It’s October, which means that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. Last year, on the blog, I promised to donate a dollar for every unique comment on my cancer post.
This year, I’m doing it again.
I saw, on twitter, and elsewhere criticisms of similar campaigns, asking why it’s necessary to ask for comments: why not just donate?
To be clear, I do donate. I give my dollars and my time to the work of various cancer and breast cancer organizations. In fact, I’m running again in May, as Team Captain, for Komen’s Race for the Cure in honor of my grandmother.
This is a cause that I am passionate about. And I do *get* the criticisms about making it a spectacle. But here’s why I do it: I want to make a spectacle. I want to cause a commotion. I want you to think about cancer.
Last year, I was particularly struck by this an article written by Karen Heller of the Inquirer, critical of the whole Pink for October campaign. I wrote her a letter in response, which I’m posting here (edited for brevity):
I read your column each week and often agree with your observations about children, commercialism and culture. However, this week, I feel compelled to write to you because I think you missed the mark in your article on breast cancer.
My grandmother died of breast cancer. You’re right in saying that it is not a pretty disease. My grandmother’s cancer spread to her lungs. I watched her die. Literally. My mother and I were with my grandmother in her house when she took her last breath. It was a horrible, terrible way to die.
…
You are not the first person that I have heard criticize the “pinking” of October. I’ve heard it a lot, and I respectfully disagree. Is it commercial? Of course it is. This is, after all, America, and if a capitalist can find a way to make a buck no matter what the occasion, he or she will. It has become “cool” to wear Lance Armstrong Foundation bracelets and AIDS ribbons. At the end of the day, does that take away from the good that it does? I don’t think so. …I don’t think that you can be too aware. And, despite your statements in your column, I do think it promotes awareness.
Every time that I see my pink ribbon, I think about my grandmother… And then I think about the fact that more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. They are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, family friends… As a woman and as a mother of three children, how can I not promote awareness of a detectable, and often curable, disease that affects women in such huge numbers?
So, at the end of the day, while I agree with you that there’s a whole lot of pink going on, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Awareness might mean that one more woman gets a mammogram, or asks the doctor what that lump is. And it might save a life. Isn’t that worth a little pink now and again?
With that in mind, here’s my little bit of pink on the blog today. Like last year, for October, in honor of my grandmother, I’m making a donation to Susan G. Komen For the Cure. I’ll donate $1 for every unique comment (meaning, not spam) on this post. You can just say hi, ask me a tax question, chat about tax policy or leave the name of someone close to you that was diagnosed with breast cancer – heck, you can even tell me how much you love the Phillies! (Actually, after the game last night, you can especially tell me how much you love the Phillies!)
I think that by saying that you will donate a dollar for each post you recieve is helpful to raise awareness and get people thinking. So please ignore the criticism; people just like to criticize other people.
I would like to encourage people who want to support breast cancer research and treatment to donate money directly. There are many “pink” products in the stores but buying them does not guarantee that any of your money goes to breast cancer foundations. And if some of your money does, it is often a minuscule amount.
I agree about buying PINK items and where most of the money goes. I don’t.
I would rather buy something in pink to wear that i can make use of and donate $$. Sometimes i question also what percentage of the donation really makes it to the cure or what gets eaten up in “administrative” expenses.
Frankly who would operate such an enterprise if it was voluntary?
In memory of my Aunt Leona (Auntie Onie) who passed away from breast cancer some 42 years ago. When i was just 16.
For the record, I DO buy pink. Partly because I think it’s cute. And partly because I like the idea of promoting awareness. But I try to buy things that make sense for me – so no to the pink Dyson vacuum cleaner but yes to the pink Coach key chain. 😉
OK, Kelly — I’ll ding you for a buck… in memory of my Mom, Leyana Kafalas (1929-2008), who survived breast cancer (caught early, minor surgery and some followup zapping in the microwave) several years before she died from other causes last year. Mom was a self-described “carcinophobe” because her parents had died of colon cancer — she always said she expected to be gone before she reached 60, and her state of mind was not improved when several of her friends died of cancer when she was in her 50s. However, she dodged the bullet, until one day, about 7 or 8 years ago, I got a call from her: “John [that’s my real name — my friends call me Urbie, but my family uses my given name], I’ve got the Big C.” Thanks to regular checkups (a routine mammogram found her tumor when it was small and easily taken out), cancer didn’t turn into the nightmare she had always envisioned. I’ve had a number of friends with cancer in recent years, and it’s amazing how well they’re able to do, with today’s treatment options. There’s still a long way to go, though — thanks for posting this reminder!
Ask a tax question and get a donation for charity? Don’t mind if I do. 🙂
Any suggestions for where to find “reasonable salary” information when the profession in question isn’t really something that can be easily looked up online? (“Blogger,” for example.)
My good friend Susan is a survivor, this is for her.
Very cool! Don’t listen to those naysayers on Twitter!
Would hibiscus constitute “pink”? I am not a real pink person, but love the dark pink (hibiscus).
