The month of October is quickly approaching and I have mixed feelings about it. I absolutely love the fall in Chicago -- the cool, crisp air, watching the Chicago marathon, and Halloween. But it is also the anniversary of when I found the dreaded lump, which has forever changed my life.
October is also breast cancer awareness month, another thing that I have been dreading. I recall a couple of years ago the 'it' thing to do was post your bra color on Facebook. I was baffled about what people were posting and then caught on. The claim was that it helped raise awareness of breast cancer but I question how many people actually did anything as a result of posting their bra color. I think this year people are supposed to post their shoe size or where they left their purse. Regardless of what people are doing, we need to move beyond the awareness and find a cure. (As an aside, Komen has branded "for the cure" yet too few of their funding actually goes to research.) I doubt these Facebook games generate much money for breast cancer research.
I saw a great blog post earlier today that really spoke to me. Here's an excerpt:
Once a soldier, always a soldier
Cancer is a wicked foe and not to be taken lightly. Tens of thousands of viewers gained a deeper understanding of life post-breast cancer by viewing "The Scar Project," an art display depicting young women post-mastectomy.
The beauty of these women, in victory over pain, disease and loss, is one of the most moving of all visual presentations I have even seen.
So, inspired by "The Scar Project," and since this year's silly game is about inches, let me tell you what my Facebook status would be:
Eight inches, times two.
Not my shoe size, but the length of the scar on my chest where my breast used to be.
Times two, because both of my breasts had cancer.
There's no sad face to follow in the post because I am happy, healthy and fighting alongside my sisters in the battle. Because "once a solider, always a solider" seems to be true for breast cancer survivors, as well as military personal.
I love a good laugh, but if we really want to do something about breast cancer, then do something -- fund research, volunteer or just love someone with cancer. Let's show our power by fighting in memory of the women lost and for the future, so others will not have to walk this road called cancer.
I personally think these "breast cancer games" are tacky and tasteless. Everyone is entitled to say what they want so if you want to post your bra color, by all means, go ahead. But I don't think breast cancer is something that we should joke about. Women die from this disease every day.
