Some breast cancer survivors, such as myself, craft pink ribbon products for breast cancer awareness. We’ve been through the breast cancer battle and we have a true desire to help others navigate the muddied waters of breast cancer. We breast cancer survivors aren’t large corporations with tons of money backing us. Nor do we have huge funds for marketing strategies. We are merely a group of women who know what’s up–and we attempt to help those who are afraid or don’t understand how to go forward after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.
The disgust with pink washing seems to come from large corporations who spend millions per year on “public health education” or “administrative costs.” Case in point: a well-known charitable organization shows board members “reported salaries” as being less than $100,000 per person per year. But the company’s records neglect to mention the huge bonus that is paid per person. In particular, one vice president received a bonus or over $400,000.
It seems that directors of some charitable “non-profit” organization make more than most doctors, lawyers, or even politicians. You need to also see where the rest of the annual revenue goes because the wording is tricky.
And, if the charitable organization has a catch phrase, you really have to wonder how much money that organization paid for that catch phrase.
These campaigns for breast cancer awareness and breast cancer education are great forms of advertising for the organizations that are already making millions from the breast cancer patients/survivors.
Now, if these so-called charities were intent on using the funds to find a cure for breast cancer, I think the process would be farther along; wouldn’t it? Or am I being naive? I mean there’s plenty of public health education and there’s a huge emphasis on the importance of screening for early detection of breast cancer.
So, ask yourself if the charitable organizations with the loudest voices have your well-being at heart or if their bottom line is the profit the company takes away from the breast cancer campaign.
Unfortunately, we’re in the era of Big Pharma and there are giant charities that rely on Big Pharma by supplying them with money that will create a toxic cure for all cancer patients. But that’s all in the small print; and at least one major charitable organizations holds stock in a pharmaceutical company. Coincidentally, the pharmaceutical company makes educational grants to the charitable giant.
The duplicity is disgusting.
We’re locked into supporting charities that advertise finding a cure for breast cancer but they’re actually promoting breast cancer via chemotherapy drugs, which will keep us locked into a cycle of toxic cancer treatments.
I’ve been a breast cancer survivor for nearly 20 years now and I’ve seen everything. I’ve seen pink cupcakes and pink cakes, pink watches, pink galas, and pink sweat suits. I’ve seen football players speak on behalf of breast cancer patients and their personal breast cancer trials. I’ve heard the breast cancer charities with their representatives speak on t.v. about their good intentions, their fundings, etc.
There is one constant with breast cancer: breast cancer is a scary, tricky business. You need to personally be aware and be careful about where you give your money and what goes into your body.
If you’re tired of the pink washing and these million dollar companies, you can react by keeping your money or buying local—or buy from someone who has had a breast cancer experience—not some faceless company that has the money to promote breast cancer awareness.
And, if you’ve been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, you’ll find lots and lots of conflicting reports out there.
Go to your local hospital’s library. You can begin your breast cancer journey by reading about breast cancer there. That was the beginning of my own personal journey.
Breast cancer is a difficult road with lots of conflicting advice. As one friend told me, “Be careful because there are a lot of voices out there”. Make certain that you’re supporting the voice that supports you. I wish you well.
