October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is the time when everyone is encouraged to “Rock the Pink!” or donate money or participate in one of the various walks sponsored by the Susan G Kohman foundation.
Perhaps I am in the wrong for my way of thinking, but I’m tired of it! I’m tired of the nation focusing on ONE form of cancer. Yes, I know it can strike men and woman alike, across different backgrounds. Yes, I know it is the #1 cancer affecting women. But there are other cancers that kill woman EVERYDAY that don’t get the same push. I know this because in November 2010 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
When my OBGYN informed be that my last exam was “abnormal” and additional testing was needed, I took to the internet to see what could be affecting me. After my second follow-up appointment, and the diagnosis of cancer clear, there was little to no information on the web.
As for research in how to prevent such a disease or “kill” it all together…..there wasn’t much going on.
In FY 11, research for breast cancer topped $625,059,909 dollars. While research dollars for cervical cancer reached $81,379,067. There is a major discrepancy between the two, heck between research for all types of cancers.
I am of the belief that if one type of cancer can have an awareness month, then so should the others. Should the individuals that have brain cancer not get the same type of awareness as those that have breast cancer? Both kill, both hurt! One is not more important than the other; society just treats it that way.
I don’t hear/see folks rocking brown for colon cancer, grey for brain cancer, teal for cervical cancer, yellow for bladder cancer, white/clear for lung cancer, and the list goes on! I asked around and no one could name another awareness month besides October.
It’s such a shame. As for me, I support cancer research. So for me, October is Cancer Awareness Month! I will highlight various types of cancers throughout the month and I will “Rock the teal” in support of my own personal battle with cancer…….which I won to the glory of God J
October also is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (which I would dare say affects quite a few more people than breast cancer) and National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and neither one of those get any love either.
ReplyDeleteThat's part of my point, there are so many other causes that get no publicity. It hurts my heart because besides my own struggle I know plenty who have been abused or suffer from other cancers.
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