HER2 Support Group Forums - October is Almost Upon Us

HER2 Support Group Forums (https://her2support.org/vbulletin/index.php)

- her2group (https://her2support.org/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=28)

- - October is Almost Upon Us (https://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=35078)

October is Almost Upon Us

Christine and I spotted our first pink ribbon item in Wal-Mart last evening. breast cancer support trash bags.

Here is some food for thought:

http://www.blogher.com/pink-ribbon-m...rporate-profit

Regards
Joe

Joe - did you see my post about the HER2 ribbons in Kenya/S.Africa? They are pink and orange - the orange as a sign of encouraging women to learn the specific subset of their DX, such as HER2+... I personally LOVE that idea.

I have contacted the website and have inquired about the availibility of these pins.

Hint: I am sure that there will be Roche reps in San Antonio this December from S Africa.

Regards
Joe

that was very thought provoking.

This is indeed food for thought. How come there's so little discussion? Did you follow the link? What did you think? This is food for thought on many levels - the exploitation of breast cancer as an emotional tool to increase profits, and a look at our society and its con$umer-enthusiasms.

I am not saying that no one should ever buy something that claims to donate to breast cancer. But do your research. If you wouldn't be buying the item if it didn't have the bc link - then just send that money straight to an organization that you know does good work (this one comes to mind). If you would be buying it anyway, do your research and be sure that the claims are significant and legitimate about how much of your money goes to help breast cancer causes. And if you find that the claims are misleading - SAY SOMETHING. We as survivors have more clout than the general public, because of those emotional tugs - we've earned the privilege.

BCAction has (had?) quite a bit to say on this topic also, but I can't seem to find a link to current information on their website. If I google thinkbeforeyoupink the information is dated 2004 and 2005. Time does fly but I thought there was something more current. Maybe they're tuning it up in anticipation of October.

The other piece of October that troubles me is the hype about screening-as-we-currently-know-it. Yes, it's what we have and we have to use it but it's NOT the answer - we need better answers and more research, if we're going to save more lives. All the money and effort that goes into rah-rah screening messages seems like such a sad (and mistruthful) waste to me.

Debbie Laxague

..I remember talking to a head/neck cancer survivor and he said he was sick of all the "hype" and money that goes into breast cancer...."what about the rest of us he said"

I said, "John, what we have that you don't have is jewelry!"

We both thought that was very funny.

Now, well, maybe, maybe not so much!

Thanks for the info Joe. As always, very provocative.

Ginagce

I think this is great. After Adria (chemo) I hated the color red. Now after 3 years - I hate pink and all the junk that is related to BC. I love groups like this one who actually do things right.

I so agree Brenda. So many of these celebrity types talk as if breast cancer is no big deal.....if they were smart they'd use their platform to help and inform.

Mary Jo

I couldn't agree more. I am tired of all the pink stuff too. Now, I notice that a lot of products are pink even without contributing to Breast Cancer. I think marketers may be hoping that people assume it is for Breast Cancer when it really isn't.

The worst example I've seen is in our local grocery store. There are stickers with a pink ribbon STUCK ON THE WATERMELON! As if watermelon is going to prevent BC.

ORANGE is for skin cancer!

About the ORANGE color wristbands.

The ORANGE is for skin cancer. I saw them in my dermatologist's office.

Knew the pink-orange combo was mixing cancers.
Some other way should be found to educate the BC people to learn their subset.

P.S. Curious about the "Watermelon connection." Anybody know about that??