Pink Fatigue

You have to really hand it to the women, though.  All that pink exposure doesn't happen by accident.

They say men are reluctant and embarrased to talk about prostate cancer and prostate problems.  How embarrassing do you think it must be for a woman to talk about losing a breast?  They do it, though, and they support one another iin the fight against breast cancer.

How many of us routinely wear a blue ribbon or a prostate cancer awareness pin?

Ribbons, pins, 3-day walks, and other activities don't cure cancer.  But, they do raise awareness, and with awareness comes funding for research.

We're way behind the curve with prostate cancer.

The breast cancer community was very successful in raising quality of life issues in the minds of the general public and the medical community as far back as the '70s. Out of that came a myriad of techniques to minimize the loss of breast tissue from cancer surgery, and to do restorative surgery in cases where that wasn't possible.

Prostate cancer treatment seems to be stuck in curative mode, with little consideration for quality of life. Curing the cancer, while important, is only part of the challenge. Until men are willing to speak out publicly about the real and substantial quality of life side effects from prostate cancer treatment, I doubt we'll see much progress there.

I agree with must tell our stories much more aggressively. I had my story published in our company magazine. I expected more feedback and questions about prostate cancer. I got a little response, but I am part of the problem, I am little hesitant about discussing my experience with prostate cancer.

I am going to do better, this thread motivated me.

I have spoken very openly to many friends and co-workers about my prostate cancer. 99% of the time, it is the women that will ask questions and interact. Most men clam up. With them, I mostly have to drop the subject. I conjecture that most men do not want to acknowledge the possibility it could happen to them.

I never realized how wide spread PCa is - I'm sure I heard something about it during my lifetime but never paid any attention to PCa.
Well that has changed as of 12 July.

But - Other than my immediate family and here on HW I have told no one else. My wife did tell friends at church, when they ask me- I say yes and it is being taken care of - and change the subject

Since July 12 I have donated at least 3 times to Breast Cancer Runs - and shame on me I have not donated at all to any PCa causes.

Am I ready to talk about it to others - err no - But - I really really have to get over that and talk candidly about my PCa and all I have learned here.

"partly because of the poor showing last mnth for PC Awareness Month, but mainly because they are everywhere. Trust me, I give to the cause, but really?"

Poor showing? I think it was non-existent. I don't recall seeing anything.
Regarding the pink issue, even my wife says they've gone overboard. Where she works they also decorate the trees with pink ribbons. I think unfortunately people grow numb to it.

I wonder, how many cases of lung cancer, colon cancer, bone cancer originate as undiagnosed, or untreated prostate cancer?

In the past, it may have well been that men weren't diagnosed until later in life. At my uro appointment 2 weeks ago I was informed that I had started a trend. I was the youngest patient my uro had ever treated with prostate cancer at 48. During my recent visit he informed me that he had found 5 more cases in men under 50 since my diagnosis in January. I told hm that since finding mine he had probably been testing more younger men and he reluctantly agreed. He didnt even know the color of the prostate cancer ribbon. H*** I didn't either a year ago, but I do now for sure.

The pink wave has become as much a product marketing blitz as a cancer awareness campaign. Companies know women make over 70% of family purchasing decisions. They know women are more likely to purchase products from companies that profess to support their health concerns.

Sephie – Very well and very bluntly put. Feel free to get on your soapbox whenever you have the urge.

lowandslow – Your doctor was not even testing guys under 50 – I’m willing to wager the majority of doctors are continuing to do that.
But than – how many guys , at any age, ever request to be tested for prostate cancer? One of the many things the Breast Cancer groups have done is to educate the ladies they need to be tested, but that’s only been in what? The last 25 years? Still the Breast Cancer groups have done a wonderful job in educating the ladies.

I know there are many members of our community who have brought the PCa to the public awareness. Well I know now after being part of the community, 3 months ago I did not. Were there news articles ? Sure probably was and I just passed them right by.

Sephie said “
Lets vow to bring PCa to the forefront and not let our fears prevent any of us from talking about it - including the "sensitive" issues of treatment side effects. This is real life and folks need to be educated.”

Right I agree – How do we do that? This community is in a great position to do things like keysailfisher suggested – send emails to the NFL (as a example). If a organization receives one email they will not pay a lot of attention. If they receive 1000 – well that is a different matter.

Changing topic somewhat
Something I have been thinking about recently and wondering how I could work it into a post here. Its to what Sephie said “PCa and its impact not only on the men who are diagnosed but on us women who love and care about them”

Yes I realized my PCa had a impact on my wife, but I was a bit self focused recently and did not realize the depth of the impact until I overheard her talking to one of her gf’s whose husband also has PCa (which I did not know until just last week).

So guys – see that lovely lady who shares your life?
She is as much or more a part of your PCa journey as you are – go buy her some flowers from time to time, take her out to someplace she likes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Go for a leisurely walk – and hold her hand. Make it a point, before you leave the house to go anywhere without her – a hug, a kiss and a I love you. That’s the medicine I can give to my wife to help her along this journey that she is helping me with.

Bud

Great, Sephie! By coincidence, I'm watching the Sunday Night football game, Jets vs. Ravens, and the stadium is saturated in pink:  on the uniforms, on the cheerleaders; in the crowd; and during PSA spots.  The NFL.com website is awash in pink ribbons.  And that's all great, but where was the NFL during Prostate Cancer Awareness month, which is clearly a man's issue. 

I see pink ribbons on all the players' helmets.  A lot of these guys are African Americans and surely many of them have relatives afflicted with PCa.  Players are wearing pink shoes and gloves.

It's amazing.  Just once in a while I'd like to see the need for prostate screening discussed on a program with a national audience of men, such as an NFL game.  That would be cool.

Just pondering another issue about breast vs. prostate cancer. A woman gets diagnosed with breast cancer. Whatever surgery she has - whether a lumpectomy or mastectomy, she can have that breast reconstructed so that there is no physical evidence of the disease. Whether or not that breast is intact does not affect her ability to be a woman - she can still engage in sex, she can still wear a bathing suit (assuming she has reconstructive surgery). It's amazing what can be done so that a woman appears "whole" on the outside. And certainly the loss of a breast does not affect how often a woman has to pee!

I met a great lady a couple of weeks ago. She had undergone a double mastectomy (the other breast was removed as a prophylactic to prevent recurrence). She had reconstructive surgery but kept getting infections. Finally, she turned to her husband of many years and said 'do you care if I have boobs?" He said nope, so she had the implants removed. The way she figures it, she's saving a bunch of money on buying bras (if any of you women out there are reading this you'll know what I mean as the average bra can run you $30!). She's much more comfortable and doesn't have to worry about side effects from the implants. Not only is this lady brave, but I applaud her husband for putting her needs and comfort ahead of his own.

I say

More Blue

rather than

[pink] Less Pink [/pink]

But as you see the code won't accept Pink as a color !!!!!!

Suffering more from PCa and PSA fatigue myself.

Alf

Any promotion that helps any cancer, helps my cancer.