NationStates Jolt Archive

I live in America, and at this point I think I could buy a flatware set that had pink on it's box, and claimed to support a cure for Breast Cancer. First off, I want to register my approval of curing Breast Cancer. I do, however, think that American Society has taken it a few steps overboard, I have seen chocolate chip cookie dough for the cure! *insert pink ribbon here* and I wonder how the two are related. I mean, is every other ailment in America cured that we as consumers should only be concerned with Breast Cancer? I dislike the idea that because Breast Cancer is highly advertised companies should try to get us to buy their product because they donate a percentage of a penny to every dollar that they make in sales, surely there are more worthy causes? At least equally worthy causes? Perhaps we could have companies interested in a variety of cures to propogate? Oh right, I forgot, then they might not sell at maximum capacity, what a shame that would be.

What do you guys (and gals) think about the issue? Also is this happening outside of America?

Breast cancer is lame, hurray for raising funds to sort it out, no matter how?

As a kidney cancer survivor, I am all for finding a cure for ALL cancers. Pink isn't the only color of cancer there is...it is a bit tiresome.

As a kidney cancer survivor, I am all for finding a cure for ALL cancers. Pink isn't the only color of cancer there is...it is a bit tiresome.

Exactly, as a guy I am fairly concerned about prostrate cncer (along with many other cancers).

I have to say, honestly, I'm not that personally worried about contracting Ovarian Cancer... perhaps it is merely my youthful sense of invincibility. *nods*

Well, it is a touch ridiculous. There are other forms of cancer after all. But that doesn't mean we should try to cure it.

Agreed, I'm all for finding the cure, it just does not happen to be the only issue that I am concerned about in the world.

In fact, due to heavily increased awareness I think that Breast Cancer is less of a threat than many other cancers that are less easily detectale, and less publicized.

I live in America, and at this point I think I could buy a flatware set that had pink on it's box, and claimed to support a cure for Breast Cancer. First off, I want to register my approval of curing Breast Cancer. I do, however, think that American Society has taken it a few steps overboard, I have seen chocolate chip cookie dough for the cure! *insert pink ribbon here* and I wonder how the two are related. I mean, is every other ailment in America cured that we as consumers should only be concerned with Breast Cancer? I dislike the idea that because Breast Cancer is highly advertised companies should try to get us to buy their product because they donate a percentage of a penny to every dollar that they make in sales, surely there are more worthy causes? At least equally worthy causes? Perhaps we could have companies interested in a variety of cures to propogate? Oh right, I forgot, then they might not sell at maximum capacity, what a shame that would be.

What do you guys (and gals) think about the issue? Also is this happening outside of America?

Well, it is a touch ridiculous. There are other forms of cancer after all. But that doesn't mean we should try to cure it.

It's pure marketing; as a consumer, which would you buy? Johnie-lame's cookie dough which gives 100 percent of its profits to some corporations; or my cookie dough, which is exactly the same, only I give 1> percent of the profits to breast cancer research.

It's pure marketing; as a consumer, which would you buy? Johnie-lame's cookie dough which gives 100 percent of its profits to some corporations; or my cookie dough, which is exactly the same, only I give 1> percent of the profits to breast cancer research.

I understand that, but at this point, I am more and more tempted to go with Johnnies just out of my annoyance at feeling like I'm wearing rose-tinted glasses for all the pink ribbons I'm seeing.

hmm, I've never seen a product being advertised by claiming they support a cure for breast cancer. We do have some organizations which focus on cancer and sell stuff to gather funds for research, and I think there is a "national breast cancer day" or something similar to encourage women to let there breasts be checked once a year or something. I've never even seen a pink ribbon I think.
There are red ribbons against aids, but I've only seen those on a speech about aids.

Aha! But then the guilt kicks in and you buy my cookie dough anyway!

All that aside, I'm starting to see more products donate profits towards autism research, nowadays, with a general decline in breast cancer products. Or maybe its just the products that I buy.

