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Posted 10/3/2011 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
was annoyed watching the ravens-jet game last night, they had a whole dedication to breast cancer, an entire section of the dome all in pink, pink ribbons, etc, etc. like the rest, not against BC awareness at all, but the NFL is mostly a man's world, and why couldn't they do the same thing for men in promoting PC awareness. After all, 1 of 6 men sitting there, will get diagnosed with PC in their lifetime.

the best part, was seeing the jets get smashed by the ravens. when you are a lifetime patriots fan, nothing makes you happier, lol

david in sc
Posted 10/3/2011 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think breast cancer (pink) awareness is a good thing.  I am sorry that prostate cancer (blue) is not as well promoted.

My issue is that most of that "pink" money (milllions and millions) goes to the American Cancer Society (ACS). 

Most of us are aware that far too much money in the hands of the ACS goes to huge executive salaries and constant fund raising.

I will never knowingly give to the ACS again..... shakehead

http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm

Posted 10/3/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
the same can be said with the Canadian Cancer Society
- the PCa awareness money was going to the CCS and when asked for money to help the PCa cause - they were told it was already spent
- that is why the PCa guys split and are now PCCN - Prostate Cancer Canada Network - http://www.prostatecancer.ca/

-put your money where your prostate was -

-all the best to those fighting PCa and all other cancers -
hugs,
Bronson
Posted 10/3/2011 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
It can't hurt that breasts are just more enjoyable to look at than anything we have to offer.
Posted 10/3/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Alf, I think you hit the nail on the head. Hence, my original post about guys getting over their hesitancy to speak to these issues and getting out there to push for awareness.
Posted 10/3/2011 9:17 PM (GMT 0)

It seems like there is some momentum building around the movement to "Think before you Pink," although it's taken a decade since the 2001 Harper's article on "pinkwashing."

From an NPR interview last year with a leader from Breast Cancer Action:

“Awareness we have, the question is, what are we doing about it? And when companies can just slap a pink ribbon on any product, then we’re in trouble, because many of those products don’t do anything for breast cancer. And many of them are actually harmful to our health.”

A couple examples were cited.  The KFC "Buckets for a Cure" was a great example.  What kind of message is sent promoing some nice greasy, fried chicken...fight one cancer while helping cause another! 

Posted 10/4/2011 9:24 AM (GMT 0)
White House Turns Pink to Honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/white-house-turns-pink-to-honor-breast-cancer-awareness-month/

Was on the evening news last night. I guess the petition to do a BLUE night failed confused

Posted 10/4/2011 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
Surely it would make more sense to floodlight the dome of the Capitol Building in Pink light and light up the Washington Monument in Blue!

In the UK perhaps they could light up Big Ben in blue. And in France how about a blue Eiffel Tower.

Alf
Posted 10/4/2011 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Casey,

I can understand the connection to KFC. The two piece meal does come with a breast and a leg.
Posted 10/4/2011 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
The amount of pink doesn't bother me so much, it is the lack of ANY blue. My experience is that men want to avoid the subject. At work, the women have asked me much more than the men. For the men it seems like nothing has happened. I have a tendency to like the attention, so I flaunt it a little and squeeze in a conversation when I see the slightest opening. When someone asks me how are you, there is very seldom just a response of good. Daily, I wear a blue wrist band on each arm, a blue ribbon charm bracelet, a blue ribbon pin and I have my large SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk/Run flag hanging in my office. Oh yeah, I have a blue ribbon car magnetic that says Know Your PSA. I have so much blue it is hard for me to see pink!!! Even with all this blue on, very little questions.

Don't get me wrong, I support the pink but I'm doing a little to squeeze in some blue. Let's open up and get the message out.
Posted 10/4/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Good story, Sephie, and some good comments here.

Honestly, part of the reason for the pink explosion IS because breasts are 'pretty' and talked about/looked at/celebrated with little embarrassment. And I'm sad for the suffering that comes with ALL cancers..the end stage days in hospice, the side effects of treatments and the roller coaster of hope and despair.

