Mastectomy Pride Campaign

[Jo_BCC]

Posted for new user Sharon,
Jo, Facilitator

hiya jo, i think your masectomy pic looks really neat, these surgeons really know what they are doing. hiya sandra i do get your point, but at least they are doing it right now. im going to be doing a peaceful protest soon about the tickled pink campain and need people to join, you are welcome to come along. takecare.x

[Guest user]

Grrrr at the "nice " people at Take A Break, if they want to take pride in something maybe they should take a long hard look at themselves as supposed professional journalists and get their story correct before going to press ! I mean it's hardly rocket science in actually obtaining the information re mastectomies which was what the article was supposedly about,factual inaccuaracies regarding medical issues drive me bonkers !

Sandra x

[Jo_BCC]

I have posted this for new user Sharon.
Jo, Facilitator

i have spoken to the nice people at take a break about masectomy pride. they will retract the part where they say, masectomy is a cure. this is something that shouldnt have been said and was not said to upset anyone, they were told by a couple of ladies who have had masectomies that this was the case, and are deeply sorry if they have offended manybody as this was not their intention, in fact nothing could be further from what they were trying to do. if there are any ladies out there that are interested in the masectomy pride campain please let them know. personally i like the name, its in your face, it will help raise awareness and get women checking their breasts. also ladies who are not on these forums and feel alone after having masectomies will be able to feel they are not alone. i know some may not agree with me, but you cant please all of the people all of the time, like i said though this is my opinion. takecare.x

[Guest user]

Hi Jools i thought your scar looked pretty neat! I am 2 years on now and it's settled nicely but there is one area where i still get a zingy sensation! Mine is a fairly neat line TC J

[Guest user]

this is for Lucy (BCC) Posted on behalf of new user Sharon

Bet your Mastectomy Scar looks better than mine!

[Guest user]

I would not buy or wear the Mastectomy Pride Campaign badge! though I would put a donation in the box.

[Lucy_BCC]

Posted on behalf of new user Sharon

masectomy pride will cause more awareness, simply by the fact masectomy is a name used for the removal of a breast...normally because of cancer. this will make womn check thier breasts, which means more lives saved. yes it maybe a bit in your face, but lets face it cancer isnt exactly that discreet, it is how it is. i totally agree though that tickled pink is a no no, that speaks for its self. do you not think also by the name masectomy pride that people would want to donate more to breast cancer research...there is no hiding in the name its blunt to the point and very real for alot of us. i agree that everybody has thier own opinions, this is mine and im sticking to it. a picture of me went out into the press with a masectomy, ive been in contact with women who had lumps but wouldnt get them checked,they did after seeing my pic, also getting other females in thier families to check themselves. it has stayed that way and has been a very positive experience for myself and others. point being using the word masectomy...its a wake up call to these women that do not check themselves.

[magsi]

bump

[magsi]

Some of you may be interested in a programme on radio 4 this afternoon

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=24957&p=387649#p387649

M x

[Guest user]

Realy cant see how Mastectomy Pride raises awearness , what actual message is the campagin giveing out re awearness?? ,or mabe have i missed something ,is the campagin raising any vital funds for breast cancer in this campaign at all?. The name alone is distastefull for many people and the badge to me with a smiley face on it is just tacky . I cant think of any other desease that would feel pride and honour to declare their loss to the world by walking around wearing a badge advertising the fact.
I dont know anyone who feels shame about mastectomies these days at all, but do we realy want to blatetently declare to the world all that has happened in peoples lives and more to the point does the world realy want to know!!
All the best
Linda

[Sam_BCC]

I have posted this on behalf of new user Sharon.

i think masectomy pride is a very good idea, its raising awareness and i dont think of it as the same as the tickled pink logo...yep they totally did a wrongun with that...im proud of my masectomy, i love my scar...without the masectomy i would already be dead, my cancer being very agressive. of course we know that it isnt the answer to everything and we still could die from the disease anyway...but it has given me more life, to be with the ones i love, giving a whole new insight into life really, live it. i agree that it isnt good to see a couple of girlies who havent had cancer wering the badges, actually i find that totally pathetic, but i suppose they were doing it to be nice, without thinking. ignorance isnt a crime you know, perhaps having a chat with tab, having an open discussion about how it makes you feel. personally im all for it.x

[Guest user]

I'm sceptical of 'awareness'. How aware are we of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, lung diseases and whatever else; and other cancers. And if we were...? While we're worrying about breast cancer our arteries are hardening... we're getting older...

