I’m shamelessly using October, breast cancer awareness month to advocate for kidney cancer awareness in this post. There is room for both right? Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that October is breast cancer awareness month. You also know that pink is the color for breast cancer awareness. All month there are well publicized campaigns. NBA teams are wearing pink socks or wrist bands. T shirts are being sold with phases like, “save the tatas”, “save second base”, or even, “save a life, grope your wife!” A couple of weeks ago a social media meme with large dogs sitting up with pink balloons attached to them like breasts made the rounds causing some controversy.
Here is a link to an article where the author explains her objection to sexualizing breast cancer awareness https://www.hercampus.com/school/c-of-c/problem-save-tatas. Like it or hate it, these breast cancer awareness campaigns are effective. Kidney cancer awareness groups have not found a campaign or slogan as effective.
Personally, I take no offense at these marketing campaigns. Although I understand the objections, I think objectors might be taking it all too seriously. Awareness is good, and good advertisers are using what they have. Breasts have sex appeal and sex sells. What is troubling to me is that most of the millions of research dollars for breast cancer are going to the early detection of breast cancer. Not much goes to the treatment of metastatic disease. Hopefully that is changing.
Not all cancers are pink
My mother is a breast cancer survivor. I have a breast cancer awareness necklace that I wear in her honor. A friend I have who is battling breast cancer asked me if I was upset at all the attention breast cancer gets when there is virtually no attention given for kidney cancer awareness. She seemed to be feeling some sort of guilt at her cancer privilege! I never knew that this guilt was a thing, but here is an article I read today that encourages breast cancer patients and survivors to remember that others may feel bad about all the hoopla about breast cancer awareness in October https://www.curetoday.com/community/doris-cardwell/2019/10/Pink-is-Not-the-Only-Color-That-Matters.
I honestly told my friend that I was not upset, maybe a little jealous, but not upset. No one knows kidney cancer’s color is orange, and that March is kidney cancer awareness month. The only attention we get is if a celebrity gets kidney cancer like Hallmark channel’s Cameron Mathison https://www.southernliving.com/syndication/hallmark-channel-host-cameron-mathison-says-his-kidney-cancer-surgery-went-very-well?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=25B5AF6C-DC78-11E9-AA5E-D70750017A06&utm_campaign=southernliving_southernliving&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1uUx1OKFZ13mp33gf8KEGuldE-BkjLKLztK6weNankAlaLrTOb1n7Bcxc.
The same goes for other cancers. Do you know the colors of other cancers? Here’s a link if you’re curious https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323448.php. The extra attention for breast cancer could be because the incidence of breast cancer is greater than the other cancers. In 2019 there will be 268,600 new cases of breast cancer compared with 73,820 kidney cancer cases. For pancreatic cancer the incidence is expected to be 56,770, Prostate cancer will have 174,650 new cases. maybe it is just easier to market breast cancer awareness than it is to market kidney cancer awareness because breasts are sexy. Kidneys are NOT sexy.
Research for all cancer is important
For more information about me and how I learned I had kidney cancer, read here https://juliesnotdyingtoday.com/about-me/. The bottom line is that cancer awareness is not about saving a body part. It is about saving lives. Research is so important so that newer, more effective treatments can be found. I treasure each extra day, month, and year I live with stage 4 kidney cancer. Perhaps if I live long enough and enough money is spent on kidney cancer research, a cure will be found for me. If not for me, my kids or my grandkids.
There is no gene identified for kidney cancer. No screening test, no blood test, no “oscopy” to identify it in the early stages. We need more research so that my kids and grandkids can have early detection opportunities, like breast cancer and colon cancer. My tatas don’t need saving. My tatas are fine, thank you. I’ve lost one kidney. Cancer has spread to my lungs, bone, and brain. Every organ is important.
If you care about me and want to do something, here is a link to an online form that will send a letter to your congressmen asking for more research funding for kidney cancer. It is so easy to do and you don’t even need to know the contact info for your representatives. I don’t have a cute slogan like “save the tatas.” I don’t have a cute picture of dogs to advertise for kidney cancer awareness. Just a plea to my friends. Click the link and add your name requesting this funding. Make your voice heard https://p2a.co/MVtuVSL?fbclid=IwAR3Ci3BVofzL87ez0238epjUMjrjLtzEDGp14tId9rNJpAo5LR-r9Zbg6