Speedos and freezing weather are the perfect match for breast cancer benefit

This story has a ton of local color.
Hats (and everything else) off to the organizers for coming up with a unique fund-raiser.

http://pahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=163377

Is the reality of breast cancer too ugly for social networking

I thought this article is interesting. So many women feel that BC gets prettied up with pink ribbons. Here is one woman doing the opposite.

http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/20101124/facebook-breast-cancer-u-turn-helping-awareness/

more from the U.K.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332311/Facebook-angers-breast-cancer-survivor-removing-offensive-pictures-scar.html

Happy Thanksgiving

From Loop!

Making Money for Breast Cancer with Breasts

O.K. this story is a little on the silly side. And it's much more salacious than the owl-themed craft project that raised @whymommy's ire last year.

But hey, why shouldn't a topless bar raise money for breast cancer.

I only wonder why this station did not post the video.

http://www.cbs12.com/news/cancer-4729675-breast-club.html

The problem with Peggy's point

I like Peggy Orenstein. Two of her books sit on my shelf, I have met her in person. We both have spent part of our lives in Minnesota.

But as much as I think she is one of the leading feminist writers, I think she did a disservice to young survivors in her recent New York Times article.

I actually agree with her on the odd looking NFL pink football gear.

But her point seems to be that breast cancer is mostly an issue for old ladies and women who are dying. This makes any edgier, sassier, breast cancer awareness campaign a hollow reflection of a misguided society.

Now don't get me wrong, I know a lot of the breast cancer awareness campaigns strike a sour note with women with metastatic disease.

But Orenstein seems to take issue with the fact that early stage breast cancer survivors could portray ourselves as strong, vital, and even sexy.

I don't have to tell most of you that whether you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, this disease can be a sledgehammer to your sexuality. It can steal your hair, your body image, and your confidence. The road back is a fight. A long fight.

So the aspirational image of a cancer survivor who is strong, sexy, and has her sense of humor intact is an important one.

It's hard to remember that in the civilian world, most healthy women in their 20's, 30's, and 40's would rather not think about breast cancer. It's hard to blame them. Before I had breast cancer the issue was a pink haze that I tried to avoid thinking about. After all I had a 7 in 8 chance that it wouldn't be me.

Honestly, an awareness message with an edge or a sense of humor would have had a better chance of reaching me. If I had not put of my first mammogram to 42 I might have a better prognosis.

Orenstein also dislikes the idea of the breast cancer "ass-kicker". However the image of a warrior-princess is not a new one. It can make us feel like an empowered person, not a perpetual patient. Maybe it's a false hope, but it's still hope.

While dealing with a frozen shoulder and lymphedema prevents me from "kicking ass" many days, the idea that there is a archetype out there, one part wonder woman and one part anime helps me to keep fighting.

In the days after my diagnosis, I toted the book Cancer Vixen with me like a security blanket. The fact that it was a cartoon allowed my brain to absorb it, despite the shock. I needed to not feel like an old lady or someone who's life was ending.

So here is the irony.

It's true there is nothing fun or sexy about cancer.

But being a fun and sexy woman is still within reach, even if reaching is a little tougher these days.


 

This article is beautiful!

For a nurse this lady is sure a great writer. Don't miss this lovely essay on the nature of recovery.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/seeing-a-patient-outside-the-hospital/?src=tptw

Pink-lash?

I have to wonder if there is an emerging trend of backlash against breast cancer awareness month pink.
While I truly appreciate the support, a few the pink items in the NFL look kind of silly. Others look better.

I wonder how the players feel about wearing them. Are they thinking of a mom or aunt, or are they saying I can't believe I have to wear pink socks on national television?

About 8 years ago, I was required to wear pink one day a month, and to be honest, it felt like an imposition. This was long before I actually had breast cancer of course.

A few weeks ago there was a dustup over pink whistles at a Washington State high school football game. And now this:

 http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2010-11-10-pinkcleats10_ST_N.htm

Finally science and bling fight cancer together!

I don't blog a whole lot of science articles, but this one is...pretty? Gold covered nano particles can help fight breast cancer according to a new study.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/08/health/la-he-tumors-gold-20101108

Maryland nursing home does the pink glove dance!

 I actually participated in the "official" pink glove dance sequel. It was fun but I wish they had showed more of the NYC shoot, which they put a great deal of effort into.
This next video is quite a bit more "home grow" but it's really really cute!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiUgEqRVLWw&feature=player_embedded#!

Cyberknife could become new surgical option for early stage patients.

This will be in studies for a long time, but it's an interesting possibility!


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cyberknife-radiosurgery-for-early-stage-breast-cancer-2010-10-31?reflink=MW_news_stmp