Pink ribbon masks discord in the fight against breast cancer

[JoFerret]

THINK before you PINK

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041008/ts_alt_afp/afplifestyle_us_health_041008082603&e=1&ncid=


Many cancer survivors, however, are insulted by the campaign -- currently in its 20th year -- which they say shows little interest in actual breast cancer research.

This year the Mars company is selling special packages of pink and white M and M chocolates; the 3M corporation hung up the largest pink ribbon in the world in Times Square in New York City -- made up of 75,000 Post-it stickers -- and home appliance maker Kitchen Aid is selling limited edition pink mixers and blenders under the slogan "Cook for the Cure."
...

The San Francisco-based Breast Cancer (news - web sites) Action (BCA) group is counter-attacking this onslaught of commercialism with its campaign "Think Before you Pink."
...
"No one knows exactly how much money is being raised and spent every year, or where all the money is going,"
...
"I would have screamed bloody murder," said a BCA supporter Barbara Ehrenreich, author of a best selling book on poverty in America, "had I known years ago when I had breast cancer how poorly coordinated funding and research on this killer disease is."


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[meti57b]

1. We should allocate $200 billion of tax dollars to cancer research and...

treatment, and raise money for the "war of choice" budget by wearing pink ribbons, having runathons and walkathons and buying those postage stamps that cost a few pennies more where those few pennies go to the cause they support.

More people suffer and die from cancer than suffer and die from what we spend defense dollars to defend against.

[luaneryder]

2. As a breast cancer survivor

I don't do the pink stuff, race for the cure, etc. From all I've read and heard the bulk of cancer research monies go to administrative costs. My donations are better spent on local Hospice and Humane Societys; I know where the money goes and how it is spent.

[Red State Rebel]

3. My sister is director of a Breast Cancer organization

she says the same thing. Her organization focuses on helping the actual victims. Single parents with no insurance who are dropping into poverty and worse because they aren't able to work thru the devastating effects of chemotherapy and surgical treatments.

Her frustration is that the major money goes to these organizations who aren't doing as much as they could while her coalition struggles for funds and almost closed down last year.

How do you support your children during the lenghty treatment needed to save your life? Some of these women end up homeless, living in their cars near the hospitals that are treating them. It's a crying shame.

[JoFerret]

5. Barbara Ehrenreich is a voice I trust on this and other

matters...and she is VERY clear about this pink stuff. Seems like breast cancer is reaching epidemic proportions.

And now Melissa Etheridge;

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=501&ncid=716&e=8&u=/ap/20041008/ap_on_en_mu/people_etheridge

[je11]

4. Living with breast cancer

www.nobrarequired.com/journal

Interesting topic. One that is very dear to me.

Thanks.

[impe]

7. Best to You in this Fight!

I'm 8 years out from my diagnosis and am doing well.

[ocean girl]

6. I lost my mother to breast cancer last year

and since then, we donate to Hospice because there were more helpful to my family than all the high-priced doctors and hospitals combined.

Looks like breast cancer has become trendy and corporitized - makes me sick.

[progressivebydesign]

8. I've been wondering about this...

It seems to be a big marketing thing now, and they're RIGHT, we DON'T know how much the cause is benfitted REALLY by pink M&Ms, pink mixers, pink sweatshirts.. etc.