OK for those of us that are new here What is the Pink Bus

survivorbc09 said:

That's what Sisters are for

That's what Sisters are for coco2008! 

Hugs, Jan

Here is a picture of it coco..Cute, isn't it? lol

coco2008 said:

Love the bus.

Love the bus.

Ritzy, I laugh every time I

Ritzy, I laugh every time I see that pink bus!  So cute!

I put in a request for this

I put in a request for this week coming up..ride along with us...!

 

Denise

I am new too

I have my first f/u with my PCP tomorrow to find out more information after my Bx and Dx of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma and to my reef referral to a surgeon. I would love the Pink Bus to come along with me.

Gavinsgrandma said:

I am new too

I have my first f/u with my PCP tomorrow to find out more information after my Bx and Dx of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma and to my reef referral to a surgeon. I would love the Pink Bus to come along with me.

Hi Gavinsgrandma!  Ofcourse

Hi Gavinsgrandma!  Ofcourse you can have the pink bus.  You might want to make a separate post asking for it.  We always support our pinkies!

Sue

taylor manny said:

Thank you Noel.  I wasn't for

Thank you Noel.  I wasn't for sure what it was.  Love the description!

A Sort Of History of the "Pink Bus"

The “Pink Bus” is used by many online breast cancer support groups to help those who need buoying up in a virtual sense on their journey. I “google” the words “breast cancer “pink bus” and could not find any history. There were many busses painted pink for awareness.

There are many groups I am certain that will claim the “Pink Bus” as their own.  One site on the internet claimed introduction to the “Pink Bus” went back to the Sept/Oct 2005 article in WebMD magazine.

In my original online breast cancer support group, it was Nancy R who introduced it back in 2001 for one of our members. The “Pink Bus” was to accompany Lynne for her first treatment of Herceptin in early 2001.  This was a new drug at the time and she was the first one to use it in our support forum.

Nancy listed all the items to comfort Lynne from a cashmere afghan to an Elvis cape to go around her shoulder. Sixty-one plus women traveled ... “will be right there with you in spirit. We hope this magical bus had made you smile, and give you something to think about as you start this new road. We love you so much, and I KNOW for sure that each and every one of us would be there in person if at all possible”. Love & hugs, Nancy

This group published a small booklet titled: “Breast Cancer Online: In Our Own Words”. On page 41 “Sharing with Other Survivors” The Bus to Lynne’s Appointment” post is mentioned. It is available to download if you want to read it. The booklet was originally published in 1999.  Reprinted in 2001, the bus trip was not in the original booklet as Lynne’s recurred in April of 2000.

http://www.bcans.ca/booklets/inourown.pdf

I don’t remember where Nancy picked up the idea of a virtual "Pink Bus" perhaps another online support group or her own vibrant imagination. The bus travelled for years, helping so many women in the support group. When I first saw a mention of the “Pink Bus” in the spring of 2011 on this board, my heart stopped for a second.   I was totally in shock to read that the “Pink Bus” was continuing it’s journey.

BCANS was a grass root operation, conceived by women with breast cancer who attended a support group in Nova Scotia. The internet was new when they began the support forum in 1996. I logged on in the fall of 1997, posed a question that was never answered. It was not active at all. I went back in February of ‘98 as a lurker and noticed that activity had considerably picked up. My first post was a month later. We were a small group for a long time when the internet was new. All the women became good friends, small enough of a group to know each lady’s story.   By the summer of 2000, Lynne’s prognosis was not good but, she kept her Pollyanna attitude until the end.  She died in January of 2005 and the next few years, so many women on the forum dealing with stage IV succumb to this disease. Those who had been there from the start and continue to do well began to post less and less.

The BCANS lost their funding and voted to close in the fall of 2010. Many of us are on Facebook, a closed group for old members of BCANS to keep in touch. When someone had mentioned the “Pink Bus” in the spring of 2011. I mentioned to the group that it was still around on another support board.

The “Pink Bus” brought back memories of my old forum and outlasted it. The “Pink Bus” continues it’s purpose to help women with breast cancer issues who have a need of virtual support.

I hope that some day the "Pink Bus" can be retired as there will be no need for it.  Hoping a cure for this awful disease.

Best,

Doris