But I wonder if some day attention will be given to so many other illnesses that good folks suffer in silence and humiliation...disfiguring skin diseases, disorders that cause strong body odors, and the myriad of diseases which cause bowel and bladder problems to the extent that the patient cannot leave home. Wishing that everyone could feel supported and live without shame....

Juliet
Posted 10/4/2011 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Juliet, I think you've hit on exactly the point that bothers me.  It's wonderful that people are so moved by breast cancer, so  motivated to march, run, walk, wear pink and do whatever they can to raise money and promote awareness.  But as BDCyclist said, and as you also said, what about all the other folks:  the tens of thousands suffering the ravages of the pancreatic cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, the paraplegics, the Down Syndrome kids, the leukemia patients, and all the others who get little or no attention....the forgotten ones....the ones we perhaps turn away from when we see them approaching us?  What about the old folks wasting away in nursing homes, with no visitors and minimal care as they patiently wait for death to end their loneliness?

It will be wonderful if a cure can be found for breast cancer, but women will still be dying from uterine cancers, cervical cancers, anal cancers, and a host of other cancers that we don't talk about and hardly think about.

I love the female breast.  I've enjoyed looking at breasts since I first snuck a peek at the Playboy my Dad brought home back in about 1955..maybe the first issue.  But I wish that the anti-cancer efforts would be directed not so exclusively at breast cancer, but at all cancers.  Let's allocate research and funds to try to find cures for ALL cancers, including prostate cancer. 

Meanwhile, like BDCyclist, I'll wear the blue ribbon lapel pin, mark my golf ball on the green with my blue ribbon ball marker, and wear my Arnie's Army Fight Prostate Cancer ballcap.  Maybe one of these days someone will actually enquire what the blue ribbon means.

 

Posted 10/5/2011 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed, I told our bowling club president that I would be out of action as I was having an operation for Pca. The news spread rapidly and I was approached by a number of club members who wanted to ask questions. about half of them went and had a PSA test and out of the number, 2 were diagnosed. The rest never bothered, I spread the word whenever I get the opportunity, but I find the majority of men just don't want to know or discuss Pca, also some treat you like they could catch Pca from you.

I obtained some leaflet info from the Prostate Cancer foundation, and distributed throughout a number of sporting clubs, unfortunately most of it ended up in the bin.

There is no comparison between the Pink Breast Cancer promotion and Prostate Cancer promotion, mainly because of the reluctance of most men to discuss the condition or have the PSA and DRE done by their doctor.

I continue to spread the word, but it is difficult.

Mal.
Posted 10/5/2011 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Mary here,

Guys, MOVEMBER is just around the corner!!

Can someone please do a link for me, MOVEMBER = Mens' Health + Prostate Cancer Awareness.

Watch the male newscasters for moustaches, some look quite comical but the blue striped ties help!!

Blue is beautiful, right??

Stay well!

PS, Movember is relatively new, give it 10 years!

If every fellow with PCa, told 5 people a week about their experience, you'd be in a sea of blue in no time at all.

Of course we women talk about breast cancer, it's a great threat to all of us (men included), so get chatting guys!!

Post Edited (Willie B) : 10/4/2011 7:27:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/5/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
New Zealand perspective here. We have at various times been among world's best at health promotion. When I was getting tests for PCa 3+ years ago I went to my local Cancer Society rooms. I was the only man there and when I enquired about prostate cancer support groups there was none (city of 120,000). "Oh I think we have an information brochure here somewhere", after some searching, a 6 year old national health pamphlet was given to me. Among it's statements, this outdated piece stated that no evidence exists to show that surgery or radiation increases the lifespan of prostate cancer sufferers.

When I confronted the health department about this "advice" (which my uro told me was wildly out of date and incorrect) I was fobbed off by the same disinformation. I felt like I must be living in somewhere akin to WWII Germany with sycophants, fools and liars in public positions.

