About This Blog

Moms Speak Up is collaborative blog of writers from various backgrounds. We're talking about the environment, dangerous imports, health care, food safety, media and marketing, education, politics and many other hot topics of concern.

About Us

We are women, parents, consumers, voters and much, much more and we're fed up with the "business as usual" attitude of politicians & greedy corporations. It's time for us to speak up and be heard!

Is Going Pink Enough?

We’ve been conditioned to believe that pink is good.

Pink is empowering.

Pink is solidarity, at least when it comes to the pink of breast cancer awareness campaigns.

I believed it too, especially thinking that pink consumerism would somehow benefit my best friend who fought breast cancer for close to eight years. She was glad to hear if I bought my bras during special October fitting events to benefit cancer research and was always happy to receive any pink gift I sent her way.

It’s easy to feel that we’re supporting the fight against breast cancer, especially in October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when products in every shade of pink imaginable abound.

It wasn’t until I was approached to write an article about these breast cancer awareness campaigns that I realized that an increasing number of voices are asking consumers to be more skeptical. Sure, it’s great to support breast cancer research and awareness, but shouldn’t we take the time to ask questions about exactly how much money is being raised and where is it going?

Who is really the bigger beneficiary — breast cancer patients or the corporations sponsoring the pink products and events?

And, are there companies who are taking advantage of these campaigns to increase their bottom line who may actually be adding things to the environment or our cosmetics drawers that are potential causes of breast cancer?

I want to be pink this month, especially in memory of my dear friend Marjorie who lost her battle with breast cancer a year ago. And for my friends Pam and Debbie and Sam and mod*mom and others, like Elizabeth Edwards.

I want them to know that I am dedicated to the fight against the disease that they each have had to face in their own way, as well as to the mission to find the causes and the cures.

Selfishly, I am also committed because I’m scared that one day it will find me, too. Cancer seems to circle all of us, waiting to place its icy finger on our shoulder, so I don’t think my fear is unrealistic.

But my awareness of the awareness campaigns has been raised to a new level. I know now that if I want the pink watch or the pink bracelet, I should also be asking who’s getting the money and will it really help the next woman who finds the lump?

Cross-posted from PunditMom. 

add to sk*rt

Related Posts

Posted in Health Care, Politics, Women by PunditMom on October 25, 2007
Comments (11)


  1. Jenna said:

    In light of my mom’s diagnosis during the last week of September, all we CAN do right now is take our family blog pink. She just had her second surgery on Tuesday and we’re waiting to hear whether or not the cancer has spread. We’re feeling hopeless and scared out of our minds. Taking our blog pink was the only thing we could do, other than pray our pants off, as we wait. Wait. Wait. That said, we also agree that spending money on pink things doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. And so, the blog is just simply pink to give us SOMETHING. Anything.

    Anything.

  2. Izzy said:

    I read an article somewhere that buying the Breast Cancer Stamp is a more effective way to make a difference, as compared to saving Yoplait tops. Is this true?

    Like the yellow & pink ribbon magnets that everyone has on their cars, awareness is being raised but where does the money go? Would you be better off sending your $3-$5 directly to a reputable charity?

    I don’t know the answers to these questions but it’s definitely worth exploring further, if only to know that you’re doing the most with your money that you can to help.

  3. Gerald Miloch said:

    NUTRITIONAL CURES FOR CANCER WORK

    I have been cancer free since September 2004. Most people do not realize that cancer cells are oresent in the body at all times BUT your IMMUNE SYSTEM is working to kill off the cells. When our immune system becomes compromised, Cancer manifests itself as a tumor. This is a sign that your immune system is not working and you need to strengthen your immune system. Radiation and chemotherapy and surgery all weaken our immune system. There are three web sites you need to visit:
    http://www.radioliberty.com/nlJan07.html http://www.lifeone.org http://www.cancertutor.com These sites will inform you of the suppression of cancer cures since 1953 (actually they were being suppressed in the 1930’s when the FDA suppressed the use of RIFE technology which was 100% effective at UCLA), LIFE ONE, a product which has been 100% effective against AIDS and CANCER, information on a multitude of cancer cures plus advice about a proper cancer diet. DID YOUR DOCTOR TELL YOU TO STOP EATING WHITE SUGAR, WHITE FLOUR, AND RED MEAT? If he didn’t he knows nothing about the human body. SUGAR feeds cancer and makes it grow. Red meat is acidic and creates an environment for the cancer to grow.
    ‘The truth shall set you FREE.”

