Hello! 👋 As a woman who had breast cancer twice in her thirties, I have a few requests of you this October.
1. Be inquisitive about the content you’re sharing and the products you are purchasing. If it has a pink ribbon, it should be donating some of the proceeds to breast cancer research or to support those in treatment for breast cancer. If it doesn’t, they are profiting off the cause and that is not ok. There is actually a term for it – pinkwashing – that’s how prevalent it is today.
2. Know that for some breast cancer survivors, the onslaught of the pink is a little traumatizing. It is essentially a daily reminder of what was one of the hardest things we have ever navigated…and are still navigating. That doesn’t mean you should ignore it, just be thoughtful.
3. Do not tell the survivors in your life that you are so glad they are done with cancer. The meds, the monitoring, the appointments, the worry and fear – it never really stops. We are forever changed and I can’t really pretend I’m not. It can be hard when people gloss over our new normal.
4. Don’t be afraid to go deep. For me, personally, it’s ok to ask me deep questions about my treatment, my diagnosis, my side effects, my life as what is deemed a young breast cancer survivor. I feel called to share my story so others can learn, nothing is off limits for me, I am always happy to talk.
5. Be proactive. The lower the stage of a diagnosis, the more options you have available to you. The only way to aim for that lower stage is to control what you can – talk to your doctor, ask questions, do your screenings on time, and advocate for yourself. You should also learn and understand your family history but know that only about 10% of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer had a family history.
6. Find an accountability buddy when it comes to your health. When I went to an appointment recently a woman and her grandmother were there for mammograms. They go together every year then have lunch. What a great way to get it done but make it fun!
I believe breast cancer awareness is important but it’s not about pink ribbons. It is about learning what you need to do to protect your health and donating to causes that advance treatment options through research or support individuals financially crippled by treatment (it’s INSANELY expensive to be sick y’all, even with good insurance).
To those fighting, surviving, and thriving – all my love. Message me any time, whether we know one another personally or not, I would love to connect. And to those caring for them and supporting for them, you are the real heroes. Thank you.
Kate- Thanks for sharing! I am a breast cancer survivor as well. Diagnosed in 2023 when I was 6 months pregnant, I am still finding my way through and whispering my story in quiet corners until I have the confidence to share it in a bigger way. Thank you for the inspiration!