Yes - men are often their own worst enemies when it comes to health apathy, but this forum shows that many of us are engaged, passionate and concerned and prepared to support one another. We do need some other support as well and we need to compete with the women and pink initiatives to get our profile up and some action happening in terms of awareness, screening programs and so on. Let's use this time to think what we can do - think like JFK "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" might have a correlation. If you think someone should be doing something, maybe that someone is you!

God bless you all and don't hide your little light.
Posted 10/5/2011 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
MOVEMBER!!!!

Someone please link it for me? Tx.
Posted 10/5/2011 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
"Movember" website:  http://us.movember.com/
Posted 10/5/2011 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Clocknut.

Much appreciated, hopefully the fellas will have a look-see! :)

Mary
Posted 10/5/2011 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
I understand with so many different forms of cancer, the opportunity for the public to get saturated on a certain form versus other forms is high. I'm watching the Arizona - Milwaukee game this evening and noticed the SU2C (Stand Up to Cancer) on the rotating sign behind home plate. Does anyone know much about this organization which appears to be for all forms of cancer? I see the funds are administered by the American Association for Cancer Research which I'm not familiar with.

So you have pink ribbons, SU2C, Livestrong, etc. One wonders how focused our resources really are and how much money actually is spent directly on cancer.

Just some thought provoking, rambling ideas while I was mindlessly watching baseball.
Posted 10/5/2011 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe MOVEMBER should be added to the 'BLUE' thread as well.

Wish I could make a link.

Even if the fellas could grow a Mo, then mention MOVEMBER to their family and friends; anything to get a higher profile for PCa.

*** edited to add, we ALL have breasts, some more than others, so I wouldn't knock the pink campaign cause it saves some mens' lives too. Just a thought......

Post Edited (Willie B) : 10/5/2011 11:40:44 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/5/2011 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Michael and I went into an Adam and Eve store today. Those that don't know, it is an adult store. They are selling a woman's vibrator that is PINK with PINK packaging and a portion of the cost goes to support breast cancer research. You know you are getting somewhere with marketing when you can get a portion of a vibrator!!! (hahahaha) Crazy. I would like to see some baby blue :-(
Posted 10/6/2011 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
After all this discussion the last few days, I guess it's ironic that tonight I worked at the funeral home visitation for a 56-year-old woman who died of breast cancer.  She was one of 11 siblings.  One of her sisters has been battling breast cancer for 11 years (very nice lady), and the oldest brother in the group was treated for prostate cancer a few years ago.  I had hoped to speak with the brother, but never had the opportunity.

By all accounts the deceased was a wonderful woman, whose family has been visited frequently by cancer.  Very sad.

Posted 10/6/2011 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
So what do I do in Movember. Shave off my beard and moustache!!!

Willie: To make a link click on the URL button above the panel you type in then copy and paste the address of the link, (or type it) then click on the URL button again. (Don't use the "Quick Reply" box at the bottom of a thread use the blue "Post Reply" button then you get different box with all the extra features, type colour size, italics, bold emoticons etc) You can also type in the code (mCode) rather than click on buttons, for help with code click on this link www.healingwell.com/community/mCode.aspx

Susan: strikes me that in the circumstances a vibrator should be blue, shouldn't it?

Alf

Post Edited (English Alf) : 10/6/2011 12:23:26 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/7/2011 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
I think the NBA should be the ones who promote an educational night for PCa, they could where a set of fake balls around their necks and dribble all they want.
It will take shock treatment of sorts to get peoples attention at this point and to catch up to the other organizations but it can be done.
Art
Posted 10/7/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)

sickofbeingsic said...
... they could where a set of fake balls around their necks and dribble all they want.

Art, if I followed your "fake balls" and "dribbling" analogy properly, maybe they could wear 48 fake balls around their neck painted blue with one of them painted red...representing the current ratio of the 48 men currently aggressively treated for PC for the one who dies of PC.
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