How is everyone's Pinktober going?

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AWK
AWK Member Posts: 364 Member
edited October 2015 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

I thought I would ask as this can be a tough month for those of us who are peachy or even our teal sisters.  People ask me if I am battling breast cancer frequently and I have been told that I am lucky that I am not.  I figured out that this was a great opportunity to educate people about uterine cancer and the fact that although our numbers aren't as high the statistics show our disease has a variety of sub types which are very aggressive and can be even more deadly.

Another thing I wish we could do was form a more effective and visible partnership with our Teal Sisters.  And possibly other gynecological cancers.  There are groups such as the Women's Foundation for Cancer and the Inspire site but the focus primarily for both is ovarian with little visibility for Peach.  Teal is the most visible and my thought is that he majority of us are treated following Ovarian Protocols.  Advances  treating Ovarian directly impact our group.  We have the numbers and they have the dollars.  There has to be a way to message for both cancers as well as other gyno cancers to leverage for all of us.  People tend to think of uterine as highly curable but as I have learned - beyond a certain group that isn't the case.  

Just wanted to check in.  Hugs and prayers to all - Anne

Comments

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #2
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    Pink is not my favorite color

    Pink is not my favorite color this month.It is hard to underrstand why one type of cancer gets so much attention and most others are so underfunded and ignored.  My biggest irrataion right now is a very pushy lady that called last week asking me to donated to the poor women who are suffering from breast cancer.  She explained how very expensive it was for them  and that everyting i donated would go to help them with their expenses.  I came unglued.  I rather rudely explained that i was fighting my own battle and that I could not afford to donate to support someone else. I have the utmost compasion for anyone battling any form of cancer, but why should only one form get all the attention.  There needs to be funding for reseach into all types of cancer.

    My daughter did post a peachy cool ribbon on Facebook and explained that our family's ribbon was peach.

    Hugs and prayers , Lou Ann

  • AWK
    AWK Member Posts: 364 Member
    #3
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    Lou Ann M said:

    Pink is not my favorite color

    Pink is not my favorite color this month.It is hard to underrstand why one type of cancer gets so much attention and most others are so underfunded and ignored.  My biggest irrataion right now is a very pushy lady that called last week asking me to donated to the poor women who are suffering from breast cancer.  She explained how very expensive it was for them  and that everyting i donated would go to help them with their expenses.  I came unglued.  I rather rudely explained that i was fighting my own battle and that I could not afford to donate to support someone else. I have the utmost compasion for anyone battling any form of cancer, but why should only one form get all the attention.  There needs to be funding for reseach into all types of cancer.

    My daughter did post a peachy cool ribbon on Facebook and explained that our family's ribbon was peach.

    Hugs and prayers , Lou Ann

    That is why I am so excited about my clinical trial

    There are very few trials out there specific to endometrial or uterine cancer but more and more for ovarian that are opened up to uterine/endometrial.  The trials I considered were based on genome test results and cut across a variety of cancers.  The trial I am in Is being conducted on gioblastomas, lung, prostate, sarcoma and other cancers plus ovarian and uterine.  I am the only uterine/ovarian in it currently at a level of 30 participants but in Sept it opened up to 75 people and my understanding is a lady with ovarian joined it at Cedars in the last few weeks.  I like this way of thinking  collaborating.  We will benefit!  

    Hugs - Anne

  • flyerette65
    flyerette65 Member Posts: 65
    #4
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    AWK said:

    That is why I am so excited about my clinical trial

    There are very few trials out there specific to endometrial or uterine cancer but more and more for ovarian that are opened up to uterine/endometrial.  The trials I considered were based on genome test results and cut across a variety of cancers.  The trial I am in Is being conducted on gioblastomas, lung, prostate, sarcoma and other cancers plus ovarian and uterine.  I am the only uterine/ovarian in it currently at a level of 30 participants but in Sept it opened up to 75 people and my understanding is a lady with ovarian joined it at Cedars in the last few weeks.  I like this way of thinking  collaborating.  We will benefit!  

    Hugs - Anne

    My pinktober is PEACHY

    Hello all!

