A Facebook user has once again invented a little game which asks you post something obscure which those "in the know" can understand the rest cannot. The first time this was done it was picked up by the national (perhaps international news). The stated purpose was for breast cancer awareness; but was it really? How does telling me the color of your bra, where you put your purse or your relationship status make me more aware of breast cancer?
Believe me, I am fully aware of breast cancer. I was diagnosed in July 2007 and believe me after 26 weeks of weekly chemotherapy; and 3 months of daily radiation I was very, very aware. I am the 1 in the 1 in 8 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. That is a little over 12% of the female population. Men get breast cancer too, it is usually more agressive and because of the "stigma" of this being a "female" disease it is very difficult on the guy.
You want to make people aware of breast cancer, tell them that one person out of a group of their 8 closest friends will have breast cancer. [Look around, which one of you will have to go through this.] Tell them that keeping their weight normal and stable will help keep their odds of being diagnosed down. Tell them to choose healthy foods, organic if possible. Tell them that it is important to do self exams once a month and a yearly check-up (as they get older a yearly mammogram).
I know mammograms are uncomfortable but they save lives. My cancer was caught early; not quite early enough to prevent it from reaching the lymph nodes, but hey I'm still alive and to me that is the most important part.
