Why I will not wear pink or race for a cure

I wrote a blog about Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October (http://tolland.patch.com/groups/iwona-legers-blog/p/bp--answer-to-cancer-pink-or-green) but here is continuation of my thoughts and convictions. I will write several blog entries this month and I will post several video clips about breast cancer.  If you would like to be more aware about ALL aspects of cancer as a disease and cancer as a big business then buckle up and let’s go on this educational journey.  

Welcome to October- the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you did not think of breast cancer all year, you will not be able to avoid it this month.  Pink ribbons will be everywhere and you will most likely encounter several situations where your donation to “race for a cure” campaign will be very appreciated.  “If you care about women with cancer- donate”, “If you would like to see a cure for cancer discovered- donate”, “If you don’t want to get cancer-Donate, “If you would like to be part of a global movement to abolish cancer- donate”.   These are all great marketing slogans and they pry on people’s emotions and guilt.  And it makes us feel better to believe that we just did our little part in helping “them” to find a cancer cure once and for all.

Donating money to a great cause is extremely noble.  But how would you feel if you found out that about 80% of pink ribbon campaign money doesn’t go anywhere near research for cure. What if I told you that the CEO of the company that started the pink ribbon campaign has made over $ 500,000 in a single year? Would it surprise you to find out that the most of leftover 20% of money that is being directed towards cancer research actually goes directly to pharmaceutical companies who then use that money to develop more cancer treatments (like chemo and radiation).  So are “they” even looking for a cure???  Will they ever find it?

Plastering pink ribbons on products, food, drinks, jewelry etc is designed to make us emotionally involved in purchasing those items and believing that we are somehow helping to find the cure for cancer.  But if you read the small print, you will see that most companies donate a tiniest part of the item price to cancer research.  If you dig a bit deeper, you will find out that from that money only tiny percent actually goes in to cancer research. Additionally, the corporations receiving that money have no financial interest in finding a cure.     

If this post evoked some angry emotions and if you totally disagree with me, let me suggest that you read and watch what I am posting below and continue to do your own research on that topic.  I did just that few years ago and since then I donate my money to foundations that actually make a difference and those who actually follow through on their promises.  

 Susan G Komen foundation did not make the cut- by about 100 light years.

Read and watch videos posted below and don’t let the pink ribbons intimidate you.  I urge you to become an educated “donator”.

Trailer of a documentary movie called Pink Ribbons Inc.  The whole movie is available on Netflix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QPZfcYTUaA

Chris Wark – cancer survivor talks about cancer charities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsRVBH3MCQU

Article by Dr Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/22/breast-cancer-awareness-ribbons.aspx

 Iwona Leger, RN, MSN, Certified Health Coach,  owns Love and Peas Health Coaching and runs individual and group coaching sessions. She is very passionate about disease prevention, lifestyle and diet modifications, as well as stress reduction techniques.