Why is the Pink Products controversy important for breast cancer awareness?

[ChefNelson]

My friend lost her life to breast cancer last October at the age of 26. Hardly "almost completely curable." I hate to take you to task for throwing something like that out there, but you had to know many of us would have something to come back with. Cancer is a horrible beast. My husband has battled it twice now and I'm thankful he's won twice, but fearful of it ever coming back. I guess, bottom line is, I don't think you ever want to classify any kind of cancer as more or less important than another. Whatever kind you or your loved one is battling is the biggest enemy of them all. PC went with breast cancer for whatever reason - if they chose childhood cancers or lung cancer or pancreatic cancer or <insert favorite cancer here> someone would complain that their form wasn't chosen. It's just the way it was. I'm proud to support the battle against breast cancer - It has touched so many people in my life, I'm happy to go after it however I can.

 

[chefsteph07]

Wow Melissa, I think your entire comment was totally offensive. Wow.
"get off the breast cancer bandwagon and start looking into MORE IMPORTANT ONES"???

I really don't know what to say to that. I hope that you never have to have both of your breasts removed and months of chemo and still wonder if you are going to live or die. Then, even though you had both of your breasts removed and thought you were safe, find out that the cancer has gone into your lymph nodes in your armpit and have to have MORE chemo and radiation. Then maybe you will think it is "important". :grumpy:

 

[chefheidi2003]

Just a quick clarification- PINK is for BREAST cancer. The rest of us who have had other cancers are forgotten. Our/PC commitment is only for Breast Cancer. I really wish they would make it an overall thing. I know breast cancer gets a lot of press but there are other cancers and they tend to be more deadly.

Off my soapbox..

I completely agree with you. I say it every year..and everytime there are other Pink promotions not just with PC. My dad died of Pancreatic Cancer so I support it because it does go to ACS. But I wish it would be for others as well.

 

[baychef]

Cancer does not care if you are young or old, rich or poor. It doesn't care where it strikes in the body. ALL cancers are horrible.

The important thing is we all know of many people in our families and in our network of friends that have been stricken, mamed and killed by this disease. Some of us have personally battled cancer. I am very fortunate that I am not in that group thus far.

Last year my son lost his father (my ex-husband) to bile duct cancer. Here was a perfectly healthy man of 59 who was diagnosed just 2 months and 4 days before he passed in our arms. Bile duct, gall bladder and pancreatic cancers join in a whole bunch of sneeky cancers which show no symptoms until they are full blown.

I could be mad that even donating to ACS doesn't even begin to touch the research needed to be done for bile duct cancer. Much of the research of this type of cancer is being done in other countries.

I love the pink items so I support Help Whip Cancer. I feel we are at war with ALL cancers. So if you feel strongly about another type of cancer, hold a fundraiser for that specific type. I am thinking of holding a fundraiser and donating to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.

 

[Sk8Mom209]

It's interesting that this came up as well because I have a friend who told me that her mother will not purchase PC items because Buffet/Berkshire donates funds to PP.

This was resolved years ago, shortly after TPC become part of Berkshire/Hathway.

 

[Chozengirl]

I'm sorry, my reply wasn't meant to sound so harsh.
I have a brother in law that battled lymphoma for 5 years, was in remission for a year and lost his battle to leukemia 23 months ago today.
I have a cousin who lost his eye at 3 years old to retinal cancer. A grandfather who lost a kidney to cancer.
I know what cancer does, my list is endless to all the people I've seen in my personal life fight this horrible disease.
My regard to the "breast cancer bandwagon" is the fact that I see teenagers at the high school wearing bracelets that state "I <3 Boobies" or "Save The Tatas". T-Shrits that are more sexually geared rather than actually towards the cause. And because these teenagers are at their sexual peek, of course they think this is cool.
I absolutely LOVE the pink products. But, it would be nice to see people using purple and focusing on everything, rather than one specific cancer.
Again, I apologize. I did not mean that to be offensive. Would like to see more people open to all cancers and not just one specific.

 

[baychef]

Melissa, I am so sorry for your losses. And working at a large school district, I understand about the wrist bands and tee shirts the kids wear. I have even seen many vehicles that are teacher vehicles in elementary school parking lots with those logos too. Again, it is bringing awareness but one that I am not too comfortable with as well.

And I agree that we need to focus on many cancers. As my ex-husband noticed last year many of the donations to ACS will go towards the cancers that occur in higher numbers. People with his type of cancer only make up about 3% of all cancers. So the money is geared towards the more common cancers that are diagnosised. It was the most helpless feeling knowing that many hospitals have rarely seen let alone treated this rare cancer. And by the time you did any research to get familiar, he was unable to take any more than 6 chemo treatments.

Yesterday someone knew a little girl, only 5, was diagnosed with a brain tumor last Friday and died earlier this week. Can't even imagine the heartbreak this family is going through.

 

[esavvymom]

Maybe if enough consultants emailed their concern and request to HO, they wouold consider it. I know I say that alot, but there is power in numbers, and we know the HO does listen.....sometimes it takes awhile,yes.Suggest they broaden the cancer message to not just breast cancer. Incorporate other colors for products, work with ACS on a plan for the money....it can still be used for the same things just not single-threaded towards one group. Give the personal stories of how PC has been impacted. WE are the Pampered Chef,too, right?

