If you REALLY want to do something about breast cancer, skip Komen. Skip all the pink crap. And listen to my very wise friend, Kathleen Duffy, who posted this on her wall. Shes an amazing human who has impacted me probably more than shell ever know. Integrity, smarts, warmth, and vision, all in one beautiful package. Heed her words. She knows from whence she speaks. Well worth the 3 minutes it will take you to read this entire thing. Im not celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month bc I am already acutely aware of breast cancer and believe me, its nothing to celebrate. Please understand that the pinkening of this disease is NOT the reality. The reality is 30% of us who are diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer will end up with metastasis down the road. For me, that was 7 years after my initial diagnosis and 6 years after being declared in remission from Stage 1 cancer following surgery, chemo, and radiation. Generally, less than 5% of the money raised for breast cancer research goes to research on metastatic (advanced/stage 4) disease. According to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network website,100% of deaths from breast cancer result from disease that spreads to other vital organs. No one dies from breast cancer that is confined to the breast. Charities and companies that engage in pink washing take your money, often for products that contain ingredients that are suspected to cause or exacerbate breast cancer, and cash in. They get positive publicity for supporting the cause and they get a ton of money from people who want to contribute to finding a cure. Not all the money goes to the cause, of course - they keep quite a bit of it for themselves. The sentiment is real - I love & appreciate those of you that have written checks with me in mind, or sent me little pink ribbon items - but a) pink is just not my color, really and b) I would much prefer that your money go towards the purpose for which you intended it. I do NOT support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which in 2011 (most recent year for which data is available) only used 20% of the millions of dollars raised for actual research. They paid two individuals, their current CEO and former CEO/founder, a combined total of over $1 million dollars during that same time. Thats your money for the cure going into their pockets. There are several organizations I am happy to support and would like to recommend them to you as being worthy of any gift you would like to make. One is the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. Their mission statement: MBCN is a national, independent, non-profit, all volunteer, patient-led advocacy organization dedicated to the unique concerns of the women and men living with metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV or advanced breast cancer. This website has been a goldmine of information for me during this past year, and as one of the few groups that focuses on advanced disease, they are at the forefront of those whose work will actually reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer in a significant way. Find them at mbcn.org/get-involved/category/donate. Another organization I would like to recommend is the Chicago Womens Health Center. The small but mighty CWHC has played a huge role in my life living with breast cancer. They were the clinic I went to to have the original lump checked out. Their volunteer doctor reviewed my chart and suggested that I get the mammogram that eventually showed Stage 1 cancer. They are the resource I have turned to for counseling and support during all now 8 years of dealing with this shit, and they could not be more there for me and all women in Chicago, supporting our physical and emotional health. I love this group fiercely. Donate to them at https://givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=4573. Last but definitely not least, the amazing Sage Community Health Collective in Logan Square. I started visiting their offices for acupuncture when I was still being treated for asthma, before the stage 4 diagnosis. During chemo, the spectacular Tanuja Jagernauth continued my treatments by coming to my house - even during the polar vortex! This group is near and dear to me for many reasons - they are a worker owned enterprise, steadfastly committed to social justice and healing and non-harmful enhancement of health, and just generally rad ladies. You can donate to their important community work at sagecommunityhealth.org/portfolio_3/donate-to-sage/. All you really need to be aware of this month is that metastasis is what kills and that there is not enough attention being paid to this end of the disease spectrum. Pink ribbons make breast cancer cuter (though not sure how the men who get breast cancer feel about the feminization of their pathology - another rant for another time I guess) but lets get real about finding a cure for this beast. Happy October for all the reasons, not just boobs. xo
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 01:52:53 +0000
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