Quiz time!
If I said to you, 'think of single efforts to raise breast cancer awareness', you would not be blamed for thinking of a youngish woman, grinning at the camera as she squeezes her rack in front of a camera with the appropriate hashtags.
Has it ever occurred to you how 'sexy' breast cancer awareness can be portrayed? During the one day set aside for metastatic breast cancer, no bra day completely drowned out our efforts towards raising life saving awareness. If your anything like me, I had to see what the fuss was about and clicked through some of the BCAM awareness hashtags. I was absolutely stunned to find myself scrolling through countless images of women like the ones below, rows of men in the comments laying on emoji's with countless innuendos. I'm sure you can work out for your smart selves why this is an issue. I'd like to invite you to take a few seconds out of your life to take my quiz! Does SBC upset you to the point you need a trigger warning?It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month- the donations are rolling in, no bra day happens to be real (on SBC day nonetheless) and influencers are fondling their tits online... What's not to love? Now if your reading this I’ll spare you the pink positivity rant and jump straight to the point. Did you know that having a deadly condition like Secondary Breast Cancer actually upsets some people to the core, to the point it just ruins their day? Oh, I am sorry! I forgot to mention the people I am referring to are usually not the ones suffering from the deadly development of the disease. Imagine not only having your life ripped away from you, but then to actually talk about your recent existence becomes so taboo it actually offends some people? If I am honest, I didn’t realise this was even a thing, but here we are. Cancer is an absolutely horrendous illness, and my heart genuinely goes out to half the population which will\have experienced it....
A great opportunity to cut through some of noise during breast cancer awareness month: Nick appeared alongside Jo Riley, the founder of Cancer Pal to talk about the realities of supporting someone with breast cancer. Grab a coffee and settle in for a few minutes. Nick and Jo were interviewed by Steve Ladner. He is partner of Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford and former Minister for Sport, Civil Society and Loneliness. Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2020. She has had surgery and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer and Steve is supporting her through this. Cancer Pal is an amazing one stop shop if you are someone like Nick. It can be so difficult to know what to say or what to do when you are trying to support someone going through this disease.
From the handy bite sized cancer tips and expert guides (surprise your friend/partner with helpful advice), to the thoughtful treatment boxes, you are bound to find something to help you get your head around the treatment or just to feel like your doing something productive! ...To my friends and familyIf your wondering why my social accounts have suddenly seemed a bit 'full on' with the 'cancer stuff' lately, it's because I have grown sick of watching/waiting for myself and my friends to die, and I felt I NEEDED to do something... To my friends/family: If my content makes you uncomfortable, I'm afraid I cannot apologise to you, but I want you to know, I understand. This isn't to upset you, a call for attention, or a ploy to fulfil some kind of ego thing. This is my life and I intend to fight the system in order to keep it for a bit longer. The more I have learnt, the more passionate I have become about the preventable Injustices in cancer treatment, and we need to talk about it. (Believe me when I say I would rather have a semi active social account, posting the occasional holiday snap and drunk status). I will continue to make aware, occasionally shock and upset you, but please understand me, when I say I am at the point now, where I have nothing left to loose. Myself, friends, and other activists are literally dying while trying to fight the system that fails us and the hard truth is, it is too late for many of us... But realise this - we are using our last splurge of spirit on this earth to ensure it will not happen to you. All I ask is you stand with us when the time comes. But I'll still always love you, regardless. "I want to live... and so many other people, who were robbed... Should have lived". This is my Bio from METUP UK 's, #Iamthe31 campaign. Secondary Breast Cancer DayThis is Met Up UK's campaign for Secondary Breast Cancer day . We wanted to put the faces behind the statistics of the 31 people dying every day in the UK from #SBC We are children, lovers, parents and friends. We have hopes, dreams and aspirations. We have a life expectancy of 3-5 years. We are the unspoken truth of the failings in the system. We are the 31. You might even see a little face you recognise! Check out https://metupuk.org.uk/i-am-the-31/ For more information, bios, videos and how you can get involved with the #IAmThe31 If your reading this and are one of the 31, please consider sharing your story to our campaign. If your a supporter please share and tag METUP UK to help us get our voice out! Thanks ... Got me feeling like:I'm still angry. 1/3 of people who get BC will die from secondary breast cancer (SBC), but you wouldn't know this from breast cancer awareness month (BCAM). Secondary cancer (stage 4, metastasised, spread, incurable, fatal. All mean the same) is being engulfed by the bloody pink ribbon campaign... Just look at #breastcancerawarenessmonth
... Out of 31 days. Just 1... 1 measly day is given towards the awareness of SBC. |
A ' no holds' page about my life with incurable advanced Breast Cancer, in the hope it will give a realistic, detailed account to other young women going through the unfortunate illness.
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