"The Pink Bus" History, sort of...

SIROD
SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
edited December 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
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 who introduced it back in 2001 for one of our members. The “Pink Bus” was to accompany Lynne for her first treatment of Herceptin probably in early 2001.

Nancy listed all the items to comfort Lynne from a cashmere afghan to an Elvis cap 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” last spring 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. 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. Lynne was the leader of the group, much in the way that Chenheart/Claudia is to ACS BC group. 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” last spring. 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.

Won’t it be a grand day when the “Pink Bus” is rusty from lack of usage and repairs, gathering cobwebs in some forgotten bus junkyard of a time long past? There won’t be a need, for they will have found a cure. There won’t be any woman or man, young or old who will ever need to know what it is like to request virtual support to accompany them on where they never wanted to go in the first place. A rusty, old bus with a few flakes of pink, won’t that be a grand sight!

Best,

Doris

Comments

  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    Thank you
    Doris,
    Thank you for posting this.

    Cindy
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    mamolady said:

    Thank you
    Doris,
    Thank you for posting this.

    Cindy

    Thank you Doris
    History of breast cancer support movement is very important
    We have made so far because of survivors and work they have done for us
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    Doris, I love the image of
    Doris, I love the image of the rusty bus with a few flakes of pink paint sitting unused in a junk yard. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • gami43
    gami43 Member Posts: 281

    Doris, I love the image of
    Doris, I love the image of the rusty bus with a few flakes of pink paint sitting unused in a junk yard. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Doris - interesting info.
    Doris - interesting info. Like Linda, I would love to see it
    in a junk yard, unneeded anymore or in the Smithsonian in honor
    of all the women & men who faithfully rode it for their pink
    sisters & brothers. I'm a hopeful dreamer. Thanks.

    Luv, Teresa
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    gami43 said:

    Doris - interesting info.
    Doris - interesting info. Like Linda, I would love to see it
    in a junk yard, unneeded anymore or in the Smithsonian in honor
    of all the women & men who faithfully rode it for their pink
    sisters & brothers. I'm a hopeful dreamer. Thanks.

    Luv, Teresa

    Thanks Doris,
    This touched my heart.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    gami43 said:

    Doris - interesting info.
    Doris - interesting info. Like Linda, I would love to see it
    in a junk yard, unneeded anymore or in the Smithsonian in honor
    of all the women & men who faithfully rode it for their pink
    sisters & brothers. I'm a hopeful dreamer. Thanks.

    Luv, Teresa

    Thanks Doris,
    This touched my heart.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    gami43 said:

    Doris - interesting info.
    Doris - interesting info. Like Linda, I would love to see it
    in a junk yard, unneeded anymore or in the Smithsonian in honor
    of all the women & men who faithfully rode it for their pink
    sisters & brothers. I'm a hopeful dreamer. Thanks.

    Luv, Teresa

    so sorry triple post
    ????
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    Thanks All
    I like the Smithsonian as a permanent parking place. I might join that last ride on the "Pink Bus".

    There was a mention on another post questioning my dislike of harmless rides on the pink bus. When one has been around for 10 years and one can still see the signs that this bus continues unabated, it isn't easy.

    I shall wait for the opening at the Smithsonian.


    Doris
  • MsGebby
    MsGebby Member Posts: 659
    You aren't suggesting that
    You aren't suggesting that the Pink Bus is only imaginary, are you???? My dream of seeing that bus pull up to my door with all of the lovely pink ladies on board have been shattered! ok ... just trying to make a joke here. Honestly, the story behind this bus is so beautiful and wonderfully uplifting. The idea that this bus should end up in a junk yard someday is quite alluring. The CURE would have been found. What kind of epitaph should the Pink Bus be assigned?

    I suggest .... "C" Ya Later
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    MsGebby said:

    You aren't suggesting that
    You aren't suggesting that the Pink Bus is only imaginary, are you???? My dream of seeing that bus pull up to my door with all of the lovely pink ladies on board have been shattered! ok ... just trying to make a joke here. Honestly, the story behind this bus is so beautiful and wonderfully uplifting. The idea that this bus should end up in a junk yard someday is quite alluring. The CURE would have been found. What kind of epitaph should the Pink Bus be assigned?

    I suggest .... "C" Ya Later

    May we
    May we all be on the final ride to retire the magic pink bus.

    marge
  • debi.18
    debi.18 Member Posts: 850 Member

    May we
    May we all be on the final ride to retire the magic pink bus.

    marge

    Beautiful
    Thanks for sharing, brought tears to my eyes. I also love the idea the rusty old pink bus.
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member

    May we
    May we all be on the final ride to retire the magic pink bus.

    marge

    The Magic Pink Bus
    Dear Marge,

    I have a feeling I won't be on that bus but, hopefully you will be on that final ride. I do believe that old saying that "hope springs eternal in the human breast" and that one day a cure will be available.

    I always thought that play on the last word was good for us struggling with breast cancer.

    Best,

    Doris
  • Frankie Shannon
    Frankie Shannon Member Posts: 457
    Pink Bus
    Thank you for explaining about the Pink Bus i didn't know what it was.Hugs Frankie
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member

    Pink Bus
    Thank you for explaining about the Pink Bus i didn't know what it was.Hugs Frankie

    ..bumping up for all our newbies ..
    Vicki