Right on Kelly. Dysons are very expensive! LoL
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
It’s a funny world where you have to coax, cajole, and trick people into giving to a worthwhile cause. But, you are right, we live in a capitalist society and many companies and organizations are competing for our dollars (whether commerical or charitable – and those categories compete with each other, and within the categories, too). So, I guess a little noise and bling (or pink) are necessary to raise funds for charities. Criticism of excessive costs in charitable campaigns is reasonable, but there are always expenses in any organization. So, what I am saying is – “you go, girl.” Ed.
Noble and worthwhile.
Keep up the good work, tax and cancer-fighting, and keep the faith!
The count so far – two close friends have died of breast cancer, 3 friends are survivors, and that is just my mom’s cohort. Here’s my comment for the cure. Let’s pink the year, not just the month.
Maureen
My Mom is a breast cancer survivor. Whatever brings consciousness of this terrible syndrome is a good thing.
You go girl!
I am happy that you support fighting breast cancer. I have been aware of breast cancer for many years. But I must admit I think all the pink is a bit much, I wish there was more awareness of cervical cancer ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and well the list long of all the cancers we need all be aware.
1 in 8 women will have breast cancer in their lifetime. But it is interesting that the U.S. leads the world in incidents of breast cancer, but thankfully not deaths.
I’m glad you participate in “the race for the cure” makes me wonder if a better thing wouldn’t be a race for the cause.
Thank you for using your blog to support breast cancer research. It is an important cause. My cousin just celebrated five years from her diagnosis. She was in her early thirties, and pregnant with twins. She made it through and the twins are your typical four year olds.
However, I want to take the opportunity to remind everyone, that breast cancer is not the only type of cancer that needs research support and funding. I lost my father to bladder cancer, and my wife is a thyroid cancer survivor. That is why I support cancer research through the American Cancer Society and advocate for the interests of cancer patients and their families through the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).
I also need to point out that quality health care is a huge barrier in the battle against cancer, and health insurance that is adequate, available, affordable, and administratively simple is critical to prevention, to early detection and treatment, and to achieving successful outcomes for more cancer patients. Policies with service limitations, high deductibles and co-pays, and caps on benefits, leave many cancer survivors (even those who thought the had good insurance) financially crippled for the rest of their lives, and it is even worse for those with no insurance at all.
Cancer patients having no insurance or inadequate insurance have higher medical costs, poorer outcomes, and higher rates of death. This is yet another reason why we need real health care reform, and we need it now.
I would encourage everyone to learn more at:
http://www.cancer.org and http://www.acscan.org/healthcare
Tim,
Thanks for the reminder! We also support the ACS – my mom is a thyroid cancer survivor, too!
This is for all of those on my cancer prayer list – sister Linda, friends – Mary Jo, Lucy, Linn, Puffy, Grete, Jane, Eileen, Sharon and for those I can’t remember because it’s Monday and it’s still morning.
My Mom’s breast cancer came back 6 years after we thought she was clear. I miss you Mom and I’m glad that you didn’t have to learn about September 11, 2001.
Anyone complaining about the “dollar per unique comment” idea is just upset he or she didn’t think of it first.
Breast cancer took my grandmother 10 years ago, after she had gone into remission for almost 10 years before suddenly passing. I sincerely hope we can find a cure for this terrible disease in my lifetime, and if the pink movement helps then it’s certainly worth it.
Plus, it brings a smile to my face to see all the NFL players with their pink gloves, hats and shoes this year.
I read your blog almost every day, but I have never commented before. Plus, I have recommended your site to the other female lawyers at my firm. I think that warrants at least $2 for my comment, but I’ll settle for a buck fifty. (I kid, I kid.) Thank you for supporting such a worthy cause.
Susan, duly noted. I have that I’m in for 2 for you! 😉 Thanks for reading!
I love this blog and the “Comment for the Cure” idea is fantastic. Keep up the good work Kelly!
Thanks Wendy!
You go girl, I am a survivor and even though I look terrible in pink I love it in October, the month I was diagnosed 20 years ago.
Best,
nancy
Keep up the good work, and of course your great website. I read every post you write, which is not a common thing in any other blog I read. And by the way, I don’t mind “Pink” getting another dollar, and of course not, you getting another dollar to deduct on your tax return 🙂 .
Hello Kelly,
I read your blog almost everyday, and with this post I wanted to comment. What you are doing is wonderful. More people need to know. My younger sister is a survivor as well as many friends, and every year I do the walk in their honor. Thanks for the tremendous effort, you are great.
Brian
Thanks for the great idea, Kelly! Initially, I found m’self distracted by the “pinking” of the NFL, but whatever can bring about more awareness should be done.
I think your post, along with the general commercial exposure, will bring about more proactivity towards finding a cure and improving support for survivors.
I buy pink by chance, but I prefer to involve myself with charities directly.
Thanks as always for the enlightenment, Kelly!
Paula
I just found out this weekend that my mom has breast cancer. 🙁 I’m hoping she will be among the surviving group. It’s definitely a wake-up call to find out someone close to you has cancer. You remember where your priorities lie. Thanks for spreading the word. I am grateful for all the research that has already been done to improve the treatment methods.
Oh Brittney, I hope so, too! Best wishes!