“traces how breast cancer has been transformed from a stigmatized disease and individual tragedy to a market-driven industry of survivorship.” King maintains that corporations, under the guise of philanthropy, “turn their formidable promotion machines on the curing of the disease while dwarfing public health prevention efforts and stifling the calls for investigation into why and how breast cancer affects such a vast number of people.” I couldn’t agree more.”

I’ve been thinking on these very lines for some time now and even voiced my concerns a few times, but considering I’m usually in the minority and perhaps dealing with friends or family who have breast cancer. It makes it difficult to speak up.

I absolutely agree, it’s more about prevention than cure.

and I’ve been WARY of it as well–
without speaking up–
I’ve just quietly ignored it, praying I don’t have cancer–
and trying to avoid the things that make me ill–

I don’t have breast cancer that I am aware of, but I am profoundly uninsured and undoctored, and what I have heard/read about mammograms lately also alarms me–

those of us who don’t participate in this may feel ignored or isolated or invisible, but I feel more empowered not letting them have access to my body–
but that’s just me; years ago I had a lot of invasive experiences with regards to medicine that changed me for life, so I’m ornery now–

It gets even worse. More mammograms equals more diagnoses of a pre-cancerous condition called DCIS. This pre-cancerous condition is being labeled as breast cancer so that it can be lumped into the breast cancer “cure” statistics to falsely make those rates go up—making it look like some progress is being made. Worse still, many of the organizations funded through these efforts—like the American Cancer Society– actually work to block efforts that would prevent cancer. They have successfully blocked laws that would ban cancer-causing toxins from our food and cosmetics. They have blocked the dissemination of information on alternative cancer treatments that are non-toxic but much more effective than chemo and radiation. They refuse to publish information on prevention through dietary changes.

It will take more BC warriors to speak out against this fraud before any real progress will be made against this disease!!

Sheryl Ellinwood
author, EMPOWERED, A Woman-to-Woman Guide to Preventing & Surviving Breast Cancer

I see nothing in your quoted NBCAM mission above as addressing the cause of breast cancer. And that’s my beef. Here are their sponsors: http://www.nbcam.org/about_board_of_sponsors.cfm . Only two of their sponsors even mention “cause” and even then, their greater emphasis is placed on after-the-fact screening (ka-ching, ka-ching).

This is the action that NBCAM recommends to women in addressing breast cancer:

“… we remain dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular self-breast exams to identify any changes, scheduling regular visits and annual mammograms with their healthcare provider, adhering to prescribed treatment, and knowing the facts about recurrence.”

Nothing about putting money and resources to discovering the cause of breast cancer. The fact is that NBCAM and the pink ribbon campaign are fully funded by corporate interests that make money from breast cancer or from products promoting breast cancer awareness. It appears they have no vested interest in pursuing the cause of breast cancer.

BTW, just a point of clarification. I don’t really think of The Canary Report as a public service organization. I’m just a blogger interested in connecting and sharing information with others who have MCS. Most people with MCS fully understand the need to eliminate toxic chemicals, from both the environment and the marketplace, as a major key to ensuring public health. I believe that’s why my message of boycotting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and its focus on “cure” rather than “cause” resonates with my readers.

I’m going to disagree with everyone here. I don’t think a boycott of BCAM by The Canary Report is in women’s best interests.

NBCAM is not a “holiday” created by corporations. It was created by an organization. Their website says:

“The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services.”

The Canary Report is a public service organization. Maybe you’re not as famous as the PSOs who are mentioned on the NBCAM website, but you are one just the same. You can use the well-known “month of breast cancer info” to:

- Warn about pink-washing, and even call for a boycott of pink-washing companies.

- Call for more emphasis on causes, and less on cures.

- Spread information about the connection between chemicals and breast cancer.

- Promote Breast Cancer Action.

These messages are especially important during October, when all the pink-washing is going on. You can challenge the pink-washers head-on.

Just an idea for next year!

Thanks for the Breast Cancer Action group tip.

(I came here from Jeanne’s Chronic healing.)

Thank you so much for posting this great blog and mentioning the work of Breast Cancer Action! We’re tirelessly working to challenge assumptions and inspire change regarding issues surrounding breast cancer. Thank you for spreading the word.

Breast Cancer Action
bcaction.org
thinkbeforeyoupink.org
milkingcancer.org

Yep, survived the Big C. Not much of the money from pink ribbon campaigns goes to research, and the research is generally about Big Pharma anyway, not addressing the cause. That’s my beef. Also, the origin of the pink ribbon visual, although usually attributed to Estee Lauder VP Evelyn Lauder, was ripped off from a woman, Charlotte Hayley, a breast cancer survivor, who was making peach colored ribbons. She sold them with a card saying, “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is 1.8 billion US Dollars, and only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” Lauder tried to cut a deal with Hayley to use her concept, but she refused saying it was too commercial. So Lauder’s lawyers came up with the idea to change the color to pink, and rest is history: a pink ribbon campaign, built around October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sponsored by companies who make products containing toxic chemicals.

I’m happy you stopped in, Jeanne. I hope you are doing well. xoxo

I didn’t realize you are a breast cancer survivor.

I’m going to echo Jasmine’s comment: “right on”.

Over the years, I have noticed all of this pink ribbon proliferation and wondered things like, “how much of the money from the sale of this product will go to breast cancer research”? Like others, I have found the wording on such packaging to be vague.

Thank you for the informative post!

Jeanne

This post has sparked so much emotion and strong feelings. I’ve read through everyone’s comments several times now.

Everyday woman put toxic products on their skin which is especially absorbant in the underarms…deoderant, anti-perspirant, lotion. They wear toxic perfume, shampoo their scalps with toxic shampoo, dye their hair with toxic dyes and spray it with toxic hair spray. As Becky wrote–since the 70′s the majority of woman are taking synthetic hormones in birth control pills.

A whole lot of the money raised during Breast Cancer Awareness Month needs to go to research to find the cause as much as the cure.

I’m glad to learn about Breast Cancer Action…an organization that is putting focus where it needs to be.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and thoughts Susie and your own experience with breast cancer.