October is the traditional month for breast cancer awareness. You will see pink ribbons, pink shirts, pink clothes of all kinds that both women and men wear.

In fact, this year 2010, the professional soccer teams of the National Football League have included pink in their soccer uniforms. The burly linemen and linebackers wore pink cleats on their soccer shoes; quarterbacks and catchers wear pink wristbands and carry pink towels as part of their gear.

Why pink? How did the pink ribbon movement start? And most importantly, does it really help women who already have breast cancer? Or make them feel worse?

How Pink got into the cancer business

The tapes have been used to express the solidarity of the user with the cause identified from the beginning to the end of the 20th century. Yellow ribbons are used for troops at war. Red ribbons for people with AIDS. Pink ribbons (and the color pink) express your support for people diagnosed with breast cancer.

In the fall of 1991, Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of Self, a women’s health magazine, and Evelyn Lauder of the Estée Lauder cosmetics company came up with the idea to create a tape. The cosmetics giant distributed those tape stores in New York City.

Charlotte Hayley, who battled the disease, produced peach-colored ribbons. He sold the ribbons to support cancer prevention. After discussing the opportunities with Lauder, Hayley and their attorneys, a “new” color was chosen, pink, which became an international symbol of awareness.

Does Pink Really Help Women With Breast Cancer?

There are strong voices of criticism about “Pink Month” and its long-term effects in fighting breast cancer.

Critics say the promotion of pink bows as a symbol has not been credited with saving lives. Others believe that the pink ribbon will fade from popular wear and become only a passing fad. October has become a month when “pink” sales explode. Companies that sell pink merchandise and give a symbolic donation to related charities.

Gayle Sulik, a medical sociologist, wrote Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women’s Health. He found that while the “pink ribbon culture” has drawn much attention to the disease in the United States, it did not improve women’s health. Based on eight years of research, analysis, and hundreds of interviews with women who had the disease, Ms. Sulik found that cancer rates increase, the cancer industry thrives, corporations benefit from the disease, and people with this cancer are stigmatized by the pink ribbon. .

How do women with cancer feel when they see pink on themselves?

How does a woman feel when she has a serious illness and everything around her says, “Be careful with breast cancer”? In October 2009, after Cheryl was diagnosed with DCIS, a Stage 0 level. That October was a difficult month. Pink was everywhere and she was very aware of cancer. They had diagnosed him with that.

Yes, early detection was very important because we had less severe symptoms to deal with. However, awareness month itself did little to support her. Whenever Cheryl went shopping, pink was everywhere. He felt horrible, like he couldn’t get a break to live a normal life. Reminders were everywhere that she was not normal, she had this cancer. She just wanted to hide.

Writing supporting notes, using affirming words, and spending more time together did much more for her spirit than pink ribbons and T-shirts. Using the hoarding mindset and approach helped Cheryl feel loved, appreciated, and valued inside.

So my questions to you, dear reader, are: What does October Breast Cancer Awareness Month mean to you? How do you rate sick women? What do you write or say to them? And if you have breast cancer, what would you like the important people in your life to write or say to you?