Breast Cancer Awareness Month—or Pinktober as I call it—is here again. As it does every October, the world will turn pink and pink ribbons in the name of breast cancer awareness will pop up everywhere you turn.
Having fought a personal battle with breast cancer, I have mixed feelings about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read on for my honest thoughts on Pinktober and the whole pink ribbon movement.
This post was originally published in September 2022 and updated in October 2024.
Why do I dislike Pinktober?
October is one of my favourite months of the year but, since my personal experience with breast cancer in 2011, I enjoy the month a little less than I used to. There’s just too much pink!
I have nothing against the actual colour, but the pinkwashing is all a bit much to take.
For some, the pink ribbon is a sign of hope, and I respect that. To be honest though, seeing all those pink ribbons everywhere feels a little insincere to me. I don’t enjoy seeing splashes of pink on everything from cosmetics, cement mixers, mushrooms (yes mushrooms), to my bank’s website and batteries. And, in the United States, pink ribbons have been known to show up on guns, drill bits used in oilfields, and unhealthy fast food. Seriously?
While some of these companies with pink ribbon products do support breast-cancer-related charitable organizations, there’s a lot of pinkwashing out there. I urge you to look past the pink and educate yourself on the product and what the company is doing to help the cause. You may find it’s just a hollow marketing tactic.
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Is awareness really the issue?
Maybe I’m overly sensitive but I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone anywhere who isn’t already aware that breast cancer exists. In one way or another, it has touched us all.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big believer in the importance of awareness and we have made significant progress in the fight against breast cancer thanks to early detection and advances in treatment. I’m just now sure how much, if any, of that we can attribute to the pink ribbons.
How can you show your support?
Despite the progress we’ve made, the Canadian Cancer Society reports that one in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. There’s a good chance this could be your mother, daughter, sister, niece, or friend.
If you’re tempted to buy a pink-ribbon product for someone you know who is battling breast cancer, please think twice. She may not want a daily reminder of what she’s going through. Instead, check out my post Best ways to support someone with cancer for ideas on how to show your support.
Roundup of previous Breast Cancer Awareness month posts
Since starting Boomer Eco Crusader, I have marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month by writing breast cancer and health-related content.
If you missed any of these posts, here is the full roundup:
- Best ways to support someone with cancer
- You need these cancer-fighting foods in your diet
- Dirty dozen ingredients to avoid in cosmetics
- Finding an aluminum-free deodorant that really works
- Breast cancer survival stats and trends – There is hope!
- 12 things you should never say to someone with cancer
- It’s time to end cancer conspiracy theories once and for all
- Are you at risk for breast cancer? Here’s what you need to know
How do you feel about the pink ribbon movement and Breast Cancer Awareness month? Tell me your thoughts below.
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Thank you Michelle, for educating me. I so appreciate your perspective because you truly lived it! A lot of the times, I find it hard to approach or ask questions to the people that are actually going through this (whether it be a similar illness or grief) so I find it so helpful to hear their/your perspective so we understand that not all people feel the same as what’s being pushed out (i.e. Pinktober)!
Thanks Jen. It is hard to know what to say or do in this situation. I think that’s why many people just disappear which is just about the worse thing you can do.