Cancer

[Beaumanoir]

In light of my brother's postings o'er yonder, I thought I'd share with you some thoughts which came to my mind last night. Frankly, I don't muchly care who I give a rise to. Just wanted to know some opinions.

I was DJing last night, at a 'Pink Party' (No, not that kind of party), but a 'Breast Cancer Awareness' party. Might've been a fundraiser, I'm not sure. Anyhoo, I had some serious reservations about joining in. The aim of the night actively annoyed me. Not because I've got some kind of alliance with tumours, but It just made me think; Why breast cancer?

Every day we see posters raising awareness of breast cancer. TV adverts, campaigns, leaflets, flyers. What about the other 1,000 terminal diseases on this planet? What about the dozens of other cancers which kill thousands every year?

Someone said to me that it was because it was 'Womans' thing. Bastard Feminists. Where's my prostate cancer party? Me and my brother are high risk for contracting MS. Where's our fundraiser for that?

Just, what is so bloody special about this one, single malady which makes it so attention worthy over others?

I think it's down to feminism. Not that I'm a chauvinist (even though, at times, I do think these radical feminists take to an extent where it's practically a mirror of chauvinism. The hypocritical bastards). If we ignored a disease like breast cancer, and focused on testicular, for example, we'd all be called evil masculinist bastards. You're allowed to do it the other way around though. That's fine. Obviously.

It applies to everything though, not just diseases. Why are certain things focused on more than others though? Why is Madeline McCann so much more bloody important than the thousands of kids who go missing before her? (The fact that her parents BLATANTLY did it, aside).

*Sigh* It all boils down to how this PC world, full of PC things, like this PC Message board, tip-toe around the real issues in the world.

And if that isn't fuel for discussion then I'll hang my boots up now.

[Stratos]

More breast cancer = less boobs in the world. A bad thing. It's as easy as that.

[Stratos]

Actually I think they have blue ribbons for prostate cancer, similar to the pink one for breast cancer.

[Stratos]

Oh cripes, I'm back to Egyptian deities. Xenu forbid!

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by Beaumanoir *Sigh* It all boils down to how this PC world, full of PC things, like this PC Message board, tip-toe around the real issues in the world.

Do you think we should all switch to Macs?

[Beaumanoir]

And thankyou for demonstrating everything which went wrong with this board.

[Bungleau]

Fair questions, and I don't think there are many good answers.

Short answer: I agree. There are a lot of worthwhile charities and missions, and you can't do everything. You've got to pick one, and it's easiest to pick one that matters to you somehow. The media helps to raise awareness of those things they choose, like Madeleine McCann, to the detriment of other things. So in order to get the full picture of things, you have to look to multiple sources of info.... news from places other than the major ones.


A couple of facts, though... breast and prostate cancer are the most common cancers in the world. True, there are no fundraisers for prostate cancer (that I know of), but as men get older, they get a fair amount of education about PSA, the substance they check for to determine if you've got it. There's also the whole finger/rubber glove thing to check for it every year...

Lung cancer is deadlier, and every pack of smokes comes with a warning (that's ignored ). But it's not as common... apparently, enough people are getting the message that it's not as prevalent.

Why breast cancer and not MS? No good answers. There are MS fundraisers... a quick google found bike races, walks, and other events. I think part of it comes down to marketing, pure and simple. The breast cancer folks have some good people making sure the word gets out about their events, and they have done well. They got some celebrities to adopt the pink ribbon thing, and it became an easy way to demonstrate affinity. And some people probably wear the pink ribbon just to fit in...

My wife often asks about the promotion of specific cases, like Madeleine McCann or the missing kid case down in the southern US now. Why them, and not someone else? Why the cute white kid instead of a cute black kid, or hispanic kid, or some other kid? Why Lacey Peterson instead of the thousands of people who disappear?

I think the media chooses ones they think will sell, and we're stuck with them. And that ain't right

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by Beaumanoir And thankyou for demonstrating everything which went wrong with this board.

You're welcome.

As for your answers, Bungleau have some good points. It's all about marketing. All kinds of diseases have charities raising money for them, but only few have TV galas for it. Perhaps it's because it strikes women more often than men it gets more attention; the most common form of cancer in the "fairer sex."

McCann just makes a good story.

[Spirits Reborn]

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.

[Larry_OHF]

Breast Cancer is not limited to women, so it cannot truly be considered a gender-limited issue.

They call it rare, but in 2005 1,690 men were diagnosed in just the US.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms...FQpjnAod7BZ96A

Edit: Spirits beat me to the punch.