    Yes I feel the consternation that you all feel.  When I was first diagnosed, I went to Cancer Family Care.  The therapist there told me if I had breast cancer there would be all sorts of financial help for me., but almost nothing was donated to help all of us with gyn cancers.  I did not have insurance when I was first diagnosed so I've got about $68,000 worth of unpaid medical bills.  I got displaced from my job in 2009, COBRA ran out November 2010 and I was going to go through the state to get insurance because the rates I was quoted were between $700 -$900 for private insurance which I could not afford, but you had to be uninsured for 6 months so I waited. I went without and got diagnosed with cancer six months to the day after I lost my COBRA. I do not donate to breast cancer because we are all fighting our own battles and I inform all who ask me to donate that breast cancer gets all the bucks and those of us with gyn cancers get the shaft.  At our class reunion I had a woman boohooing about how she had breast cancer and was stage 1A.  I told her I had UPSC or endometrial cancer and she said but that's the best cancer to have and I very patiently informed her that only 10-15% of women with endometrial cancer get UPSC and that it is highly aggressive and behaves just like ovarian cancer (at least that's what my grn/oncologist told me) and it's not a good cancer to have at all! How do we get more recognition for the peach ribbon women? I wish I knew!

    Barb

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #5
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    flyerette65 said:

    My pinktober is PEACHY

    Hello all!

    Yes I feel the consternation that you all feel.  When I was first diagnosed, I went to Cancer Family Care.  The therapist there told me if I had breast cancer there would be all sorts of financial help for me., but almost nothing was donated to help all of us with gyn cancers.  I did not have insurance when I was first diagnosed so I've got about $68,000 worth of unpaid medical bills.  I got displaced from my job in 2009, COBRA ran out November 2010 and I was going to go through the state to get insurance because the rates I was quoted were between $700 -$900 for private insurance which I could not afford, but you had to be uninsured for 6 months so I waited. I went without and got diagnosed with cancer six months to the day after I lost my COBRA. I do not donate to breast cancer because we are all fighting our own battles and I inform all who ask me to donate that breast cancer gets all the bucks and those of us with gyn cancers get the shaft.  At our class reunion I had a woman boohooing about how she had breast cancer and was stage 1A.  I told her I had UPSC or endometrial cancer and she said but that's the best cancer to have and I very patiently informed her that only 10-15% of women with endometrial cancer get UPSC and that it is highly aggressive and behaves just like ovarian cancer (at least that's what my grn/oncologist told me) and it's not a good cancer to have at all! How do we get more recognition for the peach ribbon women? I wish I knew!

    Barb

    I have mixed feelings

    I was really ornery about Pink October when I was diagnosed with both breast and endometrial cancers in 2010.  I have been ornery about it off and on since.  This year, I'm wearing my subtle pink bracelet in honor of so many of my friends who have died from breast cancer since I was diagnosed in 2010.   Reality and all that.   I also lost a good friend to UPSC this year.  This friend and I went through chemotherapy together (me for breast cancer, her for UPSC in 2010).  My own endo cancer was type I.  I had "the good kind".  Like endometrial cancer, there are many types of breast cancer - it is not a one size fits all.  One of my best friends has a recurrence from hell 10.5 years after her initial diagnosis of breast cancer.  It's in her bones and lung.  Not a happy story.  Metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer.

    The thing that bothers me the most about Pink October is the commercialization and marketing that takes place around breast cancer. Breast cancer is not an excuse to print a T shirt with   save the ta tas nor an occasion to buy that bottle of wine with the pink ribbon on it (I saw a display in 2010.  It horrified me.  It was all marketing, the winery did not even donate a percentage of the sale to breast cancer).   So - while the public is  aware of breast cancer and early detection, it is extremely naive about the dark side of the pink ribbon that they see on all paraphenalia in October.  People ARE still dying from breast cancer in spite of the medical professions best efforts to stop it.  So I become less ornery and more defensive about October.  BUT - Commercial enterprises (including pharmaceuticals) are also profiting from Pink October.  It has gotten out of hand.  And I don't know what the answer is, but I honestly do wish that there was a more equal playing field for all of the varous types of cancers.  Every cancer has an awareness month and a color yet we see little about them (except maybe for prostate cancer - numbers again).  It would make me very happy if there was a single rainbow for awareness of ALL cancers instead of all the marketing that goes on during October.  But I do support breast cancer and I don't really know anyone whose life has not been touched by someone who has a breast cancer diagnosis.  And metastatic breast  cancer is not rare at all.  As a survivor, I have been in fear of a recurrence for 5 years now.    Does all this make breast cancer any more important?  Absolutely not.  I think if in September, gyn cancers got as much hype as breast cancer in October,  businesses would also  jump on the bandwagon there.  It seems to be all about the bottom line of money.  Business has decided that breast cancer is good for their bottom line because if they say they support breast cancer, the public will become aware of their product.   Good grief, my next door neighbor gets water delivered in a pink truck every week!  I remember that water company.  I think the same would happen for gyn (and other) cancers.  Breast cancer awareness extends beyond awarenes and has become all about money.