  4. Ree said:

    Excellent points. Truly. I am running my own little contest to raise awareness, but the products I’m including in the drawing came from the Komen site, and the donation from me (based on the number of links to the post) will be in cash back to Komen.

    I thought about getting “prizes” from other sites, but the %’age of $ that actually gets to the cause deterred me.

  5. Cristina said:

    A while back I wrote a post on the Imperfect Parent re. breast cancer awareness M&Ms. I was actually pretty shocked to see M&Ms being used to promote breast cancer awareness.

    http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/10/05/help-fight-breast-cancer-buy-these-mms/

  6. Gerald Miloch said:

    If you will read the three sites in my last post, you will realize that all the fund raising is a scam. Complete cures have existed for 70 years. No research for cancer or AIDS cure is necessary. Just take care of your immune system and stop listening to the institutional lies that there is no cure. Read http://www.cancertutor.com for a listing of all the natural treatments that exist. Good information there on a proper diet if you have cancer. NO white sugar, flour; NO RED MEAT.

  7. Izzy said:

    Gerald —

    As I recall, Suzanne Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer awhile back and people were up in arms because she was telling everyone she was rejecting the status quo cancer treatments and taking a more alternative approach. Is that similar to what you are referring to? I’m curious because I heard she is now cancer-free and have been very interested in what she did to get there.

  8. Gerald Miloch said:

    Izzy,

    Basically the same thing. I have been following cancer cures for 25 years. Life One is one of the best I have seen. The documentation is extensive; they have a thorough discussion about what cancer is, reveal test data, open discussion of he formulation and its contents. I am familiar with the majority of what is in the formula; each item is a ccncer therapy in its own right; there should be a good synergistic effect from the overall formula.

    I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in August 2004. I immediately went on several protocols based on what I knew at the time. I immediately did the following:

    1. Colon detox. You cannot absorb nutrition in a dirty colon.
    2. Immediately eliminate all white flour and sugar, pastries and sweets. NO red meat.
    3. Steamed vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes
    4. Two eggs a day, 7-grain bread (toasted) I need my proteins.
    5. Lots of fish, tuna, salmon. Chicken, no skin.
    6. A large green salad, five days a week.
    7. Sundays at church, I would allow myself a donut or pastry.
    8. I used a formula containing Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, L-lysine, L-proline, EGCG
    9. I elevated my ph by using cesium, potassium, magnesium, calcium
    10. I used AHCC, a mushroom compound; Graviola, Carnivora, products from the Raintree forest.
    11. A lot of exercise. I was already walking six miles a day. I continued that.
    12. Budwig protocol, twice daily. ¼ cup of cottage cheese, 2 ounces cold pressed flaxseed oil, 2 ounces aloe vera, add a little fruit (I use strawberries or red raspberries(for ellagic acid)) This helps put oxygen in your blood.

    Keeping your ph elevated and stimulating the production of oxygen kills cancer cells. Body is alkalized.
    A low ph and sugar helps cancer cells grow. Body is acidic.

    http://www.cancertutor.com has a lot of good info including diet, a section on low cost cures.

    Although I am in pretty good shape, I recognize that my body is producing cancer cells daily. So as a safety check, I am purchasing a bottle of Life One as a tune-up.

  9. Daisy said:

    I didn’t turn my blog pink, and my breast cancer ribbon still sits pinned to my bulletin board. My battles have been personal: a close relative and a close friend were both diagnosed within weeks of each other. My donations will be carefully thought out. I’ll wear my pink hat and my pink Packer jersey, though. I know where the $$ went for those.

  10. Yep, we’re aware! « Toddler Planet said:

    […] kids!  Mountain Momma went pink and has a link to IBC research on her page.  On the other hand, Moms Speak Up wonders if going pink is enough (10/25) and remembers her friend who fought breast cancer for 8 […]

  11. J said:

    Here’s a link that’ll help:
    http://www.charitynavigator.org/
    They provide info on charities and what is a “good” “trustful” charity and what is not. And it gives great tips in how to give your money to causes.



Leave a Comment




Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge



The 2008 Mothers Acting Up
Handbook is now available!


Safer Toy Guide 2007




Copyright 2007 • Moms Speak Up • All Rights Reserved