In Support of Breast Cancer Awareness

A few weeks ago I received a message in my Facebook inbox asking me to help raise awareness for breast cancer. This was a few days after my diagnosis, so I was feeling pretty raw at the time and did nor respond, but now I feel I must, but it made me angry. This is probably not the most coherant argument against these things you'll find on the internet, but I need to get it off my chest, so to speak.

Most of the ladies I know will have received something the same or similar in their email inboxes, maybe the gentlemen have too, I don't know. You see similar stuff happening on twitter - make #xyz trend to raise money for something or other. My immediate question to all of these has been: How? How will retweeting a hashtag raise money? How will posting an iniane status, designed to "confuse the men" (really?!?) will raise awareness of breast cancer.

Most people are pretty aware of breast cancer. I don't think people need to be made aware of something that affects 1 in 8 women in the UK.
The key about breast cancer awareness is being able to notice something abnormal in your breast and going to see your doctor about it straight away. The being able to notice is especially key. Since my mothers cancer diagnosis 3 years ago, I've been pretty vigilant about checking my breast for abnormalities. The problem is that I didn't know what I was looking for, and so when I found the lump it was already 3cm across - I'm only a B cup, so that's a pretty significant chunk of volume. I was checking, but I didn't find. It may have cost me my life - I don't want it to cost any one elses.  My cancer has (it appears) only just switched from pre-cancer to cancer. If I'd've found my lump 6 months ago, I might have saved myself chemotherapy, and given myself a much better prognosis. Hopefully I have found it soon enough - only time will tell.

A secondary point about "confusing the blokes" - men need to be just as aware as women - they may notice a change in their partners breast as well - after all they spend more time with them, and may have more points of reference to refer back to, so guys you need to be aware as well.

So, to all my friends I say this: instead of posting an inane status on facebook or retweeting something usless, post this instead:
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/breast-awareness/
Also, click on the link, read it, watch the video and check yourselves or your partner. You never know, you might save someone's life.

If you feel passionatly about something, do something useful - sprea information rather than mis-information or donate rather than posture.

Thanks for your time, and sorry if it sounds like a rant - I've tried to restrain myself ;).