You cannot prevent breast cancer. You can imagine you're doing something about it by eating 5 a day, etc etc etc. But you're not. People who do all those things get breast cancer, heart disease, etc. People who do all those things get old. People who do all those things die. I'm all for not doing positively harmful things like smoking, to make the most of such life as we have. But doing that won't stop you getting breast cancer or anything else, it won't stop you dying.

Like any disease, when you spot a cause for concern, you'll likely get it checked out. And whether they'll be able to do anything for you... and at what cost to you... you'll play it by ear, take it step by step, day by day. And one day, for all of us, our time will be up - breast cancer or something else.

Talk of awareness goes with the 'early detection saves lives' mantra. It is put about as though by being aware we can make a difference to our outcome. I question that: there is no guarantee that a cancer detected at the earliest possible moment is not an aggressive one which may already have metastasized, there is no guarantee that those cancers that appear to be 'less advanced' when detected 'early' by screening would have gone on to kill, or that the early detection and hence early treatment of them gives the woman a longer life than she would have had if that cancer were detected and treated later, when symptomatic. It doesn't guarantee less aggressive treatment either. She just lives with the knowledge of cancer longer, and with the effects of treatment longer. Most breast problems aren't cancer.

So Take A Break doesn't impress if they're offering as a defence that by means of a tasteless campaign over nonexistent issues they are raising awareness of breast cancer. If they want to educate people about breast cancer, then by all means do that directly, not by some indirect and vulgar reference to putative problems said to be experienced by those who have the disease. Then they would have to mention, among other things, the issues of overdiagnosis and overtreatment resulting from screening: these are the things women need to be aware of.

sno

[Guest user]

Hi Everyone!
This is my first time posting so forgive me any mistakes. I'm all for the public being made more aware of breast cancer but it needs to be done in a informative & sensitive way. I've looked at the Take a Break link & you only have to look at the cover to see that this is not in any way whatsoever a serious & informative magazine.Its pure sensationalism, out to sell mags & make money.maybe i shouldnt say this but it reminds of the old fashioned freak shows!
If they were serious about supporting those of us with mxs the first port of call should have been BCC.
We all have our own mastectomy Pride badges, the physical mental scars but I guess a pink badge with a smiley face sells more mags.
I think this forum & Bcc are great but I was a bit concerned by Bcc saying we must be careful about what we say. Whats the point of having a forum if we cant make criticisms? Surely we are all able to put over a point of view without becoming offensive?
Good luck to you all & thanks for listening.
Linxxxx

[Guest user]

Hi rjenr2
the great thing for me about these forums is that we can discuss and not necessarily all think the same way and thats a good thing.

I totally take on board what you are saying about raising awareness, no problem with that, of course, - its the inaccuracy of the message that worries me.

The tickled pink thing is something I'm instinctively uncomfortable with because I do worry about it reducing bc to some kind of frilly illness that doesn't need to be taken as seriously as other cancers, which we all know to be nonsense. On the other hand, the money it raises pays for things like these forums and they are central to how a lot of us deal with this illness and what it does to us. I've had experience of bc with these forums, and without them (as have many of my cyber-maties) and I am doing much better this time, with a more difficult prognosis etc, simply because I have access to people in the same boat - its very powerful support. So I too have mixed feelings about the whole thing.
And I quite like the colour!!

For me, any means of heightening awareness and improving knowledge is great, but info needs to be accurate or it becomes dangerous.

I hope things are good with you
love, Monicax

[Guest user]

i have mixed feelings - as i do about tickled pink.

Anything that makes women of all ages think about breast care health is good.

