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I didn’t really just read that the BCC auction in the fashion show was hosted by Jeffrey Archer did I? Tell me it can’t be true?
I thoroughly dislike Pink October and all the breast fixation! Those of us with secondaries are more concerned about bones, lungs, liver etc than our breasts.
I had very little surgery during my primary cancer treatment because I had a good response to FEC and the flat breast tumour (of which I’d been totally unaware) shrank to the size of a 20 pence piece. I asked if I could have another dose of FEC to get rid of it completely so I wouldn’t need any breast surgery and was told, no they wanted some tumour to remain so they could do tests for Oestrogen Receptor (ER+)and Progesterone Receptor(PR+) tests, so they knew my treatment options if it recurred.
I now know a lot more about breast cancer and it makes complete sense. Lots of people reacted after my primary treatment as if I’d only had a very mild form of breast cancer because I still had a good head of hair and no mastectomy. I said I went through chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, so what else was necessary before it was considered “real breast cancer”?
The stuff that goes on in October is very hurtful to people like me who are terminal and feeling isolated.
Improving 5 year survival statistics are misunderstood by most of the population. They imagine you have to be alive and well to be included. The truth is you only have to be alive. I’m part of the improved 5 year statistics for my 5th year, but I already had secondaries.
In the USA, there are “Pink Stinks” campaigners with secondaries. However, this group get exploited in another way. There are websites offering sympathy and “Pink Stinks” merchandise but at rip off prices. More exploitation.
I don’t wallow in self pity because I know that many others have a worse experience than I’ve had. I’ve well exceeded the median life expectancy for breast cancer patients with cancer and am still responding well to treatment.
When decluttering recently, I came across so many Christmas Cards, Birthday Cards and presents from women diagnosed with secondaries around the same time as me and they are no longer with us. Deaths were often sudden and a shock to everyone. I will admit to crying, not for me but for them and so in many cases,the young children left without a mother. Any daughters will have to face up to the fact that they will need to push for early breast cancer screening if their mother died young and there is a possibility of a family history.
I’d happily talk about this side of breast cancer but I doubt if ASDA want to hear it! They make too much money selling their poor quality tarty pink underwear and other paraphernalia to have someone like me cast doubt upon it all. They might demonstrate that they don’t get any direct profit from it, but it encourages people into the stores to shop for other items, gets them valuable publicity etc.
Sorry, but can’t wait for October to be over.
Hi Holeybones…I agree with so much of your post. After the latest build up to October I’ve decided to spend much less time here…it’s too upsetting. I can only think of those no longer here and October campaigns named ‘Tickled Pink’ or ‘In the Pink’ just seem so crass, so inappropriate. I will still check in occasionally to read the secondaries forum. I think you will already know a mutual friend with a young daughter (A.D.) died earlier this year?
Please feel free to PM me if you hadn’t heard.
Good to hear you’re responding well to treatment. I’m on Xeloda and have had some good results with it.
Belinda.