We HATE Pink!

Just in case you thought The Assertive Cancer Patient was a pink-hating voice in the wilderness, here are the voices of some of the women who wrote to me asking for “Boycott October” buttons.

"It felt as if people were having a party at my expense, and making money at the door"--Megan

The buttons are almost gone, but I’m ordering more from the Busy Beaver Button Company, so just e-mail me if you want a button or two. Absolutely free. No obligation. And I will not sell your address or use it for any other purpose, I promise. e-mail: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Beth
My daughter's husband's mother died of breast cancer when he was in high school. I never met her and for that I am very sorry. There is a sad hole in the family of the three boys and father that ten years later has yet to begin to heal. ...

This pink bs mocks their tragedy. It is outrageous.

My daughter when she was in high school did a bit of research into charities and where their money went. She found that the money raised by the *biggies,* Cancer, Heart and Stroke, etc., most of the money
went to overhead. From then on, my donations have gone to the research group actually doing the work at the particular university.

Otherwise, the money will go to a visible use, ie, there are two hospices for children in my neighbourhood.

Heather
I would love two of those buttons. My friend and I are both breast cancer survivors and absolutely hate seeing the mass flow of pink everywhere you turn in October.

Every time you think it's behind you, this time of year comes around and, bam, it's in your face again.

Tedda
I can't stand any of the organizations that don't donate 100% of the profits to where they say they are donating!!

I would be happy to wear one of your buttons.

Rose
Rose's father Barry wrote, Someone bought my daughter (fighting metastatic osteosarcoma) an actual pink ribbon. She replied,

"Thanks, I'm still dying, but I'm sure this will help."

Nicole
If it's not too late, I'd love a button. I'm fed up with the Pinking of October and the trendy-ing of women's fight for our lives.

I learned of the buttons on Young Survival and I'm thinkin' this is my kinda "awareness."

Anna
Great idea with the buttons. I am 24 and was diagnosed with DCIS in April. Aside from your blog and a few articles, I’ve had a hard time finding any sort of message related to breast cancer that is relevant and empowering for someone my age.

I’m shocked by the number of companies making cosmetics and other products containing carcinogens that have special merchandise for breast cancer awareness month. Would love a button if you still have some.

Pat
I would SO love one of the boycott October buttons! I myself have just hit the 4-year mark from a BC diagnosis, and every year when October comes, I find myself getting more and more cynical and angry.

Last year I made a collage on my refrigerator with clippings for ads for as many absurd Pink Ribbon products that I could find. Did you know they have tweezers with Pink Ribbons on them? Of course you did, I'm sure!

Not sure who wrote this one, Jen or Katie
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2007, so this will be my first vomit-inducing breast cancer awareness month. Can I have a button?

Debby
I'll be spreading the word. I think that it's so hateful.

Our local grocery store sold those scan coupons and has nearly a whole aisle of pink stuff. Yet their donation was like $100,000. They are a HUGE chain here in Texas. A million would be nothing to them.

And it's not October yet. Yet many of the breast cancer survivors I know have trouble making ends meet post-treatment. And who has any idea how much the pink chi flattening iron donates from every $99 purchase? It's crap.

Kairol
Sign me up for boycotting October! I am a thyroid cancer patient (diagnosed at 27, now 34). I am utterly disgusted by the crass exploitation of breast cancer so that big corps can profit. If drug companies spent more money on research and less on marketing, there would be no need to raise funds at all for breast cancer research.

It galls me that an ugly, painful, limiting disease can be placated by a call for inspiration, love, and hope. Yes, those are important ingredients in dealing with disease but this pink-washing has made people forget that what we are talking about here really is hell.

Melinda
I am an oncologist and thought this “awareness” stuff was crap even before I had cancer – now it bugs me even more.

Chris
I just read an article on Yahoo about your dislike of pink capitalism. I agree that it is awful that retailers sell "pink" in October. I would appreciate it if you would send me a button. I'll spread the word around here.

Megan
I had the misfortune to be diagnosed last October. It was the perfect storm of fear, pain and massive irritation: pink cocktails on an airline flight, pink-jacketed teddy bears on sale at Macy's, designer pink-ribbon pins, etcetera ad nauseam.

It felt as if people were having a party at my expense, and making money at the door. I will definitely join the boycott.

Susan
I was going to walk the Susan J Komen "3 day" walking backwards in a day and a half, wearing black. Nobody else seems to get it. They look at me as though I'm a little unstable.

I personally was exploited by the Pink Cancer Whores. North West Hope and Healing made me their poster child until I caught on that the only people making money off my cancer was them.

They just had an auction and raised $110,000. Their overhead and salaries took about 80%. I totally agree with the ridiculous focus on Breast Cancer promotional bullshit. My sister has MS and they don't get diddly squat..........no one likes MS patients but they LOVE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS.

Go figure. Must be a marketing thing. Yeah, I'm pissed.

Support this blog:

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Jen]

Jeanne,

I thought you'd want to know that Melinda, the woman who directed me to your site (via the YSC boards) and who you quoted above, passed away yesterday.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[Cheesesandwich]

First of all, I would be so happy to have had DCIS, that is so nothing INSITU not invasive, people wake up they are making so much money on you, making you sick with Adriamycin. Dont let them do it. Have the damned shit removed and beef up your immune system.
Go to alternative sites,
check out Suzanne Sommers thougts. She is still alive. So am I with triple negative stage 2 and a mastectomy after 2nd local reourrance. I abhore the pink ribbon thing. Hey give me the money and help my life to be a little better if you're not gonna cure this crap. I propose that we should have a beautiful boob shaped genuine Ruby to wear around our necks. This would truly be the Red badge of Courage. After the hair grows back and if you didnt die, no one knows who is the survivor without you telling them or if you can see the top of my bra where the indented chest skin doesnt fill it in. sorry to vent, but I feel better and want a button next year If the beast doesnt reappear and take me.

[jeanne]

Cheesesandwich--I'll mail you a couple of buttons now so you have them for next year. Just e-mail me your mailing address.

jeanne.sather@gmail.com