:(Aha! But then the guilt kicks in and you buy my cookie dough anyway!

All that aside, I'm starting to see more products donate profits towards autism research, nowadays, with a general decline in breast cancer products. Or maybe its just the products that I buy.

Huh, not that I go shopping that much, or even pay enough attention to have noticed, but it is interesting... but who's cookie dough should I buy when Johnnie's starts supporting Autism's?

:confused::( I'm so confused!

Exactly, as a guy I am fairly concerned about prostrate cncer (along with many other cancers).

I have to say, honestly, I'm not that personally worried about contracting Ovarian Cancer... perhaps it is merely my youthful sense of invincibility. *nods*
:D
But you can still get breast cancer. Just in case you were feeling good, thought I'd throw a downer in there.

Really, I've seen ever conceivable product in Breast Cancer Pink. Cookie dough, soda, KitchenAid mixers, spaceships, you name it. And honestly, did they have to pick pink? (red) was so much better. 'Cause people actually want things in red. Maybe if they'd picked a nice deep blue, or the right shade of green.

:D
But you can still get breast cancer. Just in case you were feeling good, thought I'd throw a downer in there.

Really, I've seen ever conceivable product in Breast Cancer Pink. Cookie dough, soda, KitchenAid mixers, spaceships, you name it. And honestly, did they have to pick pink? (red) was so much better. 'Cause people actually want things in red. Maybe if they'd picked a nice deep blue, or the right shade of green.

I think AIDS beat them to the whole red ribbon thing, and blue is free speech online (I think).

Plus the fact, breast cancer only affects women, hence pink. No, no men get breast cancer, ever. If you say they do, you're a conspiracy theorist [/OTT drama]

Personally, I've not seen a lot of "everyday" products with the pink ribbon, and I hope not to. I've had breast cancer in my family, so I'm more than happy to donate money to help find a cure, but the day I have to start choosing my groceries based on which charity I want to support this week is the day I switch back to battery chickens. After all, which charity would want to be associated with that?

No, actually a very small number of men do get breast cancer, but its very rare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

Yeah, I know, hell, when two people in your family get it, you learn all about it. When they both live through it, you thank your lucky stars (and science).

I guess my sarcasm isn't working at 1am :p. In fact, who am I kidding, my sarcasm never works!

EDIT: However, my manipulation of the Space-Time continuum seems to be working fine

:D
But you can still get breast cancer. Just in case you were feeling good, thought I'd throw a downer in there.

Really, I've seen ever conceivable product in Breast Cancer Pink. Cookie dough, soda, KitchenAid mixers, spaceships, you name it. And honestly, did they have to pick pink? (red) was so much better. 'Cause people actually want things in red. Maybe if they'd picked a nice deep blue, or the right shade of green.

Each cancer has a designated color. Neon green = kidney cancer =)

