(and one big one I did)
is a new book by US journalist Shelley Lewis. The cancer memoir genre is pretty overcrowded and these days you have to be a jounalist and have a slightly different take on breast cancer to get published I reckon.
Lewis’ book is a slightly irreverent romp through some of the myths about having breast cancer.Spot on I think in not seeing cancer as a gift and disliking the term ‘survivor’. Also a very readable anaylsis (which I think the author got from the more academic book by Samantha King called Pink Ribbons Inc.) of the problems with ‘cause marketing’ and the pinking and consumerism around breast cancer. Anyone awating Pink October with dread will enjoy this.
I like the way the author is aware that breast cancer isn’t one disease…that yes many (herself probably included) live after breast cancer for many years and the experience doesn’t necessairly in the scheme of things touch them that much…and that yes too many are still dying of breast cancer…and for them soft focused talk of cheery survivorship is anathema.
Lewis’ style is slightly irritating at times and her dislike of on-line support forums even more so (!), but an interesting read. I’m awaiting the delivery of another memoir…called Cancer made me a shallower person…
Anyone else read either of these books?
Jane
Hi Jane,
read none as I am still getting acquainted with my bc…
'm not into positive thinking/visualisation/alternative therapies, etc, etc but the one called Cancer made me a shallower person… I’m curious. is it on Amazon?
Thanks
Helena
Hi Helena. Yes it is on amazon. Just realised its a comic book…like another called Cancer Vixon…so I probably won’t like it cause don’t like cartoons particularly!
Welcome to breastcancerworld. I don’t do positive thinking/visualisation or alternative therapies either (nor being brave, being a survivor, battling or fighting cancer).
best wishes
Jane
Pink October ? What is that ? Sounds nasty is it catching?
Hi Jane,
ummm not into cartoons either… will try the other one.
Regarding this thing I do prefer a rational, logical approach rather than some pinky, bubbly,life changing bla bla bla thing.
I’m not a cynical person but I am very sceptical (not the most likeable ones though…)
Take care,
Helena
I hated Pink October last year. I was in the middle of chemo, no hair etc, and felt like i had unwittingly fallen into a reality TV programme. I was even asked [by someone I hadn’t seen or spoken to for years] to go to a Pampered Chef party in aid of BC and do a talk about my DX. I politely declined on the grounds that I’m not that into kitchen gadgets.
Don’t know how I will feel this year but have a feeling it won’t be much better.
AJxxx
Hi All
Jane sorry to but in on your thread but wanted to share this smile re the dreaded Pink October
I was initially dx in Oct 03 and was of course acutely aware of the “Pink October” campaign. Following my appointment which confirmed the need for a mastectomy my Mum and I went for some retail therapy. At the till in M & S there were buckets with big signs “Please make a donation… etc” for their “pink” fund raising. Well Mum and I looked at each other and disolved into fits of laughter as I said “I dont think they want what I’d like to donate but it would be easier than the op”
Totally ireverant I know but a sense of humour kept us going and I still cant look at a collection bucket without laughing.
All the best to all of you
Jackie
Jane,
I am sorry about crossed wires earlier. I too get embarrased by Pink October. It is ridiculous really but for the life of me I just cannot wear a ribbon. I also will be looking at the book-cancer made me a shallower person. Sometimes in the midst of all this shallow is good. julie
Hi Jane, all
“Cancer made me a shallower person” - I read probably a couple of years ago now and I laughed out loud all the way through - what therapy. It is better by far than Cancer Vixen, I thought. Miriam Engelberg came over as a human being.
I loathe all inspirational literature, stuff written to buck me up by people who haven’t had the experience, I loathe Pink October, I loathe the commercialization of cancer, the politicization of it, I loathe badges and ribbons and any suggestion that by all this “action” we can make it better, it is just displacement activity.
Do give “shallower person” a go, I hope it gives you as good a laugh as it gave me. But I am rather shallow…
Hi Jane et al,
I do think it’s very funny the idea of battling/fighting cancer… Yeah right!!!
As for pink ribbons, races, afternoon teas, ummm not into that either.
Problem is that people think it’s becoming fashionable with media playing a major part and adding glamour to it through
the likes of kyliebloodyminogue’s hair colour “after” bc and “prophilactic mastectommy gave me fantastic boobs” and other stupid statements…
As for me no matter what stage/grade/age, etc, it is really bad luck and a spade upon your head for life(?!)
