Everything’s pink … or is it?

It’s the first day of breast cancer awareness month and everything is pink.  A week or so ago, I was in a cynical mood and started complaining about how marketers have capitalized on the pink ribbon to boost their sales.

I’ve had a change of heart and a dose of humility now that I am in active treatment again. I am feeling amazing gratitude for the surge of awareness, as well as dollars for research and care, this month brings.  I see this when I participate in my yearly Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and witness the sea of people all there for the cause.  It brings me hope that in my lifetime, there will be a cure. 

Today I found out about a fun and unique breast cancer charity that helps Stage IV breast cancer survivors and their families. You can create your own virtual walker, and participate for only $5 (more if you’d like).  Visit http://girlfriendology.com/blog/2685/team-girlfriendology-breast-cancer-patients/ to participate in the Gal to Gal program.

 I only wish there was this level of energy and funds going toward other cancers. In some weird way, I feel like one of the lucky ones.  Take lung cancer, for instance. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths, yet it gets little funding and even has a stigma attached to it.

I learned more about this after interviewing Deb Violette, a Stage III lung cancer survivor and advocate. Deb was given a 10 percent chance of living 10 years ago, but now she’s healthy and traveling the country to spread awareness and understanding of the disease:

 There is so much support around breast, colon and prostate cancer, but not for lung cancer. Lung cancer is very under-funded, too. For every lung cancer death, there’s only $1,300 toward lung cancer research. For breast cancer it’s $20,000 to $23,000; prostate, $18,000. So our outcomes are not as great as other kinds of cancers. There are other cancers that are under-funded, like pancreatic cancer, but there isn’t the stigma.

I feel there was a reason I had lung cancer. I could have had any other kind of cancer; my family has a history of cancer. Why did I get it, and why did I survive? I think the reason is to give back to society, help people with this disease, speak up and give them encouragement that they, too, can survive.

What do you think? Are other cancers getting the short end of the stick because of all the attention to breast cancer?