Pink Ribbon - Breast Cancer, Birth Parent - See our Pink Ribbon Gifts for unique gift ideas with pink ribbons.
Red Ribbon - AIDS, D.A.R.E., D.U.I., Pro-Life, Substance Abuse, Heart Disease - See our Red Ribbon Gifts for special gift ideas with red ribbons.
Orange Ribbon - Leukemia, Reflex Sympathitic Dystrophy, Cultural Diversity
Purple Ribbon - Alzheimer's, Cancer, Lupus, Lymphoma, Leimyosarcoma, Macular Degeneration, Pancreatic Cancer, Pulmonary Hypertension, Rhett Syndrome, Animal Abuse, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Domestic Violence
Yellow Ribbon - Missing Children, Amber Alert, Bladder Cancer, Endometriosis, Liver Disease - See our Yellow Ribbon Gifts for unique gift ideas with yellow ribbons.
Blue Ribbon - Interstitial, ME/CFIDS, Reye's Syndrome, Arthritis, Child Abuse, Distonia, Education
Light Blue and Purple Ribbon - Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Light Blue Ribbon - Lymphedema, Prostate Cancer, Pro-Choice, Eating Disorder
Teal Ribbon - Native American reparations, Gynecological Cancer, Myasthenia Gravis, Sexual Violence, Tourette's Syndrome
Green Ribbon - Kidney Cancer and Disease, Lyme Disease, Mental Retardation, Organ Donation, Bone Marrow, Depression, Environment, Safe Driving, Bipolar Disorder, Cerebral Palsy
Black Ribbon - Melanoma, Mourning
White Ribbon - Peace on Earth, Retinoblastoma, Right to Life, Adoptee, Bone Cancer, Child Exploitation, Make Poverty History, Victims of Terrorism
Gray Ribbon - Lung Cancer/Disease, Mental Illness, MS, Parkinson's Disease, Allergies, Asthma, Brain Cancer/Tumor, Diabetes, Disabled Children, Emphysema
Brown Ribbon - Anti-Tobacco, Colorectal Cancer
Burgundy Ribbon - Multiple Myeloma
Red, White & Blue Ribbon - Patriotism, 9/11 Victims, Safety - Visit Patriotic Gifts for unique gift ideas with a patriotic theme.
Silver Ribbon - Elderly Abuse, Strokes
Lace Ribbon - Osteoporosis


I just want to buy my food and not worry about awareness at the grocery. But that is just me. =)

:D
But you can still get breast cancer. Just in case you were feeling good, thought I'd throw a downer in there.

Oh, I know it. In fact, I got into an argument with a friend a while back who maintained that men could not get breast cancer, that it was completely impossible in every way. This was the same friend who knew that spare tires were composed entirely of rubber (yep, apparently spare tires are solid rubber, no air in them at all...) Also the same friend who knew that as a child I could not have played Mortal Kombat (I or II) on my SNES (which I owned, along with MK II for SNES) because MK was only for SEGA. Ahh, the power of knowledge.

Although yes, a different colour would at least not feel awkward to want to support, I would mind less if I could say 'see these cool *insert awesome looking colour here* miscellaneous products that I bought with the cool coloured ribbons, I'm supporting the fight against breast cancer!'

But they went with pink... I tried to warn 'em, I told 'em they guys would come out in force, but did they listen? No! wait... what? :confused:

I think AIDS beat them to the whole red ribbon thing, and blue is free speech online (I think).

Plus the fact, breast cancer only affects women, hence pink. No, no men get breast cancer, ever. If you say they do, you're a conspiracy theorist [/OTT drama]

Personally, I've not seen a lot of "everyday" products with the pink ribbon, and I hope not to. I've had breast cancer in my family, so I'm more than happy to donate money to help find a cure, but the day I have to start choosing my groceries based on which charity I want to support this week is the day I switch back to battery chickens. After all, which charity would want to be associated with that?

No, actually a very small number of men do get breast cancer, but its very rare.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

Oh, I know it. In fact, I got into an argument with a friend a while back who maintained that men could not get breast cancer, that it was completely impossible in every way. This was the same friend who knew that spare tires were composed entirely of rubber (yep, apparently spare tires are solid rubber, no air in them at all...) Also the same friend who knew that as a child I could not have played Mortal Kombat (I or II) on my SNES (which I owned, along with MK II for SNES) because MK was only for SEGA. Ahh, the power of knowledge.

Although yes, a different colour would at least not feel awkward to want to support, I would mind less if I could say 'see these cool *insert awesome looking colour here* miscellaneous products that I bought with the cool coloured ribbons, I'm supporting the fight against breast cancer!'

But they went with pink... I tried to warn 'em, I told 'em they guys would come out in force, but did they listen? No! wait... what? :confused:

LOL, I am beginning to think you need a new friend. :p

Each cancer has a designated color. Neon green = kidney cancer =)

I'm pretty sure blue is colo-rectal cancer. I used to work in a clinic with an extensive cancer clinic, so I had collected various ribbons... I never quite figured out what the purple on was for, rather than advertising it's particular cancer (which most did) it said somethign to the effect of "Celebrate Hope" (they are the same as the "Livestrong" ones... except of various colours, and slogans).