I have read every single page of this thread and i still feel the same way.

if we don't like the way it is done - try and change it?

[Guest user]

i am sorry you were not told - my surgeon told me very clearly that mastectomy promised nothing

[Guest user]

Hi All

Hope all are as well as can be. Monica - you expressed exactly how I feel, about the mx and recurrance, about my consent to mx which I now know did not achieve what was expected (why does no -one medical tell us that cancer can come back after mx?),about mis information and half truths and myths and all that stuff.

Sarah - so hope it is nothing sinister and wishing you the best possible outcome. Vercors - I am not on Face book - wondering if there is another way to swell your numbers?

Love to all

Jane x

[pollysue]

Hi

I read the magazine in question and this campaign or story is'nt new. This has been 'on the go' since before xmas 2008..with regular stories about women who are dealing with breast cancer.

Lyn

[vercors]

Against the "Mastectomy Pride" campaign. Stop sensationalism of cancer!
Facebook group has 30 members in 24 hours not bad at all. 🙂

[Guest user]

thankyou for your kind words both of you..
Hopefully all will be fine next week and no further appointments except thoughs as follow ups.
I understand what you both are saying about mastectomy not being a cure, but i did have DCIS and not a tumour so i have a better outcome than most. Unlike my dear friend who i met at Charing Cross who is living every day as she says.
So i do feel for thoughs that have the torment of not knowing what next.
We can all live in hope of a cure.. especially for our daughters and their daughters there after.
All we can do is battle on and dream of that day.

Regards

Sarah

[Guest user]

Hi Sarah
I, too, am sorry that you are having more problems, with your right breast this time. I hope you can get it sorted and have some reassurance very soon.
It is so important to understand and celebrate the fact that we all have different perspectives on this forum, and I love the fact that we can all say how we really feel about things, because we tend to protect our near and dear ones from some of the painful realities we have to face. None of that means we are at loggerheads with each other or anything - we just have different ways at looking at this horrible, painful, complex illness.
I had a mastectomy in 1997 aged 38 and the only way I can describe how I felt was mutilated. I lay on a trolley and let them wheel me down to theatre and cut off my breast, and it broke something inside of me. I realise that that sounds melodramatic, but that is the truth about how I felt.
I had mastectomy and 5 years of tamoxifen, on which I did OK - no significant side effects. But I read and learned about this illness - no family history, no 'reason' for it all, so I was a beginner - and I always thought it could come back, so kept checking myself, not obsessively, just keeping an eye out...
In May last year I felt a new lump in the breast where I had had the mastectomy and later reconstruction. I waited thro' a menstrual cycle and then, when it was still there, went to see my GP.
Early in June I was diagnosed with a recurrence of the original cancer and later found out that it has mutated from grade 1 in 1997 to grade 3 in 2009. This recurrence is very aggressive and very different to the first diagnosis.
I'm not telling you this as a sob story, or to frighten you, but I wanted to get the message across that its really important that people don't run away with the idea that a mastectomy is a cure. It just isn't.
I too am a positive, optimistic person, but for me, part of that positivity is to be in charge of what happens to me and my body, as far as is possible. And I too believe that knowledge is power, frankly, it upsets me quite a lot to think that people might read an article, or get involved in a campaign, based on information that isn't factually correct. It worries me a lot to think that someone, having had a mastectomy, might think that they don't need to worry about that breast or breast area any more, because I know that that is being misinformed and that cancers do recur.
I hope that you have no further problems and that things go well with you.
best wishes
monica

[Guest user]

