Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

In the haze of pink ribbons and breast cancer awareness / prevention this October, only one day is "dedicated" to the patients whose breast cancer has metastasized to other parts of their body. Seriously? A day? Just a day? Why isn't this whole month dedicated to ALL aspects of breast cancer? Of course it's uplifting to hear the stories of women who beat breast cancer in its early stage, but let's also hear the stories of women with Stage IV breast cancer. There is NO cure for Stage IV breast cancer and boy isn't that a downer. Who wants to hear that? Well, I do. And I think everyone else should!

I have many opinions on October and this whole pink ribbon campaign now that it has directly impacted me. But I will always have a special place in my heart for the pink ribbon. My mom embraced it and it makes me think of her. Not in a sad way, I like seeing the pink ribbon! I am currently rocking her pink survivor ribbon pin this month and I am so proud of it.

I just think we all need to be a little more aware of where our donations and monies are being spent. No more donating money to charities where it goes to awareness and prevention, we get it! I want to donate to charities that are researching a cure for Stage IV patients. I want to donate to Planned Parenthood so that women who can't afford mammograms will be screened no matter what.

While you are here, I highly recommend signing this petition that is asking to change October to "National Metastatic & Breast Cancer Awareness Month." You can also help the movement here. I say let's not only recognize Metastatic Breast Cancer... what about the men who are affected by breast cancer? What are their feelings towards the pink ribbon? What about people who have other cancers? What do they feel about the pink ribbon explosion during October? This is a great article about the problem with pink. It's an interesting read!

This is my first October being a breast cancer survivor. Seeing all the pink ribbons doesn't make me think of my battle with cancer any more than say in February or August. I think about it a lot. I assume this will change as the years go by. Will I get angry when October comes around for reminding me of what I went through? I don't know. I think it will always follow me around. And that's fine.

- J.