 

[pampered1224]

It seems many of you are missing the point here. No matter who or how the money is used, it is a humanitarian cause. It is not a political one nor is it anti this or pro that. Other than being PRO - lets help. I am sorry. I use the platform, "I have 19 reason I do this" I work my butt off every May as I really do have 19 reasons. I have lost many, I have pride in that I could help many more. I did not interview these people to deem them worthy of my help or not. THAT WOULD BE UNCHRISTIAN in my mind.
To me I could give a rats behind where they stand politically or religiously. I am not God and I have no right to judge based on either of those things. All I know is that breast cancer does not discriminate nor should the help we provide to help get rid of it. Which by the way, we do not do!!! Not directly. The money we raise has nothing to do with research. It is used for the things that we all over look. Wigs to help raise a patients pride, transportation for getting to and from treatments, finical to pay those medical bills and psychological help because attitude is everything in this fight, to those afflicted and their families. This means that money other groups raise can be used for research while we just make it possible for people who can not afford too, get screened and then we help cancer patients cope. Think of this the next time you have a friend that gets breast cancer. Then if you are so worried about it, ask if she has ever had an abortion. 99% of women will NEVER divulge that info to you. And if she says yes, then you better be ready to tell her OH, I can not help you.
And would you really want me to tell you, because you believe differently than me, that I will NOT help you if this awful thing strikes you? That is my soap box for today.Oh and as far as the original post goes - yes we could be more diverse. PC decided the helping hand aspect was just, if not more so, important than research. We only help in an aspect NO ONE really thinks about.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

It seems many of you are missing the point here. No matter who or how the money is used, it is a humanitarian cause. It is not a political one nor is it anti this or pro that. Other than being PRO - lets help. I am sorry. I use the platform, "I have 19 reason I do this" I work my butt off every May as I really do have 19 reasons. I have lost many, I have pride in that I could help many more. I did not interview these people to deem them worthy of my help or not. THAT WOULD BE UNCHRISTIAN in my mind.
To me I could give a rats behind where they stand politically or religiously. I am not God and I have no right to judge based on either of those things. All I know is that breast cancer does not discriminate nor should the help we provide to help get rid of it. Which by the way, we do not do!!! Not directly. The money we raise has nothing to do with research. It is used for the things that we all over look. Wigs to help raise a patients pride, transportation for getting to and from treatments, finical to pay those medical bills and psychological help because attitude is everything in this fight, to those afflicted and their families. This means that money other groups raise can be used for research while we just make it possible for people who can not afford too, get screened and then we help cancer patients cope. Think of this the next time you have a friend that gets breast cancer. Then if you are so worried about it, ask if she has ever had an abortion. 99% of women will NEVER divulge that info to you. And if she says yes, then you better be ready to tell her OH, I can not help you.
And would you really want me to tell you, because you believe differently than me, that I will NOT help you if this awful thing strikes you?

That is my soap box for today.

Oh and as far as the original post goes - yes we could be more diverse. PC decided the helping hand aspect was just, if not more so, important than research. We only help in an aspect NO ONE really thinks about.

I love you, John. That is all.

 

[raebates]

I love you, too, John.

 

[pamperedlinda]

You know I love you John!

 

[aried]

I suggested that PC should just do cancer in general not just breast cancer, I am rectal cancer survivor. Just got a "canned" email response back.

 

[pampered1224]

And I love you all as well. Otherwise, I am a guy. I do not get abortions and the possibility of my getting breast cancer is there but NOT AT ALL like it is for all you gals. So why should I care what you all do or think anyway? I do it because first and foremost I am a human. And as a human I believe part of my duty is to help take care of others. And as such, I practice that first. I do not have a religious requirement. I do not have a political requirement. I do not care if you believe that the ultimate deity has 27 fingers, blue hair and 2000 eyes. I do not care. All I care about is that if you are hurting, maybe I can help. I try very hard to keep the man made crap out of it.Oh and just so all of you know. I do have very strong religious beliefs and political beliefs. But cancer knows nothing of that. So why block helping those who are afflicted because of where they get the help? I am human first. All else is useless.

 

[ivykeep]

SGK just reversed their decision so it doesn't matter anyway

I know this is really late to the party... but I think it DOES matter. I wasn't aware that SGK gave money to Planned Parenthood until they took it away. The fact that they reversed their decision has brought it to the mainstream and a lot of people will not donate or purchase anything that supports SGK because of the association with PP. (Myself included) now that it is known that there is a link.

I will happily support ACS though and do emphasize that proceeds go to the American Cancer society on my paperwork.

 

[esavvymom]

I know this is really late to the party... but I think it DOES matter. I wasn't aware that SGK gave money to Planned Parenthood until they took it away. The fact that they reversed their decision has brought it to the mainstream and a lot of people will not donate or purchase anything that supports SGK because of the association with PP. (Myself included) now that it is known that there is a link.

I will happily support ACS though and do emphasize that proceeds go to the American Cancer society on my paperwork.

Then you'll want to read this:
http://www.chefsuccess.com/f18/why-i-cant-promote-hwc-products-72898/

There is more than meets the eye with many organizations.

 

[LeslieSGI]

Re: Pink Products controversy

I'm about to show my age here.

Those of you who weren't around in the mid-1970's when First Lady Betty Ford actually said the words "breast cancer" in public in mixed company can't imagine what a SHAMEFUL thing it was for someone to have breast cancer and DARE to talk about it. IT WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT - if you had it you did not mention it except maybe in a whisper to a very close personal friend.

Things are so different now and some of you can't begin to imagine what the world was like back then. I CAN remember and I support ACS, Susan G Komen, Planned Parenthood, NARAL and yes, even the Equal Rights Amendment. LOL!

Fortunately we CAN talk about it now and we can encourage our friends to get mammograms and actually do breast self-exams (imagine THAT being talked about in mixed company 40 years ago!). So yes, "Save the Ta-Ta's"! and "<3 BOOBIES"! If that's what it takes, I'm all for it. We've come a long way Baby.

I agree with John -- I am human first. All else is useless.​