Hi Saralisa70,
I am sorry to hear that you have more worries with your right breast, do get it checked out asap then it will hopefully put your mind at rest. The forums are here to offer help and support, so you will always find there will be someone here day or night to talk too if you have concerns or just want to chat with others who understand.
BCC also have a free telephone nos to call with trained staff who can offer advise and support to anyone who has breast concerns.
Im glad that your expierence has been a positive one, and i can also very much relate to wanting to get life back to normal , unfortuneatly for most people with cancer this is an unlikely expectation, people have a whole range of sometimes horrendous treatments which can and ofen do leave lasting side affects for years to come. we somehow have to find a new normal and live our lives with BC and all that that entails.
Of course it would be wonderfull if a mastectomy equaled a cure and im sure many, many women would gladly pay that price if that was the case , we could then wipe breast cancer off the map and there would be no more suffering of this vile desease ,but sadly thats not the case , all we can hope for is that it will be enough , but as said before on this thread there are no guarentees , so it does concern me that if the facts are not correctly put forward people may unknowingly have a false sense of security and not be as breast awear as they might.
Cancer is a complex desease and its not a club that anyone wants to join but we are all here to support each other and help and advise when we can.
All the very best to you.
Linda
PS Ive always had a positve attitude also, as many here will tell you but i like to think im a realist too and to me knowledge is power x

[Guest user]

Thankyou for the informative information Linda,

I had high grade DCIS which had started to invade the breast muscle wall. I'm still under watch because it effected all my left breast. Thats why i had a mastectomy and under high watch has my team of consultants say. The good thing even though they thought it had gone into my nodes i caught the little beeps in time.. and they came up clear.
But my right breast is now playing up and part of me thinks i need it removed too. Solves all the worry and stress.
My whole attitude to this disease has been i want my life back to normal, but i don't think my ordeal has quite ended yet.

I am sorry if i caused any offence in the forum at any point because i came from nowhere spouting off, But the whole experience i have had through my ordeal has been a positive one. Although i got upset looking at my breast for the first time after the operation. I can honestly say not once have i felt angry or depressed. Unlike some of my friends who had mastectomies one of which is in a serious way.

I think it is down to the individual and what they feel and think. This whole conversation has divided opinions some are fine with it and some would rather forget the whole experience, but we know that is not possible. The reminder is there when we look in the mirror.

Regards

Sarah

[vercors]

Search for Mastectomy Pride on FaceBook you will find Against the "Mastectomy Pride" campaign. Stop sensationalism of cancer!

Please join the group! I will only keep it for about a month or so, just to prove that we can have more support on FaceBook that the 116 that Mastectomy Pride has or the 557 for Take a Break.

[Guest user]

oopppss,read that wrong thought you wanted their facebook page 🙂

[Guest user]

Hi,if you go on the link that bahoons2 put on her post on page one,under the two girlies with their silly badges it says join us on our mastectomy pride facebook page click here.

best wishes Mel xx

[Guest user]

Vercors, the Take a break Facebook group using the cat picture has no connections to Take a Break magazine (unless they are very well hidden!)that I can see. Unless there is more than one Facebook group with the same name and picture of course! As there are over 500 groups on Facebook with the name "Take a break" it's always a possibilty I suppose.

If you search the internet you'll find the tequila cat picture used all over the place 😉

Bad Fairy x

[Guest user]

Hi everyone,

This topic has clearly got you all talking. Some of you asked why we allowed Take-a-Break to post on the forums.

We do allow people not directly affected by cancer into our community. We feel that anyone willing to share information and support about the topic, and who does so in accordance with our community guidelines is welcome to join. However, it is also clear in our community guidelines that promotion and commercial solicitation are not allowed.

We felt that the original post by Take-a-break was not commercial promotion, and that having someone involved in the original creation of the campaign explain the reasons behind it, was beneficial to the debate going on in the forum.

There are a couple of other things we need to highlight.

Please be careful when criticising people or organisations. If you publish comments that are defamatory, both you and Breast Cancer Care can be held liable for it. Perhaps more importantly, it’s vital that our community and forums continue to have a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere. So we would ask you to refrain from personal insults and to remain respectful, as outlined in our terms and conditions.

Our forums are public, and all comments on them are therefore in the public domain, which is why we remind people to be careful with their usernames and other personal details.

We know that many of you feel strongly about this issue, and the support that you give each other around the issue of mastectomies (as on so many other topics) makes the forums the valuable resource that they are for so many people.

Leah
Community & Social Media Manager
Breast Cancer Care

[vercors]

Bad Fairy, I was not offended by your post at all; but the irony of it all is that on FaceBook there is a group called Take a Break and the picture for the group is the same as the one you are using here...

