Re: Cancer
I know a couple of Prostate cancer fund raisers, but in comparison to Breast cancer funds they're basically unknown. I think Bungleau's point with the media's influence is very valid, because that does play a vital role in this "popularity" of a cause.
Another reason that Breast cancer receives far more support is probably due to the actual patients and their willingness to share/ help others based on their experiences. As a generalization, women are more comfortable talking about/ receiving help on these medical issues. However most men are raised in a radically different fashion- and thus tend to keep things more to themselves. And without knowing/ seeing people who are suffering from said cancer, people's support dwindles. I think that's a key reason BC is getting such support, because we know and have seen millions of people who suffer from it, even though we may not know a single one personally. While the number of PC may be just as many, its just not as well spoken for (towards the public).
I disagree with your stand on how feminism is the base of this. While it certainly may be a factor on it, I don't think its the primary cause for all this. Why? because breast cancer isn't a gender specific disease, males can have it too (while women are 100X more likely to have it, men have the tissues as well).
Its not because of feminism, but rather the people willing to "come out of the closet" that made this cancer popular. Yes, there are millions of other more serious diseases out there- but chances are most of them are unknown to most of the people. Having one of these disease myself, I can tell this for certainty.
It really all boils down to the publicity that the disease gets, whether it be through the media or people coming out of the closet. People are not going to support something they are ignorant about.
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