by JASMINE GARNSWORTHY
Every now and again fashion can fight cancer. It’s not usually life-changing stuff, this clothes business, but when when October rolls around and the National Breast Cancer Foundation asks us to think pink to raise awareness and funds for cancer, we say hell yeah and get busy pulling apart our wardrobes.
Yesterday, Mamamia hosted a morning tea to raise some cash (if you want to donate as well, head here) and show our support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This is how it went down:
First things first... pink cupcakes.
And now it’s your turn. This is your challenge: wear pink. Simple. Whether you go head-to-toe, rally the office together for a themed, fund-raiser morning tea (not as hard as it looks, promise), or just wear a pink ribbon tomorrow, we want to see it.
There are heaps of ways to submit your photos – upload as a comment, to Instagram and tag @mamamiaaus, or by emailing jasmine@mamamia.com.au. Take your pick and get snapping.
Here is some pink inspiration from Mamamia Shopping to get you on your way:
Nail polish $17.95 from Mamamia Shopping
Pink top $39.95 from Mamamia Shopping
Necklace $24.99 from Mamamia Shopping
If you want to help the fight against breast cancer this October there are two simple things you can do: STOP & PINK.
STOP assuming that the problem is solved. 1 in 9 women, a horrifying statistic, are diagnosed with breast cancer and it’s still the most common cause of death of women under 40.
Take some PINK action by registering with Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon to raise money for breast cancer research, prevention and support.
Comments
14 Comments so far
As with many other posters, I also agree that more money should be donated to cancer research as a whole. This year I have raised over $4000 for Cure Cancer Australia – who’s single aim is to fund young cancer researchers. I have raised this money with Can Too, a non-profit program that matches fitness incentives with a good cause. All money raised go directly to Cure Cancer Australia. Not only have I raised valuable funds, I have run 2 half marathons and am about to tackle an ocean swim and shave my head!!!
Wish me luck…
http://cantoosydneyswimprogram2013.gofundraise.com.au/page/emmaklcampbell
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My father died from pancreatic cancer when I was 19. About 5% of pancreatic cancer sufferers survive 5 years post diagnosis. There is little money thrown at research and there have been no breakthroughs since the early 90s. The
Breast cancer survival rates have improved dramatically since this campaign began many years ago. It has something like an 85% survival rate 5 years post diagnosis these days, a huge increase.
I’d like to see an equally focused and funded campaign about pancreatic cancer and get those survival rates up to the same as breast cancer.
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The cancer council (Victorian I think) is running a research project I have joined called “the forgotten cancers” (maybe 30 forgotten cancers). They are hoping to find answers for the cancers that don’t get a lot of publicity. There are 30 of them and pancreatic cancer is one of them. I’m not sure if they take people who haven’t had cancer themselves, but have a family member who had it, but it’s worth checking out.
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I just want to preface this by saying that I am in no way trying to be a troll- I just want to express my feelings towards the coverage of cancer.
Whilst I do understand Breast Cancer awareness is important there are so many other types of cancer that get put on the back burner of media coverage. Bowel cancer, Thyroid cancer, Leukemia, Laryngeal cancer are just a few that are obviously just as serious and yet we rarely hear about them.
Bowel Cancer awareness month is May – There is no pink ribbon or symbol to make it pretty but it is a sister disease to breast cancer. Meaning that if you get one you are more likely to get the other. Why shouldn’t it get a post dedicated to it, linked up to Bowel Cancer Australia encouraging people to join the Bowel Cancer Movement and spread the word?
Whilst I appreciate that we all have different views on this matter – but I would love to see more attention given to other cancers to assist in spreading the word.
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Oh I agree with you. I’m all for supporting breast cancer awareness and research, but sadly it has come at a cost to many other cancers. There are only so many dollars to go around. I found when I was diagnosed with my brain tumour that everything was tailored to breast cancer. I felt left out because I had a boring old brain tumour.
