Think pink? Nope, this month I like teal.
As a cancer survivor up to now, I have the skinny on all the talk in the “industry.” I'm sure many of you know that October is breast cancer month, since everything pink is shoved down your throat at that time, but I wonder how many of you know that January is cervical cancer month?
As I haven't seen one tidbit about it in the news or other media, I'm willing to bet not many. I know people with many different types of cancer, and the one that gets the least recognition seems to be any type of gynecologic cancer.
There is no way to market this or make it “prettier” by attaching a nice colour to it. (I'm not saying there is anything pretty about cancer, just that big business seems to be capitalizing off the breast cancer campaign. If there is money to be made, the bandwagon gets full pretty quickly.)
It has been stigmatized, partially because of the association with an STI and partially because all of the gynecologic cancers deal with the very core of a woman's being. Nobody wants to talk about that.
I have seen some headway made in the last year, with the merging of the “Weekend to End Breast Cancer,” with gynecologic cancers. It is now the “Weekend to End Women's Cancers.” While that is great, the simple fact that there is no coverage or awareness this month for a cancer that is, yes, preventable - but nonetheless still affecting women each and every day – is disturbing.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Well, if you're one of the people for whom even a hundred pounds of cure won't save your life, don't you think you'd be pushing for a few more ounces of prevention? Just something for you to think about, talk to your doctor and your daughters about, and perhaps help get the word out there.
Whether you are for or against certain preventative measures, remember this – a little research, and 10 minutes of embarrassment and discomfort beats a lifetime of pain and regret, hands down.
Poll results
Do you get along with siblings-in-laws?
Yes, we get along great 47%
No, we don't get along at all 6%
I don't know them that well 16%
I don't have siblings-in-laws 31%
To vote in today's poll, please visit http://blog.canoe.ca/advice