I will set the Facegroup group and leave it for about a month. I just want to make a point to TAB that we can also gather support. We do not need a marketing machine.

[Guest user]

Bad Fairy

You have told it as it is; there's nothing offensive about that.

Take heed Take A Break.

Hopefully there will have been enough feedback to BCC to get them to remove TAB's account; it would be the right thing to do and would at least demonstrate that they understand what a faux pas it has been to allow them on here in the first place.
DHS

[Guest user]

Dear Take A Break,

I'm dying from secondary breast cancer, I haven't had a mastectomy as it isn't rountinely offered for people like me. Please can you do a three page article explaining what it's like to know that your time is limited. To explain the pain, physical and mental that goes with this diagnosis. Can you tell your readers the best way to explain to young children that mummy is unlikely to be around to see them off on their first day of secondary school. Maybe explaining along the way the effects of numerous chemotherapy sessions on the body. It might be useful to include a brief outline of the mental struggles, how long can they keep me alive in the hope of a new treatment emerging? As my time is limited do I refuse treatment to try and maintain a quality rather than a quantity of life?

Ahhh ... sorry, I forgot, that's a bit too truthful and depressing isn't it? Might not sell quite so many copies that week if there's no "cure" included (as implied by the "Mastectomy or die" comment)or the possibilty of a debate or a supporters club to join. You can't debate the fact that I'm dying but I don't suppose many would want to have a badge saying that either.

Sadly for all affected by breast cancer, the reality of never getting a true "all clear" just a lessened chance of reoccurrance, is rarely mentioned in the media. It's too scary and might put people off getting checked. I'm all for raising awareness of this disease, its effects and the treatments but raising it with the truth. Too many women die of this disease and yet many people still have the attitude "that's a good one to get, they can cure that these days". Why do people think like that? Because they have read too many articles that encourage them to think it's true that's why.

*BC Ladies, I apologise if I've upset or offended anyone, that wasn't my intention. I'm feeling very grrrrrr at the moment after reading through this thread.

Bad Fairy x

[Guest user]

Hey Ladies

I have just joined today, I have had a mx and just about to have chemo number 5 tomorrow I am dresding it, its docetaxil had really bad reaction to last one!

I have been ignoring my scar and the fact I do not have a right breast any more, I cant bring myself to wear my fake boob, I feel like I am playing dress up in my mums bra stuffed with old socks! I hate it big time.....

I dont think I will be wearing one of those badges either.... I am more than happy to talk openly about whats happened but I think my brain has gone onto auto pilot and only deals with things on a daily basis, if I thought about the bigger picture I wouldnt stop crying, that emotional tsunami would engulf me and drown me.

Nice to meet you all
Anna
xxx

[Guest user]

For an article challenging Breast Cancer Care`s and the NHS Breast Screening Programme`s use of "1 in 9", see Margaret McCartney
"Reality check" in the Financial Times Magazine section 27/28 Sept 2008.

Take a Break says "The magazine uses provocative journalism to get people thinking and talking. The combination of the words 'Mastectomy' and 'Pride' is an example, and has plainly succeeded."

So a thing is justified just so long as some people think it is okay? The whole world used to think the earth was flat and was at the centre of the universe. They were wrong.

It's a bit like smoking. It is not a private matter because you can't smoke and not affect other people. Shame, but you don't live in bubble. What you say and do affects others. This is causing offence, and not trivially, while it helps no-one.

The idea that wearing a badge like that is going to engender discussion is preposterous: what sort of discussion do you have in mind: -

"Oh, so you've had a mastectomy have you?" "Yes and proud of it too" "Oh, which one was it?" "Does that matter?" "Well I don't know, does it? I was just wondering like." "Well I hardly think that's relevant." "Well you started it by wearing the badge, I couldn't care less about it to be honest." "Well why did you ask?" "Well, it says you're proud of it". "I am." "Why?" "It shows what I've been through, how I've suffered, and conquered it, and how it's made me a better person." "The badge shows that, does it?" "Certainly." "I know lots of people who suffer." "Yes, but I've lost my breast and that's special." "So, you weren't much of a person before then? But now there's less of you there's more of you, so to speak?" "Exactly." "In what way?" "I do stuff, I go places, I don't hang about." "I know lots of people who do stuff, go places, don't hang about. Have they all had a mastectomy?" "Probably." "Ah, that would be it then. I didn't know though because they weren't wearing the badge."