Not meaning to put a dampener on the message, but yep, maybe we should also take some time to think about cancer in general. There are many charities that help anyone with cancer, no matter the location or cause.
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That is so horrible. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you. Where you able to find any support groups around your area?
Sorry, I was using Bowel cancer as an example of the lesser coverage recieved by the lesser known types of cancer.
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It’s ok (Bowel cancer also isn’t very glamerous lol). I haven’t found many specific support groups locally (only an American one online that was a bit too…American lol). However the cancer council is wonderful. I also received so much support from Mummy’s Wish, who support mothers with cancer which has been so wonderful, and I am eternally grateful to them.
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Thanks for your comment – it’s a very valid one and you made it so articulately.
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Thank you, Mia.
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I had bowel cancer as a 28 year old woman. I am still waiting for the ‘think poo!’ slogan.
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Look, breast cancer research is important and it does affect a lot of women. But I find your statistic “1 in 9 women” a litte misleading. It is 1 in 8 women if you are 85 and older! (from the Cancer Council website).
Women under 40 who get breast cancer are in the minority and well deserve their research dollars. But most breast cancer is due to lifestyle. Instead of encouraging people to eat cake and buy clothes our money is better spent if we did the following:
1. Quit smoking
2. Eat vegetables – more and greater variety
3. Maintain a healthy weight
4. Limit alchol
5. Exercise
6. Sleep better (I added this one in)
7. Get checked
8. Encourage your friends and family to look after themselves as well
Why? Because money spend on these things to prevent cancer is vastly cheaper in the long run. It also makes for a more satisfying life. I mean, really, it’s great that we have chemo and radiotherapy as options due to reasearch, but who whats to take up those options?
Also be aware of the ‘pink dollar’. Lots of other cancers are not getting research dollars because breast cancer research hoovers up a big big portion.
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Can I just say that my mum never smoked and did everything on the list and still got Breast Cancer (with no family history), She was one of the ones not lifestyle related.
I think its great that Breast Cancer/Pink Ribbon Day has such a high profile now but I agree with other posters,in that, I think its time to focus on and lift the profile of other cancers such as ones previously mentioned ie Pancreatic, Bowel, Brain & Blood Cancers. We really need to increase their funding dollars for research.
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Agreed. I might also add look into giving up/cutting back on dairy and meat or at the VERY least, buy organic and ones without added hormones.
Stop or cut back on using beauty products and toiletries with parabens and pthalates. It’s easy to find cheap brands without these things.
Having said that, as Lozzie said, sometimes it just happens (and I’m sorry about your mum, Lozzie).
I’m going to be controversial here and say I have chosen to opt out of screening (no, I am not suggesting other women do this- it’s up to the individual). Having the spectre over my head was too much, it’s over all of ours to an extent, and the psychological side-effect of “awareness” can be paranoia. I find I have less fear of one day having a disease than I do if I’m constantly monitoring my body and going “what if”. I wouldn’t have chemo or radiation anyway (again, just my choice, other women have the right to choose differently) so if I got it, well, I couldn’t do much more than what I’m doing now, which is trying to live a reasonably healthy lifestyle.
And I agree in general re: the pink ribbon campaign. We know about bc, the advertising and scare campaigns are ubiquitous. Frankly, when I had a lump scare, seeing all the pink ribbon stuff did NOT help- in fact it infuriated me. Now, I know that’s my issue, I own that, but be aware of the psychological stuff here. It’s valid.
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Amanda, I believe that the statistic is that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
I think its a bit misleading to claim that lifestyle and health factors will prevent cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer when I was 36. I had none of the risk factors – I’ve never smoked, didn’t drink, ate well, exercised, slim body weight, had first child before 30, breastfed, never been on the pill, no family history – but still I got breast cancer.
I’m probably only here today because of the medical intervention of surgery, chemo and radiotheraphy. This would not have been possible without the pink fundraising that went towards important breast cancer research.
When you look at your children and wonder whether you will be around to see them go to Kindergarten, claims about lifestyle ways to prevent cancer are a little difficult to take.
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