In case there is anyone still out there who doesn't know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a pretty big deal, really. EVERYONE wants in on the PINK. We have Pink Out Nights during our Friday Night Lights. Firefighters & police officers all over the place are wearing pink t-shirts. There's the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Susan G. Komen organization. You can buy pink ribbons, pink headbands, pink necklaces, pink t-shirts, pink koozies and pink license plates. Heck, even the NFL gets in on it with their players wearing pink cleats. And yes, I wear pink in October.
Some of you may be asking yourselves, "Does she wear teal in September for ovarian cancer, or blue in March for colorectal cancer, or white in November for lung cancer?" No. I do not specifically wear those colors for those cancers. Should I? Maybe. Probably. Yes. But for now, I don't. But I'll tell you why I do wear pink in October.
It's about women and cancer. I am a woman and I hate cancer. Cancer is a hateful and horrible and indiscriminate disease. Cancer doesn't care who you are, where you're from, what you do for a living, whether you're married or not, how many children you do or don't have, or whether you prefer Dr Pepper or Coca-Cola. Oh, and cancer really doesn't have an opinion on whether to attack a woman's ovaries, her cervix, her lungs, her brain, her bones or her breasts. The moment a woman hears "you have cancer," where the cancer has taken up residence in her body isn't much the issue. The "where" will become important, because some cancers are more receptive to treatment than others. But what does that have to do with why I wear pink in October?
I wear pink in October to Save the Boobies! Why the boobies and not the ovaries? Well, because boobies are glamorous. They're fascinating and alluring. We can see them. They're right there in front of everything. Everybody knows about boobies. Ovaries? Do you even know where they are? Of course you do. That was a joke. Really, though, in the wide world of things anatomical, ovaries aren't just right out there for us to think about. Seldom do people talk about saving the ovaries. Save the Boobies - that's where it's at.
I wear pink in October to remind women to get a mammogram. And, if you give a mom a mammogram, she's gonna get all kinds of other tests. (Not just moms, of course, it just sounded more fun that way.) Because a trip to the doctor to get the order for a mammogram is more than just that. Usually, that annual doctor visit is an exam to check for cervical cancer. It's a time to talk about those weird things that have been going on in the past few months in one's "lady-life" that could lead to a test for ovarian cancer. It's a really good time to ask about that spot on the back that's been itchy and changing colors and maybe get a biopsy to check for melanoma. Early detection is the key to cancer survival, so Save the Boobies can Save a Life. That's why I wear pink in October.
As a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life, I fight the fight and put forth the effort to raise money to fund research to find a cure for all cancers. I share information with those who have all cancers about services that can make their lives a little easier. I help to educate others about ways to protect themselves from certain cancers. I am an advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I don't discriminate in my fight against cancer - I'm against all cancers. I hate cancer. That's why I wear pink in October.
If you haven't had one this year, schedule your annual exam today, and wear pink in October.
Much love and lots of PINK,
~ME:)
P.S. - If you also hate cancer, and you'd like to make a donation towards cancer research, education, advocacy and services, click <here> to check out my Relay For Life website.
