Sick of pink. Breast cancer and profit - Page 2

witchcurlgirl · October 6th, 2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katerpillar

Of course, after October... comes Movember. Does that exist anywhere but Australia? Basically, men get sponsored not to shave for the month of November and the proceeds are split between prostate cancer research and an anti-depression charity. It's a great idea of course, but every year I feel like I'm stuck in the '70s for a brief period.

We don't do that here- at least , not in NY. The only thing similar that comes to mind is St. Baldrick's Day, where there are large gatherings of (mostly) men who get their head's shaved with proceeds going to fight children's cancers.

Banshee · October 6th, 2009, 11:42 AM

As someone who works for a charity, I just want to point out that those "admin costs", i.e. salaries ARE necessary and important. Most of us who work for charities and non-profits do it for love of our causes. We get paid less than our counter parts in private sectors. We struggle constantly with the desire to help and the desire to keep ourselves financially afloat.

Good people, loving, caring, solid working people willing to work for less are what keep most charities and non-profits running and we DO deserve to get paid for what we do. These things can't run on volunteers alone. Do some CEO's get paid more than they should? I don't know, maybe. I know our CEO makes less than 100k, which is exponentially less than her counterpart CEOs at for-profits.

I guess my point is, workers are an integral part of charities. Good people end up leaving jobs they love at non-profits because they just can't get by on what they get paid, and that's really sad.

Mel1973 · October 8th, 2009, 11:14 AM

Even my prescription bottles have pink lids this month... breast cancer awareness..

czb · October 8th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali

. . . I'd much rather write a check and donate DIRECTLY to research, so I'm not paying for some corporations marketing expenses.

actually, a TON of money goes both to breast cancer and prostate cancer research. they are not hurting for money. for example, susan g komen (for the boob) and michael milken's foundation, pcf (for prostate), raise insane amounts of money and much of it goes for research. i prefer to give my money so that it directly helps people get screened and patients who need it get support for treatment.

if you look at the number of drug company clinical trials that are being conducted for the boob and prostate, you will be overwhelmed.

hot research right now.

Novice · October 8th, 2009, 05:53 PM

Yeah, which is why I donate to "uk cancer research" rather than a particular cancer fund (or mcmillan nurses who are specifically trained to support cancer sufferers). They take a broadbrush approach as well as the specifics.

sluce · October 9th, 2009, 01:45 PM

After my friends and family found I had breast cancer I too was overwhelmed with "pink" products. These items include household decorative items such as Mikasa crystal pieces that I am now forced to display and see everyday. I am thankful for every penny that is donated to fight all cancers. I just do not want to be defined by the cancer that I view as a speedbump in my life.

sharky · October 9th, 2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sluce

After my friends and family found I had breast cancer I too was overwhelmed with "pink" products. These items include household decorative items such as Mikasa crystal pieces that I am now forced to display and see everyday. I am thankful for every penny that is donated to fight all cancers. I just do not want to be defined by the cancer that I view as a speedbump in my life.

Congratulations on being a survivor Sluce! I agree, cancer happened in your life but does not define who you are.

I really don't think it would be hurtful or unreasonable to ask your family and friends to not give you things related to cancer. Of course, it is appreciated to donate to the cause, but does not need to include your involvement at this point.

A true friend will understand what you are talking about. It is also reasonable that you do not need to display cancer related items in your home.

Best wishes.

misrule · October 9th, 2009, 11:58 PM

I love MoVember - I thought it was a pretty clever idea, even though it feels like being surrounded by 70's porn starts for most of the month. But even though it does raise money through individuals sponsorship for their 'mo, the main purpose originally was to raise awareness (or so I thought...could be mistaken there) because there's ao many guys who just won't get checked until it's too late - My sort-of-father-in-law for one. He's in remission now, thankfully.

I prefer, like many other here, to donate directly to the charity, and to a less specific charity, like the Cancer Council. I do the Relay for Life every year, and also support Camp Quality (I had a few friends spend some time there). From my personal family experience, unfortunatley it's not ever one specific cancer.
It was bowel cancer that killed my grandfather, but a secondary stomach cancer spread from there. My grandmother went into remission from bowel and breast cancer before it spread to her lymph nodes, but it was a melanoma which ended up doing her in. My mother has had pre-cancerous polyps removed from both the bowel and cervix - but hasn't had skin cancer checks yet. (she thinks her Lebanese olive complexion will protect her) even though her mother was the one with melanoma. The bowel specialist who has treated everyone else in my family has told me his 30th birthday present to me will be a colonoscopy - woo! Can't wait for that one!

So I donate to cancer research in general, not any one cancer specifically. I'm all for awareness and education for people to know how, where and when to get themselves checked, but it's such an evil disease in the way it can change forms, I think bigger-picture research is more valuable.

