Think Before You Pink

My father has cancer. He has a cancer that most people have never heard of. His cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States but it gets little publicity and funding. The topic of cancer funding and awareness is important for everyone – but it touches me closely and personally. He has pancreatic cancer and the awareness ribbon is purple. The awareness month is November. Did you know that? Doubt it. But – if I quizzed you on what color represents breast cancer awareness I'd bet that 99 out of 100 people would be able to give the correct answer: pink. Before you claim that I am putting one cancer ahead of another, I want you to understand what I am asking. I am not diminishing the importance of breast cancer funding and awareness by any means in this post; I am doing the opposite. I am claiming breast cancer is more than a color. I am simply asking everyone to give some thought to all the pink ribbons and campaigns that claim to be behind the breast cancer cause – or any cancer for that matter. Since Breast Cancer Awareness Month just ended, I am asking you to Think Before You Pink.

The Think Before You Pink campaign, a project of Breast Cancer Action, asks consumers and the general public to call for "accountability by companies that take part in breast cancer fundraising, and encourages consumers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions." In essence, they'd like the public to do something besides shop for breast cancer. There are many companies that claim to be behind the breast cancer cause but, in fact, are what the campaign calls, "pinkwashers" and some might see them as the antithesis of supporters of the cause. These companies "purport to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon campaign, but manufacture products that are linked to the disease."

I've always been wary of all the pink ribbons that explode in October – not because I do not whole heartedly support breast cancer awareness and research. I am wary because I do not know where the funds are going – and it almost seems like it's become trendy to wear pink instead of delving behind the color to find out what supporters can actually do. As consumers and the public, let's make it be known that it's not just a fashion statement to be wearing pink (or any other color supporting a disease); let's create action among the worldwide community so that maybe we can prevent the disease or help with diagnosis. One thing anyone can do, while wearing any color, during any month of the year, is tell people to get a mammogram; it may save a life. It's worth a try – and it's a whole lot more active than buying yogurt with a pink top.