    So, I contintue to have mixed feelings about all of the October hype, but I am very clear in my feelings about the need for funding for research for metastatic breast cancer - and perhaps research into breast cancer can also be applicable to other cancers.  Unfortunately, October has become more about something else. 

    Here's to moving toward a world without ANY cancer.

    Suzanne

  • AWK
    AWK Member Posts: 364 Member
    #6
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    Double Whammy said:

    I have mixed feelings

    I was really ornery about Pink October when I was diagnosed with both breast and endometrial cancers in 2010.  I have been ornery about it off and on since.  This year, I'm wearing my subtle pink bracelet in honor of so many of my friends who have died from breast cancer since I was diagnosed in 2010.   Reality and all that.   I also lost a good friend to UPSC this year.  This friend and I went through chemotherapy together (me for breast cancer, her for UPSC in 2010).  My own endo cancer was type I.  I had "the good kind".  Like endometrial cancer, there are many types of breast cancer - it is not a one size fits all.  One of my best friends has a recurrence from hell 10.5 years after her initial diagnosis of breast cancer.  It's in her bones and lung.  Not a happy story.  Metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer.

    The thing that bothers me the most about Pink October is the commercialization and marketing that takes place around breast cancer. Breast cancer is not an excuse to print a T shirt with   save the ta tas nor an occasion to buy that bottle of wine with the pink ribbon on it (I saw a display in 2010.  It horrified me.  It was all marketing, the winery did not even donate a percentage of the sale to breast cancer).   So - while the public is  aware of breast cancer and early detection, it is extremely naive about the dark side of the pink ribbon that they see on all paraphenalia in October.  People ARE still dying from breast cancer in spite of the medical professions best efforts to stop it.  So I become less ornery and more defensive about October.  BUT - Commercial enterprises (including pharmaceuticals) are also profiting from Pink October.  It has gotten out of hand.  And I don't know what the answer is, but I honestly do wish that there was a more equal playing field for all of the varous types of cancers.  Every cancer has an awareness month and a color yet we see little about them (except maybe for prostate cancer - numbers again).  It would make me very happy if there was a single rainbow for awareness of ALL cancers instead of all the marketing that goes on during October.  But I do support breast cancer and I don't really know anyone whose life has not been touched by someone who has a breast cancer diagnosis.  And metastatic breast  cancer is not rare at all.  As a survivor, I have been in fear of a recurrence for 5 years now.    Does all this make breast cancer any more important?  Absolutely not.  I think if in September, gyn cancers got as much hype as breast cancer in October,  businesses would also  jump on the bandwagon there.  It seems to be all about the bottom line of money.  Business has decided that breast cancer is good for their bottom line because if they say they support breast cancer, the public will become aware of their product.   Good grief, my next door neighbor gets water delivered in a pink truck every week!  I remember that water company.  I think the same would happen for gyn (and other) cancers.  Breast cancer awareness extends beyond awarenes and has become all about money.

    So, I contintue to have mixed feelings about all of the October hype, but I am very clear in my feelings about the need for funding for research for metastatic breast cancer - and perhaps research into breast cancer can also be applicable to other cancers.  Unfortunately, October has become more about something else. 

    Here's to moving toward a world without ANY cancer.

    Suzanne

    Did you see this week's Time Magazine?

