last october was my first pinktober living with breast cancer. i had always been annoyed at all the pink crap and nicey-nice ribbons that month, but 2 months into my diagnosis, it was way too much. it’s the same this year – i can’t get away from pink ribbons.  in the elevator at my hotel in vancouver this week, on the united flight attendant, at the grocery store asking me if i want to make a donation to breast cancer, ads on tv and billboards, and so on. it’s in my face, all up in my grill, in my biz.

i don’t have much new to add to the growing rants and analysis on breast cancer awareness month, and i don’t currently have the energy to figure out what my contribution to the movement will be (except proudly supporting my breast cancer action cancer sucks pin in my backpack).  so for now, i’ll share 3 things: a new, free app Think Dirty (clink the link) that lets you quickly scan all your personal care products to see what toxics they contain + a reminder to Think Before You Pink (clink the link) and what questions to ask pink products before you buy them + an informative piece written for Orion Magazine this month that might incite you or it might depress you, but it will definitely educate you. the closing excerpt:“We used to march in the streets,” says Ehrenreich. “Now, we’re supposed to ‘Run for a Cure.’” Imagine what change could be effected if all those women in pink turned their energies toward working to pass legislation that would protect all of us from the chemicals that cause cancer. Imagine if the millions of dollars spent searching for a “cure” were instead invested in researching causes and prevention. Because if we truly want a cure for the breast cancer epidemic, we don’t need more mammograms. We don’t need more ribbons. What we need is to face a truth that is not pretty, not pink, and not reassuring at all. Chemicals are in our bodies. They are causing cancer. And all the pink ribbons in the world aren’t going to fix that.” off to get me more of that fancy chemo this afternoon–only 1 more left after today!
adios,xom