What sort of discussion do you want? Where do you want to have it? At the bus stop, perhaps?

sno

[Guest user]

Hi Sarahlisa70,
Welcome to the forums , i think in your first post you said that 1 in 9 people "under 50" will get DX with breast cancer and that is what i think jane was refering to.
the statistics below are from breastcancercares publication on this site.

The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 9
This means that 1 in 9 women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their life – but of course it also means that 8 out of 9 women won’t develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

Estimated risk of developing breast cancer according to age

* Risk up to age 25, 1 in 15,000
* Risk up to age 30, 1 in 1,900
* Risk up to age 40, 1 in 200
* Risk up to age 50, 1 in 50
* Risk up to age 60, 1 in 23
* Risk up to age 70, 1 in 15
* Risk up to age 80, 1 in 11
* Risk up to age 85+, 1 in 10
* Lifetime risk (all ages), 1 in 9
I agree the key issue is to be breast aware , but unfortunately most breast cancers are not picked up untill they present with symptoms and by that time they have usealy then become invasive. DCIS ofen refered to as pre cancer (as has not yet developed the ability to become invasive) would only be picked up by mammogram/ultrasound so unless your in the screening age you wouldnt nessisarily know you had it. People need to know the real facts with well thought out campaigns not these uninformed misleading ones which are just not accurate.
All the best to you
Linda.

[belinda]

P.S...lots of us diagnosed stage 4 from the beginning and there are quite a few of here, are not, as a rule, even offered a mast..although this is beginning to change. But if I had been offered a mast I can't think why the heck I would want to wear a badge to invite complete strangers to question me about my operation? Sometimes you just want life to be as normal as it can be under the circumstances and wearing a badge round Sainsburys certainly wouldn't float my boat. I have always reached out and tried to help, where I have felt able, others in the same secondaries boat but this badge idea is something else.
Sorry.. I really am meant to be on that forum break!
x

[belinda]

I'm (trying) to 'take a break' from the forums but still read here most days..after reading some comments here about journalists posting (I agree with you all, journalists, I feel, should not be posting here) I went into my own profile and if you go to the edit option, personal info, 'what describes you best' there is now a 'journalist' option. I have never noticed this before..but perhaps it's been there a while.
x

[Guest user]

Agree with last few posts, I reported posting of take a break but haven't heard as yet. Something needs to be done

[Guest user]

Dahlia you are dead right! I would like to know that OUR forum is confidential to ourselves, we really lay ourselves wide open if journalists have access to all of our postings
I find that very concerning
BCC, could we ensure this doesn't happen please?
thanks
monica

[Flora29]

Rachel
Regarding this quote from your post on 12/1/10 at 13:04 -
"Using some of the comments on this forum, we intend to return shortly to the subject in Take a Break and ask our readers what they think."

I trust you are going to ask permission of the posters to use their comments? This may be a public forum, but it should be quoted properly, within copyright rules, and with the poster's permission to be published elsewhere.

I certainly would not want my comments from a public forum to be quoted out of context elsewhere without my knowledge or permission.

Regards
Flora

[Guest user]

Sorry, did I miss soemthing here?

The Moderator MUST have allowed TAB to post here.

I thought the forums were for users and not abusers? I think that allowing TAB to set up an account and post here is an abuse quite frankly.

Shall we open the forums to the Daily Mirror? The Super Soaraway Sun? Woman's Own? Bella? Le Monde? Hello mag? Or any other voyeurs who think that any one of us wants Joe Public to know that we have had surgery on our genitals? Because that is what is implied by TAB.

I'm very disappointed with BCC for this; I think an explanation is called for please.