    Really interesting article on the very topic of research dollars and metastatic breast cancer.  I still think there are commonalities across a variety of cancers that have us all benefitting from research.  My mom is thriving despite a history of triple negative breast cancer found in 2007.  

  • flyerette65
    flyerette65 Member Posts: 65
    #7
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    Double Whammy said:

    I have mixed feelings

    I was really ornery about Pink October when I was diagnosed with both breast and endometrial cancers in 2010.  I have been ornery about it off and on since.  This year, I'm wearing my subtle pink bracelet in honor of so many of my friends who have died from breast cancer since I was diagnosed in 2010.   Reality and all that.   I also lost a good friend to UPSC this year.  This friend and I went through chemotherapy together (me for breast cancer, her for UPSC in 2010).  My own endo cancer was type I.  I had "the good kind".  Like endometrial cancer, there are many types of breast cancer - it is not a one size fits all.  One of my best friends has a recurrence from hell 10.5 years after her initial diagnosis of breast cancer.  It's in her bones and lung.  Not a happy story.  Metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer is metastatic cancer.

    The thing that bothers me the most about Pink October is the commercialization and marketing that takes place around breast cancer. Breast cancer is not an excuse to print a T shirt with   save the ta tas nor an occasion to buy that bottle of wine with the pink ribbon on it (I saw a display in 2010.  It horrified me.  It was all marketing, the winery did not even donate a percentage of the sale to breast cancer).   So - while the public is  aware of breast cancer and early detection, it is extremely naive about the dark side of the pink ribbon that they see on all paraphenalia in October.  People ARE still dying from breast cancer in spite of the medical professions best efforts to stop it.  So I become less ornery and more defensive about October.  BUT - Commercial enterprises (including pharmaceuticals) are also profiting from Pink October.  It has gotten out of hand.  And I don't know what the answer is, but I honestly do wish that there was a more equal playing field for all of the varous types of cancers.  Every cancer has an awareness month and a color yet we see little about them (except maybe for prostate cancer - numbers again).  It would make me very happy if there was a single rainbow for awareness of ALL cancers instead of all the marketing that goes on during October.  But I do support breast cancer and I don't really know anyone whose life has not been touched by someone who has a breast cancer diagnosis.  And metastatic breast  cancer is not rare at all.  As a survivor, I have been in fear of a recurrence for 5 years now.    Does all this make breast cancer any more important?  Absolutely not.  I think if in September, gyn cancers got as much hype as breast cancer in October,  businesses would also  jump on the bandwagon there.  It seems to be all about the bottom line of money.  Business has decided that breast cancer is good for their bottom line because if they say they support breast cancer, the public will become aware of their product.   Good grief, my next door neighbor gets water delivered in a pink truck every week!  I remember that water company.  I think the same would happen for gyn (and other) cancers.  Breast cancer awareness extends beyond awarenes and has become all about money.

    So, I contintue to have mixed feelings about all of the October hype, but I am very clear in my feelings about the need for funding for research for metastatic breast cancer - and perhaps research into breast cancer can also be applicable to other cancers.  Unfortunately, October has become more about something else. 

    Here's to moving toward a world without ANY cancer.

    Suzanne

    Pinktober

    Suzanne,

    Very well said! Perhaps you could get this published in your local newspaper or start a blog.  My mother just died from metatastic breast cancer, so it's not as if I'm "against" all the publicity, just wishing for more funding for endometrial cancer.  In lieu of flowers I requested that donations be made to Cancer Family Care for endometrial cancer patients.  They got about $500, small, but it's a start and Susan Komen started small also.I do know that because of having endometrial cancer, the risk of getting breast increases by 25%.  Hugs to all of my peach and teal sisters and the pink sisters too.  We're all fighting the same enemy; cancer.

    Barb

  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    #8
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    Hate it!

    I have vowed to wear peach something every day this month. I wore a lot of peach last month since it was gynecological month in September.  I live in Dallas where there is a large S. G Kolman presence.  This month it is on every commercial advertisement. They have several walks/runs and even a 3 day walk from Fort Worth to Dallas. Each of the news stations in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex talk about it or sponsor one of the walks.  Does the other female cancer even get a mention during September, no way.  In September the local grocery store collects money for children cancers, which I do not mind so much but couldn't one day be set aside for gynogolical cancer.  If a group does materialize for the gyno cancers, I will do as much as I can to advertise it in my town.  Let me know. trish

     

      

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,369 Member
    #9
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    ahhh...there is just so much

    ahhh...there is just so much to say! 

