Now let's hear from people who hate pink

As with blog posts, comments come and comments fade. But this response reflects a little-heard perspective, especially among shoppers dutifully perusing the pink-bedecked, "be aware of breast cancer" shelves at this time of year:

Says Jeanne Sather, aka the Assertive Cancer Patient, in response to the blog post Tired of thinking pink? Skip to the green: "Or you could go on the offensive and join the Boycott of October, led by women with breast cancer who HATE PINK and feel exploited by this whole pink-ribbon cause marketing effort."

She includes a link to her blog, specifically the posting about finding the "TACKIEST, most TRIVIAL, most OFFENSIVE pink-ribbon products."

"Breast cancer: It's a disease, not a marketing opportunity," one post says.

The blog describes Sather, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 at age 43, as "an outspoken advocate for the cancer patient's point of view." She's written about participating in clinical trials, living with incurable cancer, ways to cope with cancer treatment, how to help a friend with cancer, being fired while undergoing treatment, writing one's own obituary and a lot more.

There are also subcategories of posts on the drug Tykerb, which she says is keeping her alive, battles with her insurance company and her relationship with Car Guy.

Pink-lover or pink-hater, who can't relate to at least one of those?

-- Tami Dennis

Photo: Marketing such as Pepsi's Support the Cause campaign does not please the Assertive Cancer Patient. Credit: Business Wire

Comments

[debutaunt]

Thank you!

Jeanne Sather speaks for many cancer patients, not just breast cancer patients. I feel so ill when I see cause marketing, especially when the donation goes to a generic "breast cancer research" or breast cancer "awareness" fund. Is that another way to say a small portion goes to some local clinic and we keep the rest of the profits?

Also, when someone goes through cancer treatment (I'm a leukemia / stem cell transplant survivor) there isn't some magical cancer fund that will pay your bills. I know that Yoplait, Campbells and other big companies are making millions of dollars off of the fear of breast cancer and I'm thinking, "Can I buy my groceries today or pay for another medication or twenty?"

Cause marketing is shameful.

[Steve Bernard]

Check into what company has sole decision making on the nationwide Pink/Cure Cancer/Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaigns.

Hint: It's a Swiss-American pharmaceutical company that is itself a subsidiary of ICI (International Chemical Industries). You may find yourself shocked at who is in charge of these three 'cancer awareness' campaigns.