Carpe Diem,
Helena
Hi Jane, I haven’t read the Engelberg book but I have seen a couple of her cartoons, very black humour, I think you would like them.
Hi All
God i thought it was just me didnt like ribbons etc. I was diagnosed in 2005, had all the treatment etc and have just found out i have bone mets hip and spine. While i think its a good thing if more people check themselves because Kylie has had bc i remember watching the programme she made about it and thinking, ok she has gone through the same as me but hasnt had to worry about money, finding a parking space within a mile of the hospital, (in fact i think the chemo came to her ) she could take as long as she liked to recuperate without having to go to occupational health and was living in france with a gorgeous bloke. Jeez reading that i must be cynical, better invest in the comic book.
Trish
Hi Trish, I too have bone mets, which were diagnosed in 2003, lots of fellow stage 4 friends have loved the comic book. Belinda.
Hi ladies.
thinking about what’s been written on this thread, I just had the thought that it must be a good thing that public awareness is raised with regard to BC, because that in turn leads to more donations for funding into research into the causes of BC and better treatments ( and ,surely, they do have to improve! ).
Before my dx in February I had NO IDEA how frighteningly common this disease is in the western world. This has ,in fact, been the biggest shock to me in all of this journey and I think the government needs to put more money into research into the causes so that the rate drops rather than continuing to rise.
So, try to look at the “Pink” ribbons and special events in a more positive way, even though they may not have any benefit for us directly,they may be of huge benefit for the next generation. Let’s join in with the campaigns to make the government and the public more aware. The fewer people have to go through this dx and treatment the better!!
Best wishes to you all,
Ann G. xxxx
Hi Jane,
I have read the “shallower person” book and laughed out loud at many of the cartoons. I liked the fact that it was a book that simply voiced many of our fears - being sick from treatment etc. It was also not schmaltzy either, would recommend it to anyone, but especially those that go on to have secondaries. My copy has been passed around many people.
Kate
I’m rather looking forward to the arrival of the ‘shallower person’ book now.
AJXXX…like you I was diagnosed in October…towards the end of the month in 2003. In my newly diagnosed hyped shocked state I couln’t understnad why suddenly there seemed to be so much media yuk about breast cancer…I’d managed to avoid it before. Though I did in the 1990s sometimes wear a pink ribbon (one of the original ribbon ribbons not a ghastly twinkly version you get these days.)
I have disliked Pink October more each year since, and what I really think about some of the stuff that happens would quickly get censored here. AnneG…I disagree…I think ‘Pink October’ with its glitzy consumerism and culture of corporate giving, its images of smiling cheery ‘survivors’, glamorises and distorts the reality of this disease.'‘Raising awareness’ sounds laudable but all it achieves is packing breast cancer clinincs with the worried well in November.
In a nutshell don’t buy the pink food blender at the Pamapered Chef party…give the money direct. And perhaps we could open a competition on the best things to put in the collection bucket at M and S.
Jane
I have been totally amazed recently by the amount of articles on sale supporting breast cancer, yet when you ask the retailers they can not specify how much of the purchase price goes to the named charities, since my diagnosis i have bought said ribbons bracelets etc etc, but a year on have decided enough is enough, these companys seem to play on our insecurities
Anna
There’s a website about pink products, google thinkbeforeyoupink.
So agree about the glamorization. As for researching the causes - why don’t they? They do a bit, but they seem to concentrate on the causes within our bodies, because we may have the very smallest amount of control over them. But not much. What if it turns out that pollution (plastics, phthalates, hormones in cattle, god knows what) really are a big factor? I can’t think how to fix that without returning to the Stone Age, which I would quite like to do, apart from the fact that I imagine I would miss books, but maybe there would be plenty of compensations.
How about one of our nice pink prostheses in the M & S collection bucket?
I get fed up with all the pink stuff too - I was looking for some oil for my garden bench in a shop the other day and they were selling pink gardening tools and brollies for BC. Last Christmas I decided it would be better to give £25 to my local Maggies as the staff there provide such a lifeline for people who are affected by cancer. For anyone who is affected walking in off the street, they can just have a cup of tea and have a quiet place to think about their troubles. They also have volunteers doing stuff like tai-chi where you can just drop in and participate without booking. I was in there a few weeks ago and a very concerned looking man came in with his young daughter to get info on lung cancer. He looked as if a weight had been lifted after one of the staff assisted him. I figured my 25 quid was worth it. I would like to be a volunteer but it would mean not being able to use the centre and I’m not ready to cut myself adrift yet.