    Suzanne, what you said is beautiful.  I do think something colored "pink" give people the false impression that they are "supporting" breast cancer research/patients/a cause....but truly little of all that money goes anywhere but in to the company pockets.  The amount is trivial.  

    It is worse because I am a football fan and I can't stand seeing it during football games all month!!!  I avoid ALL pink and will not buy something if all they have is their pink products out.  (I can vote with my dollar too!)

    I really just want to scream, "HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME? MY FRIENDS ARE DYING OF THIS CANCER?!"  Of course there are more women at work who have had breast cancer than uterine cancer, and sadly my company is out there touting all the pink stuff too.  Since I am doing the walk in November To End Women's Cancer, which is just for gynecologic cancers, I posted a sign on my office door telling people how to donate and I am touched that I got notice that someone in the office has donated to my team.  

    Like some of the other comments made, I make a point of donating to the other cancers.  I was at the grocery store and there were some women out front collecting for Lymphoma.  Donated!  

    Oh - AND BECAUSE YOU ALL NEED A LAUGH - I am traveling today and my bag got "stuck" in the xray machine.  I am thinking what is going on?  And then it hit me - yet again TSA was stumped by my dialators! Tongue Out I'm not embarrased - I am happy to tell as many people as possible!  

    Peach and Teal on my fellow warriors!

     

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #10
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    Lou Ann M said:

    Pink is not my favorite color

    Pink is not my favorite color this month.It is hard to underrstand why one type of cancer gets so much attention and most others are so underfunded and ignored.  My biggest irrataion right now is a very pushy lady that called last week asking me to donated to the poor women who are suffering from breast cancer.  She explained how very expensive it was for them  and that everyting i donated would go to help them with their expenses.  I came unglued.  I rather rudely explained that i was fighting my own battle and that I could not afford to donate to support someone else. I have the utmost compasion for anyone battling any form of cancer, but why should only one form get all the attention.  There needs to be funding for reseach into all types of cancer.

    My daughter did post a peachy cool ribbon on Facebook and explained that our family's ribbon was peach.

    Hugs and prayers , Lou Ann

    i do donate to a lot of

    i do donate to a lot of causes depending on how pushy the person is.  We never donate to any telemarketer, I don't think it is safe and you never know if it actually gets where it isd supposed to go.  Our community is small and a lot of fund raising for local people who need help facing serious health issues happens.  There is also a cancer support community where i recieve my chemo and they help all of those suffering from cancer.  Not just one, and you can be sure your donation gets where it was to go.

    I did buy a pair of pink Sketchers with a pink ribbon, but I don't wear them this month.  I wear them the other 11 months for my cousin Shirley and my friend Brenda.

    Hugs and prayers to all  Lou Ann

  • MoeKay
    MoeKay Member Posts: 477 Member
    #11
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    NoTimeForCancer said:

    ahhh...there is just so much

    ahhh...there is just so much to say! 

    Suzanne, what you said is beautiful.  I do think something colored "pink" give people the false impression that they are "supporting" breast cancer research/patients/a cause....but truly little of all that money goes anywhere but in to the company pockets.  The amount is trivial.  

    It is worse because I am a football fan and I can't stand seeing it during football games all month!!!  I avoid ALL pink and will not buy something if all they have is their pink products out.  (I can vote with my dollar too!)

    I really just want to scream, "HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME? MY FRIENDS ARE DYING OF THIS CANCER?!"  Of course there are more women at work who have had breast cancer than uterine cancer, and sadly my company is out there touting all the pink stuff too.  Since I am doing the walk in November To End Women's Cancer, which is just for gynecologic cancers, I posted a sign on my office door telling people how to donate and I am touched that I got notice that someone in the office has donated to my team.  

    Like some of the other comments made, I make a point of donating to the other cancers.  I was at the grocery store and there were some women out front collecting for Lymphoma.  Donated!  

