The Color of Cancer by Sean Metzger

      

Quick...without researching, what cancer does this ribbon represent?

and this one?

The American Legacy Foundation released a study in 2007 that showed two-thirds of women surveyed believed breast cancer was the leading cancer for woman in America. 






There are over 100 different types of cancer, but it's easy to forget that when everything is painted 'Pepto'. I'm talking of course about breast cancer. I understand breast cancer is a serious medical illness, but what about other cancers: prostate, cervical, liver, testicular, skin, and pancreatic cancer.  Throat cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, and, the monster, lung cancer. Did you know that lung cancer is the number one cancerous killer among women? If you did, according to the previously stated study (if it still holds true), you'd be in the minority. Maybe it's because breast cancer is the sexier cancer. You can't put intestinal cancer on the cover of NEWSWEEK magazine.  We can't expect Coca-cola to put the word 'testicular' on an aluminum can, can we. But you can put a portrait of a fit, beautiful, half-naked woman showing off a PG-13 amount of side boob on the cover of Time magazine.
That you can do and you can do it in spades.

   I'm tired of seeing pictures of beautiful naked women, pink ribbons on every commercial product, and entire events dedicated to one type of cancer. The number one cancer in the world is lung cancer, but does anyone know the color of that ribbon? (It's Pearl, for those who thought I wanted an answer.) Or better yet, Lavender, which is an awareness to ALL cancers. I only say all this because my aunt died of cervical cancer, and my girlfriend's mother was recently diagnosed with lung cancer (she has cancer in both lungs, but those aren't as easy to remove, so that option is gone.) It probably doesn't feel too well to think the public is fighting more for the person to your left, who is getting the same chemo treatment, than they are for you. I mean, to get cancer sucks, but to feel like you got the wrong cancer?

Awareness? Who doesn't know about breast cancer. And better yet, who by now doesn't know how to check for it (gently press you fingers along the outside of you breast, walking them around the sides, got it.) Now, how do you check for lung cancer, or prostate cancer? Endometrial? Can you even do a physical test for endometrial cancer? What the hell IS endometrial cancer? Does anyone know what test best diagnoses endometrial cancer? Its symptoms? How do I help the cause of endometrial cancer? Where do I go to donate money to endometrial cancer victims? I could do research, but I'd rather skim Reddit all day and look at pictures of sad Keanu. Americans don't like to do research when it comes to stuff like this. It's easier to pay an extra dollar when you checkout at your local Foodlion for whatever cancer charity they are promoting at the time, and let's be honest, (in a whisper) its probably breast cancer. 

I'm not angry with breast cancer awareness advocates. I don't want them to stop doing what they're doing. And I don't mean to demean anyone's experience with the illness. If you're feeling like, "My aunt died from breast cancer and how dare you lessen the seriousness of such a blah blah blah," then you aren't paying attention; I am simply advocating more awareness towards those who are probably feeling a little less known these days. 

I'm sure people will respond by asking why I don't get off my ass and do something about it. I'd like to think bringing awareness to these facts is my contribution.  

Note:

While adding tags, I noticed this:

"Stand Up To Cancer" Facebook page has over 400,000 fans.

"The Breast Cancer Site" has over 1.6 million!

I couldn't find a Facebook page specific to lung cancer in my short time searching that had more than...600 fans."

                            

**So there it is...Sean has managed to verbalize what I have been thinking for so long, but too chicken to write. Kudos to you, my son. You make your Momma proud!

As Sean stated, I want all of you in this battle to fight hard, but let's not forget all the brave women and men who are fighting the 'unpopular' cancers.   They need our support and research money just as much.  And where is all the Billions that has been raised by all these so called 'pink ribbon' campaigns??? 

Many donating companies spend more on the promotion than the donation.  Seems dying of cancer is great for sales. It has gotten so commercialized it's ridiculous. I prefer to make my donations to the American Cancer Society and not to pink labeled Hostess Twinkie cakes. Anyway..the artificial unkowns in those probably cause cancer!

So just a little food for thought and I hope I have not offended anyone, but happy if Sean and I have enlightened a few.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.