The Flood of Pink Ribbons Seen in October

Another October will soon come and pass, the chosen month where we assume everyone will be completely aware of the subject of women's breasts, and the dreaded topic of breast cancer. Walks will be planned, news articles written and breast cancer survivor stories will be shared on television. You'll see an array of designer pink ribbons pinned on blouses, tee shirts, dresses, and of course the magnetic rubberized type displayed on the back of vehicles. Some people may question why they're being worn, others may acknowledge or comment on them, and unfortunately many will still never even notice the flood of pink ribbons.

There are breast cancer awareness postage stamps, a pink ribbon style or one with a woman preparing to do her breast exam. The post office acknowledges breast cancer awareness is a subject vital enough to have representation in the form of a stamp. You can view pink ribbons while you shop, imprinted on various food products, soda and juice bottles, stationary, clothing and other products. Retail marketing has hooked onto this idea, utilizing the pink ribbon to attract consumers. Are we really attempting to make people aware of breast cancer via the pink ribbon or is it becoming an unseen blur because of the vast presence?

I'm a woman who has firsthand knowledge about living with a family member diagnosed with breast cancer. My mother had stage four breast cancer, undetected for at least a year because she decided to remain silent and take care of it herself. She was too conservative in nature to allow a doctor to perform a personal breast exam, would only go to her longtime family doctor who didn't perform a complete disrobing examination. When her cancer was exposed after a simple blood test revealed severe anemia, she was questioned for the possible cause. Her reply was, "I have a little bleeding sore on my breast." At the time she was given two months to live but she managed to beat this odd, succumbing after two years. I was her personal caregiver. She lived in my home until she died on a bright and breezy morning.

It's funny how little details stand out in your memory when you recall an unpleasant disturbance in your life. I remember opening her bedroom windows because death has a very distinct odor. An odor I was aware of since I was a nurse, knowing when death was approaching in terminally ill patients. The breeze was blowing and the bright winter sun was rising on a crisp and clear November morning when my mother took her last gasping breath. It may sound like a beginning of a story, and maybe it is, but my life was drastically altered the moment my mother passed from this earth. On that crisp breezy day I realized what truly was important in my life. My breasts were on the list and every other woman's breasts.

My mother never saw a pink ribbon because they were initiated after her death. She probably would've been too embarrassed to even display one because it would draw attention to her breasts.

During my career I've seen so many women who've lost breasts to cancer. I'd observe a jagged scar from a mastectomy when I performed a patient's daily care, or a woman would comment, "Oh sweetie, please don't take my blood-pressure in that arm, that's the one with no breast." I view these women as survivors, struggling to get through harsh invasive treatments doctors prescribed to live a month longer, a year longer, and several years longer. Their dream and prayers are to hopefully beat this disease and hear the words, "You're in remission." or even more, "You're cancer free."

Each day I perform my obsessive personal breast exam, wondering if today will alter my life forever if I happen to detect a lump. I question every granulation, every thickening, realizing statistics are one in four that I'll develop breast cancer in my lifetime. When I undergo a mammogram I have an additional stress and risk factor, because my mother and her two sisters succumbed to breast cancer. Selfishly I want to die with both my breasts intact, unscarred. I don't think I have the quiet strength and determination my mother or other survivors manage to pull up from their souls to battle this disease.

If breast cancer was a male dominated disease, like prostate cancer, would a cure be found more quickly? The medical field's still predominately male, especially in research and pharmaceutical areas. Could this be the reason we haven't found a cure? Is this the reason we flood their vision with pink ribbons?

We watch our diet, exercise, reduce stress levels and there are still incidences of breast cancer occurring. We form support groups, but the black community having the highest percentage of death statistics from breast cancer still haven't managed to join together and speak out in support of each other. My mother was a black woman who wanted to live with this disease silently, and she died relatively silently. Her way of life was to not cause a stir. She wouldn't sit in a group and publically share her story. Her blouse would never display a pink ribbon over her breast.

I refuse to walk down the same path she did. I'll continue to speak out regarding her story, speak about the need to take care of ourselves as women, no matter what race, religion, creed, or sexuality we are. We should care about each other, reach out to each other, because we all have the same common goal, to live and die with our breasts intact, cancer free.

The flood of pink ribbons is designed to bring attention to the subject of breast cancer. Go out there and march in pink ribbon marches, join support groups, and collect donations. Ask questions of your doctors and seek out political representatives to seek government sources to push for research to find a cure.

Breast cancer awareness shouldn't only be in the month of October. It should be a daily shout out, letting the world know we won't tolerate losing our mothers, sisters, friends, or acquaintances anymore from this pervasive disease. Flood the world with pink ribbons, demand answers, because breast cancer touches every family. Men should be included in this cause, because men are not immune from being diagnosed with breast cancer. For that matter how about a pink and blue ribbon flood? Anything that will get noticed to find a solution to end breast cancer is all right in my book.