Every Friday, I post a blog entry related to breast cancer. It all started here, with Susan Reynold’s and Connie Reece’s breast cancer activism. (Actually, that wasn’t my first post on the subject since, sadly, I have more friends battling with this. The first post was about a great fundraiser for my friend and soulmate Haedy. And as I’m writing this, another friend of mine is getting ready for mastectomy on Tuesday.)
Anyways, so today I dugg around in Stumbleupon to see what they have to offer on the topic. Here’s what I found:
Let’s start with this - click on it, it’s fun - something that always motivates me.
I am protecting my ladyberries because it’s too late to save my mom/ sister/ daughter/ friends. I will save the world one breast at a time by getting outside.Okay, so today I’ll get out and do some gardening.
Now let’s get scientific:
U.S. scientists are developing a breast cancer screening test that checks a woman’s saliva for evidence of the disease. They say they’ve identified 49 proteins in saliva that can actually distinguish healthy women from those with benign breast tumors and those with malignant breast tumors.
NEW YORK, NY - Researchers have identified a specific group of microRNA molecules that are responsible for controlling genes that cause breast cancer metastasis.
And here is some information on breast cancer among men.
Now for more breast cancer activists:
In 1989 Jan Adrian became one of the 1.8 million women in this country diagnosed with breast cancer. Treatments recommended to Jan focused on the physical body, leaving psychological, social, and spiritual needs unmet. Healing journeys - Cancer as a turning point was founded as a result.
Making memories writes:
It is our intention to “make a difference” in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease. Our wish-granting service helps put the realities of this terminal illness aside, if just for a few days, while providing the opportunity for a family to spend quality time together. Our hope is that every metastatic breast cancer patient will be able to pass from this world comforted with the joy of having left his or her family a final beautiful memory—something the family will look back on and remember for a lifetime.
Oh, and don’t leave without clicking here to donate a mammogram.
Does some of this feel a bit too pink and commercial?
At the end of 2001, Barbara Ehrenreich, noted feminist author, published a long article in Harper’s Magazine. It was sharply critical of the ‘breast cancer movement’, suggesting that effort was placed into mammography and pink ribbons that could be better used elsewhere.Ehrenreich was diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing conventional therapy even while suggesting that she did not believe it was very effective.
HERE IS THE TALK Barbara Ehrenreich gave at Breast Cancer Action in San Francisco, CA:
I have to say that this here is definitely an example of commercializing breast cancer: http:// breastcancerawarenessribbon.info/. There is a site exactly like this for every conceivable breast cancer keyword. (Which is why I’ve written the link in such a way as to not create “google juice” for that site).
This cat, on the other hand, deserves all the juice I can give!
(This post is being submitted to the social media megaproject, started by Vivien at InspirationBit. The StumbleUpon section is hosted by Karen Zara).
Isabella, that cat photo has me grinning today — thanks!
Very interesting information on the development of saliva testing for breast cancer screening. These tests have been available for other purposes and they are very convenient and easy to use. There’s a testing kit with instructions for how to perform the test at home — basically, it’s spitting into a container — and then mailing it to the lab for results.
That idea has me thinking ahead to a future project for the Frozen Pea Fund: raising money to make those kits available to women who need them.
Connie Reece’s last blog post..Five White Men Talk About Social Media