The Assertive Cancer Patient

An Update on Debutaunt

For those of you who are wondering how Debutaunt is doing, let me steer you to her sister Jenna's Flickr site. 

Jenna's Flickr site

Jenna posted an update about how Deb is doing, with suggestions for those who might want to visit. I especially like 1) c: "Don't ask her how long she has to live."

I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes and going, "DUH!"--but you would be surprised. People have asked me that question more than once (about me, I mean). 

I would like to go back to Houston and spend some more time with Deb, but with Older Son unemployed and my finances running on empty, it's probably not going to be possible. Thinking about it though ... 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Time for a Rerun or Two or Three

It's time for a couple of good reruns, for those of you who are new to my blog and may not have noticed all the categories off there to the right ... 

First, the series that started it all: Jeanne's Diary. 

I wrote this when I was first diagnosed, so more than 10 years ago, but I think it holds up pretty well. Don't read it for treatment info, because that part is out of date. I think you will see shadows of the woman who later became the Assertive Cancer Patient--she was struggling to get out in those days, still intimidated by medical authority figures, for example. 

Jeanne's Diary

Boycott October

I'm thinking of Debutaunt almost constantly today, and that reminds me that she won my "How LOW Will Komen GO?" contest two years in a row--and Deb didn't even have breast cancer, she has leukemia. 

How LOW Will Komen GO?: The Winners

Retiring Jabba

I retired my breast prosthesis, Jabba, in September 2007. If you look closely at the photo above, you will see that I have only one breast. 

It was Sara, who faced life with only one leg, who gave me the courage to face the world as my body now is--with only one breast. And Jacqueline who gave me clothes to look good in. 

Retiring Jabba

That's all for now. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Daffodils for Debutaunt

Debutaunt is not doing very well. 

I had an IM conversation with one of her sisters about an hour ago, and got this news. I'll write more in a bit, but for now I just wanted to post some daffodils for Deb. 

I took these photos in my front yard, just this minute, and they are special daffodils that I planted last fall--so the first time that they've bloomed in my yard, and they are blooming for Deb. 

Jenna and Steph--if you see this, and if possible, could you show Deb these photos and tell her I took them for her? Thanks.

 @ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Pink Ribbon Interview With Phoenix Fox TV

Between my latest round of scans and doctors appts. and then Jacqueline's visit to Seattle, I'm behind on posting to my blog. 

Here's the link to an interview I did with the Fox TV affiliate in Phoenix:

Is Buying Pink Making a Difference?

@ Jeanne Sather 2008. 

Lung Cancer M&Ms

November is lung cancer awareness month (also pancreatic cancer, I believe), but there are no displays of merchandise in the lung cancer ribbon color (pearl) at supermarkets and drug stores. 

After reading yesterday's post, We've Run Out of Colors, Amorette created lung cancer awareness M&Ms and sent me a jpeg. 

It's also possible to order M&Ms in pretty much any color you want, so if you want to "celebrate" November with pearl-colored M&Ms (as Komen celebrates October with pink M&Ms), you will probably have to order your own. I don't see Mars/M&Ms coming out with this product any time soon. 

For personalized M&Ms, with text, logo, or colors, see: M&Ms

I may order some lung cancer M&Ms, although I've been boycotting the company because of the pink breast cancer M&Ms, and haven't bought a bag of M&Ms for at least a year.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008. 

We've Run Out of Colors

I was wondering what color the lung cancer awareness ribbon was--not that I'm a fan of these ribbons or of the circus of pink-ribbon-retail-therapy that Komen is responsible for, you understand--but I wanted to know. 

So I did a search, and it turns out that the lung cancer ribbon is "pearl." That's kind of a weird color for a ribbon, if you think about it. How often have you seen pearl-colored ribbons? Should they look like shell? Like mother of pearl buttons? Should they reflect the light with little rainbows? 

Will that make anyone feel better about having lung cancer? 

Of course, what I'm really wondering, now that October is over (thank god) and November--which IS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, folks--is here, is where are all the:

Lung cancer awareness Chevron toy cars? 

Lung cancer awareness Tic Tacs?

Lung cancer awareness Campbell's chicken noodle and tomato soup? 

Lung cancer awareness Barbie doll? (She could wear a pearl ball gown and carry a jeweled cigarette holder ... Or maybe a Joe Camel doll?)

Lung cancer awareness foot exfoliator? 

Lung cancer awareness mixer? 

Lung cancer awareness M&Ms candies? (The color might be a challenge ...)

Pink versions of all of the above and more are on sale every October (see the links below if you don't believe me), and I, as a woman living with an incurable form of breast cancer, feel exploited by the sales of these products. 

But my point is this: If the companies that make these products were really marketing them out of the goodness of their hearts, they would also make lung cancer versions of all the same products so that we could raise awareness about lung cancer and some money for lung cancer causes as well. 

The companies DON'T do this because lung cancer is not a sympathetic cancer. Not one that they think it will do their companies good to be associated with. (That's a terribly convoluted sentence, but I'll let it stand.)

We still "blame the victim" when that victim has lung cancer. 

Never mind that most heavy smokers start when they are too young to know better, and then they can't quit.

See: 

Chevron toy car

Pink Soup?

Breast Cancer Barbie

Pink Foot Exfoliator

Pink M&Ms

I have photos of the pink Tic Tacs and the pink mixer, but haven't posted them to my blog yet. You can probably still find the Tic Tacs at the register of your local grocery, and the mixer is on sale at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $300. I'm boycotting BB&B for the next 10 years. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2008. 

Just When I Thought It Was Safe ...