    Oh - AND BECAUSE YOU ALL NEED A LAUGH - I am traveling today and my bag got "stuck" in the xray machine.  I am thinking what is going on?  And then it hit me - yet again TSA was stumped by my dialators! Tongue Out I'm not embarrased - I am happy to tell as many people as possible!  

    Peach and Teal on my fellow warriors!

     

    Organization's Name Change Has Always Bothered Me

    I was not happy when the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation changed its name to the Foundation for Women's Cancer back in 2011.  See:  http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2011/05250/Gynecologic_Cancer_Foundation_Changes_Name.27.aspx.  According to the Foundation, this change was a "straightforward new name."  I respectfully disagree.  Based on my experience, when the public thinks about "women's cancer," for the most part, they automatically think "breast cancer."  Even myself, when I first saw the name change, I thought, what are they doing?  Are they now going to focus on breast cancer in addition to gynecologic cancers, since the former is also primarily a "women's cancer?"

    When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 1999, many people just assumed that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, not unreasonably, because the majority of what you hear about in the media relating to cancer is about breast cancer.  So I tried to educate people about what my cancer was, as well as how it was was diagnosed and treated.  At least when the Foundation was called the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, it was clear from the name that its mission focused on below the belt cancers.  Unfortunately, I believe that the name change has removed that element of certainty about the role of the Foundation. 

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #12
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    Glad this topic came up

    I see that many of you have and/or had the same feeling I was getting when October rolls around.   When I was sitting at a football stadium while my sons were in high school, the pink parade came out in October as I sat there with a recurrence of my Gyne cancer.    I have nothing against all those women who are fighting this (in fact my mom has Stage IV breast cancer), but I felt alone.  It was bad enough I had cancer but to feel like an outsider because my cancer wasn't "breast" cancer.    Its not the people who are fighting breast cancer, it is the media and other people trying to make money off of the issue at hand.   Selling all the "pink" stuff.    The good intention of the whole breast cancer awareness is soiled by those wanting to make money.

    And as a side note to make everyone laugh, if anyone is familiar with the TV show Gilligan's Island, just think how Mary Ann and the Professor felt when the early theme song didn't name them personally but named them as "and the rest" instead of saying "the Professor and Mary Ann".    Tongue Out    That's how I feel sometimes "and the rest"... lol

     

    So technically I am no color.   Even my doctors couldnt figure out if I had endometrial or ovarian or mullerian.   They picked mullerian endometrial and treated it as ovarian.   So someone tell me what color I am please?   lol

    There are so many types of cancers it is really unbelievable.   Digit cancer, these interlining of tissue cancers - who comes up with this stuff?

    Anyway ladies I send hugs to you all because no matter what type of cancer we have, its cancer.   

    image

     

    Hugs and prayers!

    Kathy

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    #13
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    I, too, have mixed feelings

    about Pinktober.  My mother, great-aunt, cousin and many friends have had breast cancer.  Some have died from it.  I am glad that breast cancer gets the attention it does and that it has raised awareness and money for research.  My October dollars will go to a local organization that offers emotional and financial support to breast cancer patients.  All of the money stays here in the community.  

    However, I am absolutely disgusted by the commercialization and marketing of products that are not even remotely supporting breast cancer in any way.  Say what you will about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and some of the choices they have made (and there is plenty to say). The flip side is... at least they are a big part of why people are talking about breast cancer.  Not many people talked about uterine cancer last month in any way, meaningful or not.

    Nobody really talked about breast cancer until Shirley Temple Black and Betty Ford.  Sadly, this nation seems to need a beloved public figure with a disease to put a good focus on it.

     

     

     

     

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #14
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    Editgrl said:

    I, too, have mixed feelings

    about Pinktober.  My mother, great-aunt, cousin and many friends have had breast cancer.  Some have died from it.  I am glad that breast cancer gets the attention it does and that it has raised awareness and money for research.  My October dollars will go to a local organization that offers emotional and financial support to breast cancer patients.  All of the money stays here in the community.  

    However, I am absolutely disgusted by the commercialization and marketing of products that are not even remotely supporting breast cancer in any way.  Say what you will about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and some of the choices they have made (and there is plenty to say). The flip side is... at least they are a big part of why people are talking about breast cancer.  Not many people talked about uterine cancer last month in any way, meaningful or not.

