Oops - A Diatribe.

"Save the Ta-Tas" -- you've seen this bumper sticker, I'm sure. 

"Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" - walking to fund raise while wearing bedazzled, be-feathered, be-sparkled bras as your outerwear and "symbol" of your anti-breast cancer support and mindset.

'You can be registered to win a tailgate package (of the team of your choice!) by registering your team to walk!'
Battle of the Bling MSABC  (That is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer) kickoff party! - Put on your pink bra!

Cupcakes for the Cure!  Tangerine Ta-Tas! Java Jugs! Honeynut Hooters! Coconut Milkshakes! Mango Melons!

Let's have FUN "fighting" breast cancer!

Please. (Detect extreme sarcasm there.)

Is that all I am?  A pair of boobies?  Going by that standard I no longer exist because I don't have them anymore - at all!

I am not a body part.  They were a part of my body.

Cancer - of any type, any stage, at any and at ALL times - is NOT fun.

Oh- maybe my attitude is off!

We all should have our bodies mutilated together, because regardless of what procedure you have done, you feel mutilated.  Then we will all take deadly toxins into our bodies together - OOOH!!!  Come on people, we'll have a blast together!  We can do this!  Hey - don't forget to bring your insurance card, if you have one!  Otherwise bring money, lots of money. Let's have a commode hugging party! Decorate your commode with sequins, feathers, balloons and such!  Come on down folks and we'll vomit ourselves silly!  Won't that be FUN?!! Hey, everybody - bring your clippers (appropriately bedazzled, pink, feathered and if you could make them play a jolly tune that would be SO  great!!) and we'll all shave our heads together because that is how every woman wants to look!!  And don't forget to shave eyebrows, eyelashes, nostrils, etc.  If it is hair - it must GO!!  Let's increase our risk of getting more cancer by having radiation too!


Doesn't this sound like fun to you?  No?  Really?

Then there must be something wrong with you because this is just a lighthearted way to cure cancer!!  It's just a fun way to support our friends, wives, sisters, neighbors or maybe somebody's next door neighbor's cousin's friend's sister.  What is wrong with you?  Have a booby shaped decorated cupcake that I bought to support breast cancer patients that a small portion of the cost will eventually go to a breast cancer site - or maybe it will.

Every year - EVERY year - 40,000 women in the United States alone die from breast cancer.

Hmm.  That didn't make me laugh.  That didn't amuse me.  That did not make me have any fun at all.

Perhaps if I gave some money to an institution that will give money to Planned Parenthood that will help find a cure for Breast Cancer.  Wait a minute.  I don't think that paying for abortions will help fight cancer. 
Killing the unborn neither prevents nor cures cancer.  It simply and horribly kills the unborn.

Running around having FUN wearing bright pink fancied bras as outer wear doesn't do much for it either.  At least that doesn't kill any one.  If, as a breast cancer warrior-goddess, you find it amusing or whatever and you don't mind the whole ta-tas thing - well go for it.  YOU certainly have earned that right and privilege.
I simply find the sexualization of breast cancer and thereby we survivors patently offensive.

I'm tired of the battle.  I can't afford to be tired of the battle. 

Look, MY battle is Stage 3A Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Estrogen Receptor Positive, Progesterone Receptor Positive, HER2/neu Receptor Positive, lymph node involved (9 out of 12 removed were involved), bilateral mastectomy, Taxotere - Carboplatin - Herceptin chemo (oh yeah, the Herceptin was a whole year), 35 rounds of radiation battle.  Any cancer that I get for the rest of my life will be considered a breast cancer metastasis.

Breast cancer loves to go to the skin.  Breast cancer loves to go to the bone.  HER2/neu positive breast cancer loves to go to the brain.  Oh good.

Is it possible I will have a recurrence anywhere?  Yes, it is.  Is it possible I may never again have any cancer?  Yes, it is.

I have received many blessings during this battle and I would not wish them away.  Nor would I wish this battle on anyone -- ANYONE!

My money for cancer cure will go to The Mary Kay Foundation.  They fund ONLY against domestic violence and for research into the cure and prevention of cancer that primarily affects women.  Look them up at www.marykayfoundation.org.

Just please - stop trying to "make it fun" or to sexualize this mess to me.  The majority of people in America, those lucky many, don't "get" cancer - psychologically as well as they don't get the disease itself.  Well God Bless them.  Count yourselves as blessed if you have no personal experience there. 

Let those of us who have been down this road be the ones who have advice for the trip.