Breathe in that sweet, cool November air!

I live in New Jersey and I’ve been feeling a bit weary but triumphant this November, having survived a triple threat: Hurricane Sandy which knocked out power to my town for a week, a November 7 Nor’easter which dropped three inches of snow on us and… Pinktober.

We all survived another onslaught of Pinktober and I’m happy to say that more and more of you participated in raising your metastatic voice above the cheerleading din of the ‘happiest cancer on earth’ to set the record straight and make some inroads into the misinformation that reigns.

MBCA Day October 13 2012 at the MBCN conference in Chicago

On October 13 I was at the MBCN conference (which was fabulous) and I was interviewed for some articles and media stories later in the month.

But, when I think of spreading awareness of mbc, my thoughts keep returning to a simple encounter I had with a woman with early stage cancer who was on a panel with me, Breast Cancer Perspectives, held at our local YMCA. The program was poorly attended because of the weather and lack of publicity, but it was a meaningful experience for all who attended and people lingered afterwards. My fellow presenter came up to me and said, “I never thought about breast cancer from your point of view and, as I was speaking after hearing your story, I thought for the first time that what I was saying might be painful or hard for you to have to hear all the time.”  One encounter, one person whose perspective was changed.

Did anyone have a similar experience? Or maybe you wrote a letter, told your story, donated money, attended a program or conference or posted a comment online.

I’d love to hear about it.  In the Comments Section below, please let me know by completing this statement: Here’s what I did for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness this year:  ________________

I will be creating a page on our website for 2012 MBCAwareness activities to show that one person can make a difference.

Here’s a start to the page: a  very brief sampling of interviews, articles and letters to the editor, proclaiming the complete picture of breast cancer, including those of us living on the darker side of pink. Please feel free to send me any additional links.

Articles:

• Maggie Daley Inspired Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer 10/27/2012 (Chicago) New Lenox Patch
• Pink not so rosy for those with advanced breast cancer 10/16/12- (Minneapolis) NBC News
• Pinktober’ ignores breast cancer patients who can’t be cured, some say   10/11/12 (California) NBC News
• Eastern Iowa woman speaking out about metastatic breast cancer   10/08/12  (Iowa) KWWL.com
• I just wish everyone could survive.  10/12/12 (Houston) Deerparknews.com
• A generation of breast cancer: this Breast Cancer Awareness month, beware the ‘pink’ 10/2/12- NJ.com
• Metastatic Begins with ME – Canadian Breast Cancer Network

 

Carol and her husband at the Greater Nashville Komen Walk, raising awareness of mbc

Letters to the Editor:

Metastatic Breast Cancer Knows No Month – 11/1/12 The Tennessean

Fight Metastatic Breast Cancer with Education – 10/29/12 The News Herald Northern Ohio

For some every month is breast cancer awareness month 10/4/2012 Examiner.com

Blogs:

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, We Must Not Only Celebrate Success, but Reflect on Our Limitations As Well  -American Cancer Society Dr. Len’s Blog

Where is our Metastatic Breast Cancer Celebrity Spokesperson? –  ihatebreastcancer blog

Send me the links I’ve missed by commenting below!

THANK YOU!

Ginny Knackmuhs

MBCN Board