Breast Cancer Awareness Month feels like one long month of industry advertising. An industry of fear. Even the language is violent. I don't want to FIGHT breast cancer in an "ARMY of Women" (Avon and Susan Love's new project) in the WAR on cancer. I don't want to be labeled a SURVIVOR after BATTLING this mysterious disease that an industry presumes to know how to treat.
In fact, these days much of western medicine is fear based. I expect you to know me well enough that I don't need to go into detail to explain that I value medicine in specific circumstances, where it is cleary needed, where the benefit outweighs the risk, and that I do believe there are truly thoughtful and dedicated health-care-givers. Having said that, there is a very predatory side to the medical community and pharmaceutical companies. Never has it been more evident how very much like drug pushers they are as witnessed by the glut of magazine and television advertising designed to lure the populous into becoming users.
Now it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we see the myriad of companies that are gaining from others' misfortune. I'm talking about Pinkwashing. I will leave the details for you to discover if you choose to at Breast Cancer Action.
The trendiness of breast cancer disturbs me. It's far too much focus on one type of cancer, "... and coming up fast on the rail in second place it's testicular cancer in yellow." But what color ribbon would you sport for cervical cancer, brain cancer, or prostate cancer?
I'm weary from having been through the cancer mill. I've seen the dark side of the industry. It goes without saying that I'm grateful to be alive. I'm grateful beyond measure for so many kind gestures and well wishes. But I also believe that for every person who is alive in this challenging and tumultuous 21st Century, we are all survivors.
