It's October

So it’s breast cancer awareness month.

Everywhere I look I’m seeing pink.

Breast Cancer bloggers everywhere are writing about “Pinktober”

I have only been dealing with breast cancer for 6 months. I went from no breast cancer to stage 4 in 2 weeks. Previous to that, I did not know a thing about breast cancer (I'm 31-I didnt think I needed to) and I still don’t know a whole lot about this cruel, serious and complex disease, so here are some of my thoughts on breast cancer awareness month:

The only “cure” they have for breast cancer is early detection. If it is caught and treated at stage 0,1,2 or 3 there is a chance that it won’t come back, or spread to another part of your body. But it still could come back at any time so therefore early detection is not a complete cure.

For people diagnosed at stage 4, there is no cure. There are treatments to extend life but we will never be survivors, or people who once HAD cancer.

In general, breast cancer patients feel that:

A  Too much money is being spent on awareness campaigns, and not enough on research. If stage 4 breast cancer could be cured, then all breast cancers could be cured. Yes awareness is very important but awareness does not cure. We need more money for research, so maybe one day a real cure can be found.

Someone once said “The only way you know you are cured from breast cancer is if you die of something else”  Mmm interesting.I wonder how many people actually know that?

B  Some companies are exploiting breast cancer for profit. You know those products where, if you buy it 1p or 1% goes to a breast cancer charity? Well where does the rest go? Profit for the company. They see October as an opportunity to slap a pink ribbon on their product to increase sales and make large profit. They are exploiting our Very Serious Disease

Speaking of our Very Serious Disease, brings me onto

C Facebook campaigns to turn our disease into a game. Before I had breast cancer, if I saw someone’s status that said “I’m 4 weeks and craving eggs”, I would think:

1.       Why is she announcing to the world she is pregnant at 4 weeks?

2.       Ah that’s great, a new baby on the way.

3.       Oh it’s a game ha ha funny, she made us think she was pregnant

I would not at any point think I should really go and check my boobs after reading that incase i have breast cancer. I have no problem at all with facebook games, I have played enough of them in my time, just don’t say they are creating awareness for breast cancer when they are not!

And after saying all that, I am in no way offended by the game. If you sent it to me I did not take offence. In fact I found it funny when my sister was on fb and gasped “oh my god x is pregnant and she just announced it on facebook”  I was able to smugly tell her that x was not pregnant. It was a game.

So yes it’s a good game. But it’s a game. It’s not a breast cancer awareness campaign J

So it Breast Cancer awareness month. I’m very much aware. Are you?  

Check your breasts. Plain and simple. No games, no gimmicks, just check.