    Nobody really talked about breast cancer until Shirley Temple Black and Betty Ford.  Sadly, this nation seems to need a beloved public figure with a disease to put a good focus on it.

     

     

     

     

    Even breast cancer survivors have problems with October

    I just learned about this group.  I want to learn more.  This pink October thing has really gotten out of hand.  http://metup.org/

    Cancer should not be a contest and no one should profit.

    Suzanne

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #15
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    wonderful article

    This is a very well written article about below the belt cancers.  http:www.yellowstonevalleywoman.com/looking-beyondpink/.

    Dr. Stevens is an associate of my Gyn-Onc. and i have met her several times.  Lou Ann

  • AWK
    AWK Member Posts: 364 Member
    #16
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    NoTimeForCancer said:

    ahhh...there is just so much

    ahhh...there is just so much to say! 

    Suzanne, what you said is beautiful.  I do think something colored "pink" give people the false impression that they are "supporting" breast cancer research/patients/a cause....but truly little of all that money goes anywhere but in to the company pockets.  The amount is trivial.  

    It is worse because I am a football fan and I can't stand seeing it during football games all month!!!  I avoid ALL pink and will not buy something if all they have is their pink products out.  (I can vote with my dollar too!)

    I really just want to scream, "HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME? MY FRIENDS ARE DYING OF THIS CANCER?!"  Of course there are more women at work who have had breast cancer than uterine cancer, and sadly my company is out there touting all the pink stuff too.  Since I am doing the walk in November To End Women's Cancer, which is just for gynecologic cancers, I posted a sign on my office door telling people how to donate and I am touched that I got notice that someone in the office has donated to my team.  

    Like some of the other comments made, I make a point of donating to the other cancers.  I was at the grocery store and there were some women out front collecting for Lymphoma.  Donated!  

    Oh - AND BECAUSE YOU ALL NEED A LAUGH - I am traveling today and my bag got "stuck" in the xray machine.  I am thinking what is going on?  And then it hit me - yet again TSA was stumped by my dialators! Tongue Out I'm not embarrased - I am happy to tell as many people as possible!  

    Peach and Teal on my fellow warriors!

     

    You crack me up.

    So funny!  And I am also a football fan - diehard Redskins fan!  Which is where the pinkification of the NFL started.  I am all for awareness and early detection  as I have mentioned - my mother is a Thriver despite a history of Stage II triple negative breast cancer (she hates the term survivor).  I think creating leverage and visibility for research is important.  Did you know that  for treating Uterine cancer are based on ovarian protocols?  

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,369 Member
    #17
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    MoeKay said:

    Organization's Name Change Has Always Bothered Me

    I was not happy when the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation changed its name to the Foundation for Women's Cancer back in 2011.  See:  http://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2011/05250/Gynecologic_Cancer_Foundation_Changes_Name.27.aspx.  According to the Foundation, this change was a "straightforward new name."  I respectfully disagree.  Based on my experience, when the public thinks about "women's cancer," for the most part, they automatically think "breast cancer."  Even myself, when I first saw the name change, I thought, what are they doing?  Are they now going to focus on breast cancer in addition to gynecologic cancers, since the former is also primarily a "women's cancer?"

    When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 1999, many people just assumed that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, not unreasonably, because the majority of what you hear about in the media relating to cancer is about breast cancer.  So I tried to educate people about what my cancer was, as well as how it was was diagnosed and treated.  At least when the Foundation was called the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, it was clear from the name that its mission focused on below the belt cancers.  Unfortunately, I believe that the name change has removed that element of certainty about the role of the Foundation. 

    MoeKay, I think you may be

    MoeKay, I think you may be right about the name change.  The Foundation knows me and that I am pretty vocal, so I will be letting them know along with the article.  "Women's Cancer" - while we know is just for gynecologic, men can develop breast cancer too, which causes the confusion.

    It is what we have right now and I talk the advice of friend of mine who became a nun when asked, "How can you become a nun knowing things are the way they are?"  Her response, "Because if you want to change something you have to do it from the inside".  

    I will support the cause in whatever way I can.  I am tired of losing all the beautifully talented women!!!

