Center Foundation get my name? The Cancer Institute gave it to them.

It seems to me that putting my name on a list of patients and sending it over to the fund-raising arm of the institution is a violation of my patient privacy.

I did not give Swedish permission to pass on my name and identify me as a patient, nor did I sign ANYTHING that said I wanted to be the target of these fund-raising letters.

Especially from an institution as unresponsive as Swedish.

This is the cancer center where I had to speak to 15 people to get the answer to a simple question about my bill. (See 15 Phone Calls.)

This is the cancer center where, when I wrote a letter to the director about this problem, he never responded.

This is the cancer center that can’t straighten out a billing problem that I’ve wasted hours on over the past couple of months. (See Medical Billing Woes.)

The very same cancer center where, when I complained about problems in the treatment room—nurses not washing their hands as they went between patients, nurses not double-checking chemo drugs before starting IVs, and more—my doctor suggested I find another doctor.

And they want me to give them money? I’d be laughing, if I weren’t so mad.

Time to pull out my HIPAA file and fire off a letter to the Office of Civil Rights, which is in charge of HIPAA violations.

I think I’ll also send letters to Dr. Einstein (again!), Nurse Hohengarten, and Ms. True, explaining why I won’t be donating to this year’s annual campaign.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Beautiful October Light

My house faces west, so the front rooms and the porch are flooded with warm light in the late afternoons. The light filters through the three birch trees on the steep slope that is my front garden, making dappled shadows that dance across the walls.

It's great light for taking pictures, as you can see from these shots of one of the three kittens I am fostering. My favorite kitten is whichever one I am cuddling or feeding at the moment, but this little darling was the first one through the door when I called for a volunteer to be photographed.

He doesn't have a name yet, and in fact I haven't even looked yet to see if he is a HE, but that will come. For now, I call him Grey-kins, Tiny-kins, and Smokey, in turns. This kitten and its litter-mate are about 3 weeks old.

The third baby is about a week older. It was a single so Missy at the rescue put it in with the other two for better socialization.

I've been a volunteer with Animal Talk Rescue for at least six years now. My job is to take the bottle-babies, orphaned kittens that are not yet weaned, because they need to be fed every few hours. I can do that because I'm at home during the day.

When these little munchkins are about 8 weeks old, they'll go back to the rescue and then to new homes.

Feeling generous? Animal Talk can always use your help: Animal Talk Rescue