[Guest user]

I strongly object to Racehl being allowed to post on here, very strongly.

If we allow all publications to come and say their two penneth then it would descend into chaos.

I am upset that BCC have permitted this. I'm not interested in TAB representing their views on here - they can do that in their rag.

"women in their droves" - really? REALLY??? They are kidding themselves ...

[Guest user]

The 1 in 9 is the information given to me by the Breast care nurse at Ealing Hosptial and Charing Cross which is leading hospital in Cancer care in UK... Yes i am aware that theses statistic are changing all of the time, but you can only go by information that is given to you at what ever given time. Theses two hospitals got together to make sure i got top care and i can not complain what so ever.
To me it does not matter if it is 1 in 3 or 1 in 250. The key issue here is to be aware and check your breasts.
So if my statistics don't match yours i appologise Jane.

[truffle_shuff]

should have read, telling everyone i have piles !!!!!

[truffle_shuff]

will take a break be giving any money to cancer research ,now then that may be helpful, we dont need badges, we need a b****** cure

never found the need to wear a badge telling everyone I .oh and one stating that I wear tenna lady too !!!!!!!!!! chemo induced so im told

take care all

[Guest user]

Welcome to the new girls, do not think I have seen posts from you on any other threads. Picking up on Racheal's point about extreme intolerance - I'm mystified: where has this been manifest? I think this is a particularly good natured thread, with diverse postings.

As I opened the thread with comments made about the mis perception that mx is life saving surgery, a view that is not explained by any clinical support on the campaign page, I am disturbed that TAB devotes so many pages toartivcles on BC when clearly so ill informed. Information is free and I expect BCC are always helpful in assisting journalists keen to present a balanced article.

A good example of a morre balanced piece of journalism is the Vaness show where she asks searching questions of callers, a BCC rep was interviewed and probably could have filled more time with her answers to genuine concerns about the post mx body.

I find the idea that people woke up to face their scars and were glad to be still living in itself a bit depressing. It smacks of make do and mend. It isn't just about being alive. It's about quality of life.

Still do not see how wearing a pink badge builds understanding of an issue. Saralisa - was concerned that you think 1 in 9 of under 50's gets BC, it is considerably lower risk at this age. And worse later.

Love

Jane xx

[Guest user]

Sorry but i think "Extreme intolerance of difference" on Take a Breaks part is depressing it would seem sadly Rachaels view and i assume that of the magazine on the whole is very polarised (mabe their awards for the magazine has gone to their heads) and it doesnt allow for opinions or critisisum of others who find this badge distastefull.
Rachael, you say Take a Break has a circulation of 920,000 yet you have only had 3,000 requests for Mastectomy pride badges??? in comparason that doesnt represent a huge amount to me considering your sales.i wonder how many of the 3,000 have actualy had mastectomies ? 45,000 women are DX in the uk with breast cancer every year and i wonder how many of those 45,000 have requested a badge and would be happy to wear one. .
I notice on your Mastectomy Pride facebook page you have had very few entried to date mabe that says something also.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to run this story in a future edition of Take a Break with both fors and against views and then perhaps we could get a balanced and fair representation on the subject.
Take a Break say they welcome debate so lets have one.
Linda

[Guest user]

Dear vercors, brilliant idea, are you going to start it?

[vercors]

Definition of Pride: Feeling of self-respect and personal worthfeeling of self-respect and personal worth.

I am sorry but whereas, I am not ashamed of having had a mastectomy; I talk openly about it and discuss it with my friends and family; there is no way I can apply the word pride in regards to my mutilated body.

3000 asking for a freebee is absolutely nothing. I am sure we could create a group on Facebook which could be called: "stop the sensationalism of cancer - Boycott Take a Break"; I am sure we will get many joining it.

[Guest user]

Rachael, I know where I would like to tell you to stick your badges!!!!!!!!!!! 3000 is nothing compared to the amount of us ladies that are diagnosed with this desease every year. I defo wont be ordering one

Carol

[Guest user]

Dear Rachel
can I ask how you ensure you inform readers properly and what steps you take to ensure that your facts are correct?
thanks