Posted on 10/09/2011 10:35:55 AM PDT by Skeez
Watching football with about every player trimmed out in pink, from their shoe laces to their chin guards, I wonder, "Does prostate cancer have a month?" They do. It's September, but I don't recall any baby blue ribbons or TV adds with celebrities alerting me to that fact. Please don't misunderstand me, I do not mean to take anything away from the commendable efforts by the NFL, other organizations, and common people in their pursuit to rid the world of this devastating disease.
However, I did some research and discovered that there didn't appear to be any statistical significance to justify these levels of increased exposure of breast cancer.
I don't know what the federal funding levels are for each and I absolutely don't know all the other facts and figures. I'm sure there are many freepers that will educate me.
I'd like to know what your honest opinion is as to why breast cancer receives more attention. I am not saying it isn't fair. Educating people about breast cancer does not make people less educated about prostate cancer. This is not a zero sum gain. If anything, the efforts made for breast cancer are likely paving the way for progress with many other forms and we should all be thankful. The question, however, is, "how did it become this way?"
Are women simply better champions of their cause? Are men somehow less vocal about these things by nature? Does this discrepancy have something to do with the statistics, diagnosis, or treatment of which I'm unaware?
ping
I do not support this charity because I do not agree with their views on embryonic stem cell research. They are all for it and support Planned Parenthood as well. No thanks.
Before commenting, please keep in mind that there are likely many people on this board that have been personally affected by one (or more) of these cancers.
I am noticing this year that a lot more players are not opting in to the pink parade.
My brother says that breast cancer receives more attention because women control the world.
I think that it is way overdone. It compromises the uniform dress code. It is distracting. The color is gaudy. We have to put up with the sissy look for an entire month. It enriches the makers of pink shoes and other equipment. As much can be done (if it does anything) for breast cancer "awareness" with 1% of the attention. Silly, distracting, and useless IMO...
Having lost my first wife to breast cancer in 2001, and having my new bride afflicted with it (Thank God the doctors were able to catch it in time and so far eliminate it), I am very sympathetic to this cause.
If your local Susan G. Komen bunch funnels $$$ to your local Planned Parenthood, please do NOT support them! Some groups do, some don’t. Please educate yourselves:
“Some Komen affiliates across the nation have treatment and screening grants with their local Planned Parenthood. I believe 19 of our 125 affiliates currently have that grant.”
Christian school quits supporting Komen:
http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/20/christian-school-in-texas-quits-komen-over-planned-parenthood/
Komen affiliates in Austin, Texas; Central New Mexico; El Paso, Texas; Greater Amarillo, Texas; Los Angeles County, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Salt Lake City, Utah stopped giving to the abortion business while affiliates in Dallas County, Texas; Denver, Colorado; North Carolina Triad; North Carolina Triangle; and Puget Sound, Washington all began new relationships with Planned Parenthood.
Another problem for pro-life advocates is the fact that Planned Parenthood is reducing the number of breast cancer screenings while increasing its abortions. According to the 2008 Annual Report from Planned Parenthood, breast cancer services decreased by 4% and abortion procedures increased by 6%.
The Komen spokesman confirmed last year that Komen affiliates contributed about $3.3 million to the abortion business from 2004-2009. That and the longtime ties between Komen and Planned Parenthood have resulted in some backlash from the pro-life community. The Komen annual report reveals Komen brought in almost $22 million less, or 6% less, in 2009 than it made in 2008. That could be a result of the difficult economic times or may also come as a result of pro-life advocates increasingly boycotting Komen.
That, and people are more sympathetic givers if you tell them that “mom is gonna die.” Men suffering from cancer is not a pretty, feel good motivator.
It's not the color, it's the stupid looped ribbon I hate. I associate that with Political Correctness in general. It's just another attempt to herd us all into some kind of group think.
Statistically I’m more likely to suffer heart disease than anything. Would like to see some attention to heart disease.
That said, DH’s aunt, and one of the kids’ favorite teachers both battled breast cancer. It is a vicious opponent.
I’ve heard Komen Foundation gies money to Planned Parenthood. their trying to make up the difference after all the funding cuts.
They do it for the entire month, this is I think the 3rd year in a row of it.
Ping to Post #26. Sorry for your loss and close call. My best friend & step-Mom died of this disease. My Great-Grandma did, too - she was a Christian Scientist, so refused any medical care for it; I can’t imagine the agony she must’ve been in at the end.
I have an awesome rack and take great care of it. :) But I will NOT support Komen, et al due to their ties to the abortionists at Planned Parenthood.
Do what you feel is best, but please educate yourself (and your current wife!) before you write that next check...
Thanks for your time. :)
What’s wrong, ya got problems with the TRUTH?!
I just logged my complaint at NFL.com. Between the pink shoelaces and referees speaking Spanish, I’ve had it.
I want WNBA players to wear jocks around their necks for prostate cancer awareness and All soccer broadcasts in Mexico to a have a reciprocal English awareness month for all the dollars sent south of the border.
Could be. High profile cases will do that. It’s why Komen jumped to male “awareness” Brett Favre’s wife got breast cancer, it was already huge before then but was mostly in “female” products like yogurt with pink lids. I will admit some of the campaigns for Komen are pretty amusing, I especially like the “save third base” charity soft/baseball games.
I’m tired of it and I’m a girl. Fine that Susan Komen’s sister kept her promise to carry on the fight and I admire her for that but I think this breast cancer crusade is overdone. God bless those who have had it or have been lost to it but it’s not the only killer cancer in the world. If I sound cold I’m sorry. There are MEN’s cancers that are just as deadly. I want ALL cancers cured in my lifetime!
"...And this positively infantile preoccupation with bosoms. In all time in this wretched Godforsaken country, the one thing that has appalled me most of all this this prepostrous preoccupation with bosoms. Don't you realize they have become the dominant theme in American culture: in literature, advertising and all fields of entertainment and everything. I'll wager you anything you like that if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight!"
Some factors that apply:
Many more women die from heart disease than breast cancer, but when they do they’re usually much older. 60s/70s+ vs. 40s. Much more difficult to portray the death of an old person as an avoidable tragedy. People tend to think, though most are not as politically incorrect as I am and won’t say it out loud, “Oh well, she was going to die of something pretty soon anyway.”
(Actually, the average age of death from breast cancer is 61, but I think I’m correct when I say the public perception is that it affects younger women.)
As others have pointed out here, testicles and prostates are not nearly as photogenic as a female breast. At least not to me and most men.
Chivalry, though nearly dead, still plays a part. Men feel an urge to protect women. Men, and women, don’t seem to feel anything near the same urge to protect men.
Prostate cancer also has the same age issue as heart disease. Men who die from it are much older on average than women who die of breast cancer. Average age of death from prostate cancer in USA is 80. He was gonna kick over soon anyway, so what’s the big deal?
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