For companies to be profiteering off such a devastating disease is terrible - they should just donate to the cause itself, rather than making money off it. I understand the concept, but surely sponsoring a 'mammogram bus' or something (I dunno, like having an 'AVON mammogram bus' tour through the suburbs offering free checks, or a cancer ward, or medical equipment.Or hell, crazy thought, help subsidise some of the drugs - it took ages for Herceptin to get onto the PBS, or covering the 'gap' fees so a cancer patient isn't10K out of pocket) would be a more altruistic gesture? And more helpful in the long run? It would get them a ton of free publicity, but probably without the extra profits. If they were serious about helping, these are the sort of actions that need to be taken.

But any action is better than nothing. It's just a shame when a positive gesture has a dark underside.

Novice · October 11th, 2009, 10:46 AM

^^ Re:MoVember - i didn't know what that was, but I do know that Prostate cancer kills (or used to kill) 1 in 3 men in scotland - there are signs on the motorway & everything.
There are nearly as many cases as there are of Breast Cancer in the UK.

My dad only had his PSA levels tested because of my cancer - he's 73 & only has had them tested ONCE!!! (what an arsehole!). Yep, you guessed it he had cancer. He went into the whole thing convinced that he was terminal (he was also convinced that I was too eventhough I only had surgery & no secondary treatment like radiation/chemo) - it made the whole thing SO much harder to deal with.

I've not seen any MoVember stuff over here.

*DIVA! · October 11th, 2009, 12:41 PM

I have a few survivors in my family, and a few that didn't. My aunt who lost both breast and a lung to cancer buys, gifts, and like pink items as gifts, but that's just her.

Novice · October 11th, 2009, 02:42 PM

Is she a "pink" person anyway Diva?

I was looking at the pink stuff in ASDA (part of Walmart now) today, the bras & whatnot. The quality is just off, its really cheap (but the prices aren't), the bras' lace is hard & nylony, the clothes just sag like they haven't got enough lycra in them.... cheap. Its a dis-service.

twitchy2.0 · October 11th, 2009, 04:59 PM

There's some weird(to me, anyway) pink stuff out there.

Product: Smith & Wesson M&P9 - JG
Smith and Wesson will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the M&P9 JG to a breast cancer awareness charity.

Galati International Online: Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter Knife - Pink - Ka-bar Knives

celeb_2006 · October 11th, 2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katerpillar

That's true - that's generally when I'll buy the stuff that supports a medical cause. Like if I'm at the supermarket choosing deodorant for example, and one of the brands is doing the whole limited edition Pink Ribbon for October thing, then I'll think "Sure!" and buy that one. Ok, the companies that participate enjoy a brief hike in profits during October due to people like me thinking the same way, but at least the charities get money too.

Of course, after October... comes Movember. Does that exist anywhere but Australia? Basically, men get sponsored not to shave for the month of November and the proceeds are split between prostate cancer research and an anti-depression charity. It's a great idea of course, but every year I feel like I'm stuck in the '70s for a brief period.

That's my thinking too, if there are equal products, I think most of us would lean towards the one that does some form of charity service. It appeals to the altruism inherent in most of us. Of course it all becomes another form of marketing I guess.

misrule · October 12th, 2009, 04:12 AM

There's an outdoors / camping / yoga shop across the road from my office ... asking people to "cop a feel for boobtoberfest" and asking everyone to "free the boobies", which while catchy and appealing to my immaturity (yes, I giggled) seems a little ... out there. Trust me, some of the people on that street don't need to be encouraged to 'cop a feel'... ugh.

I have to admit I did buy a 'boobie cupcake' from the shop next door though. It was so cute and pink! (and delicious.)

prostate cancer's a worry. My b/f flat out refuses to get checked, even after his whole father situation. Sorry, but I have no sympathy over a finger up the backside and get all neo-feminist, throwing words such as 'speculum' into the conversation as much as possible.

Novice · October 12th, 2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misrule

There's an outdoors / camping / yoga shop across the road from my office ... asking people to "cop a feel for boobtoberfest" and asking everyone to "free the boobies", which while catchy and appealing to my immaturity (yes, I giggled) seems a little ... out there. Trust me, some of the people on that street don't need to be encouraged to 'cop a feel'... ugh.

I have to admit I did buy a 'boobie cupcake' from the shop next door though. It was so cute and pink! (and delicious.)

prostate cancer's a worry. My b/f flat out refuses to get checked, even after his whole father situation. Sorry, but I have no sympathy over a finger up the backside and get all neo-feminist, throwing words such as 'speculum' into the conversation as much as possible.

They really are pathetic, when my dad had his op you'd have thought that he was the first person int eh fuckingworld to get cancer (he got it after me), I spent quite a lot of time on the phone talking to him about it, but after a couple of months just told him to get his his head out of his arse & pull himself together. Still didn't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by celeb_2006

That's my thinking too, if there are equal products, I think most of us would lean towards the one that does some form of charity service. It appeals to the altruism inherent in most of us. Of course it all becomes another form of marketing I guess.

IME recently, they're not equal but inferior - which is a real diservice, imo.