Just when I thought it was safe to come out of my October bunker (all the pink-ribbon merchandise is dumped on the deep-discount tables at most retailers), this came in the mail, forwarded by a friend: 

10 Ways to Think Pink All Year Long

BAD IDEA. Thumbs down!

We don't need a higher level of breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer awareness is way too high for the threat this disease poses to most American women. How about lung cancer awareness? Lung cancer kills many more women (and men) than breast cancer does--but where is the Lung Cancer Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup? 

Or the Lung Cancer Tic Tacs? 

Or Lung Cancer Barbie? (Should she come with a jeweled cigarette holder?)

What color is the lung cancer ribbon, anyway?

Enough, already. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.  

An Idea for Next October ...

A reader named Cathy, newly diagnosed with breast cancer, added a comment to my post announcing the winners of my second annual "How LOW Will Komen GO?" contest in which she gave me a great idea. 

Cathy wrote:

"I am SO glad I found this Web site. Although I was just diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer THIS MONTH, I am so sick of pink I could just gag. 

"I have informed my friends and family that MY particular colors will be purple and lime green, thank you very much. Will be back to visit often!!!"

Cathy--excellent idea! So, pink haters, next October, let's each choose our own personal colors and wear them with pride. I think I'm going to get--or make--the "M for Malignant" T-shirt as well. 

See: The Winners

How LOW Will Komen GO?: The Winners

Choosing the winners in our second annual competition to find the tackiest, most trivial, most offensive pink-ribbon products wasn't easy. As readers of this blog know only too well, during October we are overwhelmed by displays of tacky pink crap whenever we venture into most retail establishments. 

(Some notable exceptions here in Seattle: Whole Foods, Metropolitan Market, and PCC--thank you, all. At the top of the thumb's down list: Bed, Bath & Beyond, which had at least 30 pink-ribbon products.)

As always, The Assertive Cancer Patient suggests that you fight back by voting with your wallet. Don't shop at stores filled with pink-ribbon merchandise, and do patronize stores that refuse to be pink-washed. 

This year's contest was international, with entries from Australia and Hong Kong. See: Hong Kong

and Australia

Also, a note about the name of the contest: A reader wrote in to protest that sales of the pink handgun another reader entered in the contest (disturbing, that one) did NOT benefit Komen ... Point taken, but the contest is named for Komen regardless of whether or not all the entries raise $$$ for Komen because that nonprofit is responsible for the current pink-ribbon-cause-marketing-run-amok Festival of Crappy Pink Merchandise that we women with breast cancer have to endure every October. 

Until Komen takes responsibility for its actions, and polices itself better, the contest will continue to be named "How LOW Will Komen GO?" 

 

Grand prize: For the second year in a row, to Debutaunt for her entry "Jingle Jugs for Life." See: Jingle Jugs for Life

Note that Komen refused to apologize for taking $50,000 from Jingle Jugs last year, despite a backlash, and is still taking money this year, as far as I can tell. 

This product is tough to beat for all-around tackiness and offensiveness to women, with or without breasts. (I have one breast, myself.)

First prize: To Sarah, who sent in Cherrydale Farms' 1-cent fund-raiser 

Sarah writes that the candy bars are sold door-to-door for $1 by kids. Once you open the bar, there is a coupon for which--IF YOU SPEND 42 CENTS TO MAIL IT IN--the company will donate 1 cent to an unspecified breast cancer organization. 

Lame. Lame. Lame. The judges were underwhelmed by Cherrydale Farms' generosity. 

See: Sarah's Entry . 

Judge's Choice Award: To Peter, for "M for Malignant"

 

The women's volleyball and soccer teams at Evergreen State College wore pink shoe laces when they competed this month (which is almost worth an award in itself), and a guy named Jonathan sent out an announcement saying that he was selling pink T-shirts with a big green "M for Malignant" on the front that fans could wear to these games. 

I never managed to get my hands on a shirt, assuming that they existed, but Peter did send me the announcement: Peter's Entry

Congratulations, winners! Please contact me to claim your prizes. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2008. 

How LOW Will Komen GO?: Peter's Entry

My friend Peter, a student at Evergreen State College, forwarded the following announcement as his entry into the contest. 

I didn't post it earlier, because I was trying to get my hands on one of these shirts before the college athletic dept. shut him down. 

I THINK it's a spoof, and I would dearly love an "M for Malignant" T-shirt to wear during October, but was unable to get one. Note that the explanation of "malignant" in the flyer is not correct. --Jeanne

From: Minor, Jonathan [mailto:minjon03@evergreen.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 1:00 PM
To: Tesc Community Announcements
Subject: [tesccrier] M for malignant

 

M for Malignant

 

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month the Women’s Volleyball team and Women’s Soccer team will be wearing pink shoe laces and ribbons in their games to show their support for those associated with breast cancer.

Students can now show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness and the Women's Volleyball teams and Women's Soccer Team by purchasing PinkShirts with Fancy Green M 's standing for Malignant.  This, of course, promotes the idea of BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. Malignant tumors are what can form within the breast if the risks and causes are not known beforehand.  Show your support today by reserving a shirt and supporting your teams and Breast cancer awareness month.  The sizes available are XS, S, M, L, XL.  The shirts are available in guys or girly t shirts.  The cost is just $15!

              

The games are on October 18^th here at The Evergreen State College.

Please come show your support for our teams and those involved in breast cancer by wearing anything pink to the games.

The Evergreen State College Athletics department has dubbed October 18^thas a day to “Think Pink!”

http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=33&id=8320

Read about Breast Cancer for more AWARENESS then Buy a pink shirt to join the support. There is a limited number and there are less than 50 shirts remaining now.

J. S. Minor
jonathansminor@live.com 
 
The message content about the teams and pink was originally composed by Jeff Drinkwine. My