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,369 Member
    #18
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    AWK said:

    You crack me up.

    So funny!  And I am also a football fan - diehard Redskins fan!  Which is where the pinkification of the NFL started.  I am all for awareness and early detection  as I have mentioned - my mother is a Thriver despite a history of Stage II triple negative breast cancer (she hates the term survivor).  I think creating leverage and visibility for research is important.  Did you know that  for treating Uterine cancer are based on ovarian protocols?  

    I was at  information session

    I was at  information session 2-3 years ago and flat out asked about treating the agressive, Type II, uterine cancers more like OC.  I have to say, all the questioned posed that day by the women were extremely insightful!!  Very impressive!!!  I think all the doctors were amazed as well.

     

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #19
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    Lou Ann M said:

    wonderful article

    This is a very well written article about below the belt cancers.  http:www.yellowstonevalleywoman.com/looking-beyondpink/.

    Dr. Stevens is an associate of my Gyn-Onc. and i have met her several times.  Lou Ann

    Flyerette-Barb- I am sorry to hear of your loss

    It is so difficult to lose a parent. Please accept my condolences Over the loss of your mother.

    My loved one was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2011. Overnight, I tried to learn all that I could about cancer in general and grade 3 breast cancer in particular. It never occurred to me that this "post graduate" training would be simply a prelude to my own personal cancer nightmare experience. Does it bother me that breast cancer treatment has become as commercialized as Santa Claus has become in replacing the importance of Christ's birth? Yes, of course. However, ANY progress made in the treatment of cancer inevitably advances the treatment of other cancers. For example, I have read about Herceptin ( an IV drug used to treat my love one's Her2 neu breast cancer) and how it is being assessed in the treatment of UPSC cancer. That just might help some of us here, including me!

  • flyerette65
    flyerette65 Member Posts: 65
    #20
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    Abbycat2 said:

    Flyerette-Barb- I am sorry to hear of your loss

    It is so difficult to lose a parent. Please accept my condolences Over the loss of your mother.

    My loved one was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2011. Overnight, I tried to learn all that I could about cancer in general and grade 3 breast cancer in particular. It never occurred to me that this "post graduate" training would be simply a prelude to my own personal cancer nightmare experience. Does it bother me that breast cancer treatment has become as commercialized as Santa Claus has become in replacing the importance of Christ's birth? Yes, of course. However, ANY progress made in the treatment of cancer inevitably advances the treatment of other cancers. For example, I have read about Herceptin ( an IV drug used to treat my love one's Her2 neu breast cancer) and how it is being assessed in the treatment of UPSC cancer. That just might help some of us here, including me!

    Thank you Abbycat2

    It is difficult to lose our moms, no matter what age they are when they pass.  Mom is our first friend, our best friend (well in most cases) and our biggest advocate. I miss her a lot but know she's not suffering anymore and is in a better place.  Like you, Abbycat, I advocated for my mom when she was diagnosed with Stage 3C breast cancer in 2001, never dreaming that I would be experiencing fighting my own cancer battle 10 years later.  Her cancer metastized in 2013 in the small intestine.  I could see the end coming since this time last year.  I feel proud that I was able to keep her at home until she passed, that was the one thing she wanted in the end was to die in her bedroom, which she did. It took an awful lot out of me physically and mentally to do that and I wouldn't recommend anyone doing it unless they had a lot of caregiver support.  As far as Pinktober is concerned, everyone here is correct, it is big business getting the majority of what is spent on pink products, not breast cancer research. What can we do? We can start by educating some of the big sponsors of Pinktober, such as Krogers, that all womens cancers are not pink.  Right now I have a very good friend who will be getting confirmation on Thursday regarding whether her lymphoma has recurred.  She had a biopsy last Friday and feels it's back. She went through chemo, radiation and stem cell transplant 7 years ago.  We can support each other no matter if we wear teal, peach, pink or green. (Can you believe the local hospital had be brave bracelets for all the cancers except uterine/endometrial)? We are basically ignored, but with our voices uniting we can get some recognition for those of us who wear peach!  Call your local hospitals, ask your PCP, oncologist and any other doctor you see regularly to support Peachtember!

     

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