Anna's Letter to Komen

READERS: Anna wrote this articulate, well-researched (well, she is a lawyer) letter to Komen back in June. She's still waiting for a reply.

Why doesn't Komen respond to its critics? Publicly?

Inquiring minds would like to know ... Jeanne

Dear Ms. Hurwitz –

As a regular reader of Jeanne Sather’s (The Assertive Cancer Patient) blog, and as someone who had DCIS at the age of 24, I wanted to take a moment to echo Jeanne’s sentiment about cause-related marketing.

While some cancer patients find cause-related marketing uplifting, please be aware that others of us do not. Pink ribbon products are an unwelcome, often painful, constant reminder of the disease for many of us who would like to not even think about breast cancer while shopping for sneakers, groceries, or kitchen appliances.

I realize the Komen foundation takes pride in its status as a pioneer in this area. However, the lack of selectivity with which products are chosen for cause-related marketing is deeply troubling to me, particularly when I have written to these companies and asked how much they profit from these campaigns. Many decline to disclose their profits, while others make enough money in comparison to their donations to leave this patient feeling totally exploited.

In addition, some of these products are tied to higher rates of cancer. For example, Yoplait uses dairy products from farmers who use bovine growth hormones. Estee Lauder, Avon, Revlon, and Mary Kay refuse to pledge not to use known or suspected carcinogens such as phalates and parabens in their products, and several car companies are doing little or nothing to ensure their cars are not putting unnecessary carcinogens into the environment.

I am disturbed by Komen’s willingness to assist these companies in selling these products under the guise of activism and I think many of Jeanne’s other readers are as well. You would know this if you had read her blog, her articles, or her reader’s comments.

I also find Komen’s unwillingness to support initiatives such as universal healthcare deeply troubling. I was diagnosed during law school while I had a horrible student insurance plan. But for my family taking care of paying for services, I would have probably had to forgo certain medical care. With that in mind, I think you can see why it would be incredibly frustrating to me that Komen lobbied against a more proactive patient bill of rights in 1999 – 2001.

If the mission of the organization is truly “to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures” and to be “the only organization fighting to cure breast cancer at every stage,” I am mystified as to how better overall healthcare and patient rights are not a priority for Komen. Lobbying against a patients’ bill of rights, which would largely benefit poorer women, is not reconcilable with Komen’s purported mission but it does appear to coincide with the desire to tap a consumer market.

And if the mission is really to end breast cancer forever or cure it at every stage, how is environmental research on potential carcinogens not a key part of Komen’s efforts? Ultimately, I just do not understand how the organization can partner with the companies I have mentioned or take these positions and yet be “for the cure.”

Finally, I am well aware of the manner in which Komen usurped the pink ribbon idea from Charlotte Haley who was seeking to create a genuinely grassroots, non-commercial effort to fight this disease by empowering women to participate in the political process as it relates to cancer funding. As a recent law school graduate, I am well aware that Komen was legally free to choose another colored ribbon and do whatever it wanted with it. However, I found this course of action truly unfortunate, even if completely legal, and it furthers my negative association with these products and the organization.

I certainly do not begrudge any woman with breast cancer any source of hope and support, wherever she may find it. However, as Jeanne would say, breast cancer is a disease not a marketing opportunity. Please bear in mind that most of us read Jeanne’s blog because we agree with her on this point. Since you sought out her endorsement, you must have realized that there are plenty of us out there.

Sincerely,

Anna

Note from Jeanne: I couldn't have said it better myself. Go, Anna!

Comments

[Amorette]

Well done. Way more productive and eloquent than my initial sentiment.

[Carver]

Anna did a great job with her letter. Thanks for posting it.

[amy]

Wow. I had not idea they stole the pink ribbon to begin with. What an educational letter.

[jeanne]

Oh, yeah, Amy, that is correct. You can read about it in Samantha King's book.

Pink Ribbons Inc.

My review, you have to cut and paste this link:
http://www.assertivepatient.com/2007/08/pink-ribbons--1.html

[debutaunt]

Standing O to Anna. Catching up here, J.

[Nancy]

While I agree with much of the opinion echoed in the letter, I also understand and see the huge impact such awareness or cause marketing has had on the survivability of breast cancer patients. As a nonprofit executive and founder of a nonprofit health advocacy orgnization myself, I wish we could find a way to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer as effectively as the Komen folks. Even though you do not agree with their cause marketing approach you have directly benefited from all the research that they have and are funding. Instead of attacking their efforts, wouldn't it be better to work together with them so the things you find offensive could be handled in a manner that benefits everyone. I am quite sure they never intended to offend any of you and have only done what they could to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for this awful disease.

[jeanne]

Nancy--I'll respond on behalf of Anna. The answer is NO, Komen is not responsive to criticism from breast cancer patients. Anna sent this letter. I've written as well, and publicized my concerns and criticisms.

It's a bit disingenious to say that we shouldn't criticize Komen because we benefit from what the organization is doing ...

[Karla]

Agreed. I am tired of the "Shut up and be grateful they are doing anything for you at all" attitude that people without breast cancer exhibit toward anyone who has had or does have it who dares to criticize anything claiming to "fight breast cancer." It's like we have no choice but to automatically approve and applaud everything, no matter how repulsed or opposed we are to it, like little beggars or charity cases.

We are not beggars. We are human beings with dignity, and deserve to be treated as such. Above all others, our voices deserve to be heard when it comes to how breast cancer is fought.

I love Anna's letter, and I find it reprehensible that Komen doesn't support universal health care—but given that Nancy Brinker is a committed Republican, it doesn't surprise me at all. I strongly suspect Komen for the Cure is more about keeping the health-care and pharmaceutical industry "in the pink" than about saving women's lives.