Pink Schmink!

We're almost mid-way through October, and I haven't uttered a single word about breast cancer; in fact, I refuse to wear pink this month. Race for the Cure was last Sunday - I stayed at home and did something so meaningless, I can't even remember how I spent the day. I had planned on doing a writing retreat for young women with breast cancer (with funding approval), but eh - what's the point?

It's taken awhile, but I think I've finally gotten the hint that people who do not have breast cancer should probably just mind their own dang business because there's no way we can know or understand what that journey is like. Quit wearing pink, quit talking about it, quit throwing money at it, quit trying to help - just quit.

This is the message I've gotten anyway; and, I won't lie, it hurts.

Besides, I have my own problems. For instance, this one stupid black hair keeps growing on the underside of my chin. What is that all about? Everyday I sit down in front of the mirror knowing that it's waiting there - mocking me. I pluck the little sucker, but it comes back - and sometimes it brings friends with it. You have no idea how much of a hassle that is. Anyway - where's my freaking Race?

All kidding aside - there is a line between those with and those without and I do get, I really do. And by 'getting it' I mean, not getting it at all; how can someone possibly understand unless you've been there. You can't - I can't - not with this.

I suppose I'd feel the same way - but I don't know that I would ever intentionally discourage people from getting involved or raising awareness, or - most importantly - discourage them from raising money for research and treatment. Breast cancer is a highly personal disease - but don't we all sort of have to work together to work toward a cure? Maybe. Maybe not. Therein lies the problem, I suppose. Help? Don't help? Ignore it until it happens to you? I just don't know anymore.

Anyway, it's something that's been gnawing on me for awhile.

Coincidentally, I got a note on Friday from Lauren Cahn letting me know she published another article on The Huffington Post and to share it with you. I don't know Lauren personally, but I've appreciated both of her articles for the insight she provides and the poignant and honest manner in which she discusses the different and complicated facets associated with the disease...

If you read my recent Huff posting, Breast Cancer Sucks and You Could Die From It, then you already know that I have a very special aversion to October, more commonly known these days as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month". And you also know that what bothers me isn't the widespread attention the media brings to bear on breast cancer, but the nature of the attention.

You see, it seems to me that in order to free women from what might be paralyzing fear of the disease (fear which might hold women back from seeking out early detection and medical intervention), the media has "pinkified" breast cancer, dressing it in stiletto heels and handing it a Cosmopolitan. I am all for focusing the attention of the public on breast cancer as a treatable disease, but I find myself becoming impatient and annoyed by Breast Cancer Awareness Month because of the way it has come to make the disease seem practically friendly and approachable, as opposed to the sinister and potentially deadly disease that it actually is.

CLICK HERE for the rest of Lauren's article.