LOL, I am beginning to think you need a new friend. :p

He's an ok guy, he just has the IQ of a particularly dumb rock. Which is odd because he actually thinks about things... kind of. For example he is agnostic, well out of the blue he decides he is going to be athiest because from his perspective the existence of a divine creator is too unfeasible. Instead of basing his opinon on any reasearch, or theology, or philosophy he concludes that there was no beginning to time, that the (now godless) universe just keeps expanding and contracting infinitely. He never held a thought about science, or the stupid impracticality of his thought... after about a week he gave that up, partially due to apathy, and I think he started realizing that without any theological, philosophical, or scientific evidence for any of his trains of though on the subject that it was a pretty hard stance to keep believing in.

I'm pretty sure blue is colo-rectal cancer. I used to work in a clinic with an extensive cancer clinic, so I had collected various ribbons... I never quite figured out what the purple on was for, rather than advertising it's particular cancer (which most did) it said somethign to the effect of "Celebrate Hope" (they are the same as the "Livestrong" ones... except of various colours, and slogans).

I edited that post and added a list. You become terribly 'aware' of it all when you have been there done that with the 'c' word. Probably why I could care about seeing it in the grocery store. :(

I edited that post and added a list. You become terribly 'aware' of it all when you have been there done that with the 'c' word. Probably why I could care about seeing it in the grocery store. :(

Hmm, I'm pretty sure our clinics blue ones were colo-rectal... I recall (whether correctly or not...) because well, it stuck out in my mind especially.

I wear a green ribbon in October for celiac awareness, I was going to wear one for crohn's for hubby, but it's brown......who made that choice? "oh, you have a poop disease! here's a brown ribbon!"

my debit card is pink, for breast cancer awareness, I am aware I assure you, I just didn't want the ugly bank card, it was orange........

the truth is a disease has to be trendy to get any press, pink ribbons, we love boobies, good deal.

plenty of diseases that aren't so glamorous or even particularly "curable" are affecting people daily, and the word won't get out aside from people like me whining.

what worries me is that it's extremely unlikely that there will ever BE a cure for breast cancer, or, indeed, any cancers, it's just the nature of the beast.

the truth is a disease has to be trendy to get any press, pink ribbons, we love boobies, good deal..

Maybe it's just the testosterone speaking, but I am now more compelled to be ok with overmarketing of Breast Cancer support. :D

what worries me is that it's extremely unlikely that there will ever BE a cure for breast cancer, or, indeed, any cancers, it's just the nature of the beast.

Nonsense! All we have to do is reverse engineer the measles virus for our own needs and...viola! (or w/e), you have a cure for cancer*

*Not responsible for turning into a darkstalker; eating human flesh; or picking up Will Smith by your teeth.

I have no problem with it. Anything that helps bring about an end to cancer is fine with me; I've seen its effects firsthand, and I've long since committed myself to helping bring an end to those afflictions through whatever means I can. I'll gladly give money to help spare people from the suffering and destruction wrought by these horrible diseases. Of course, cancer is just one of many I would like to see cured; I imagine a comprehensive list would be pretty much the size of this thread.

what worries me is that it's extremely unlikely that there will ever BE a cure for breast cancer, or, indeed, any cancers, it's just the nature of the beast.
Of course there won't be. Cancer is too vague and all-encompassing a term for one thing. And really all cancer is, is unihibited cell growth. If we shut down our body's ability to grow cells, we kill ourselves.
Best we can come up with is improved prevention, early detection, and more efficient, less invasive, treatments.



edit: How weird. This is the 2nd time in 2 days that my 2nd post has come before my first. Jolt-y timewarps for other people's posts is one thing, but on the same poster, from the same computer, and going through the same Jolt-y server? how very odd...

No, actually a very small number of men do get breast cancer, but its very rare.
As opposed to the zero % of women who get prostate cancer, which kills almost as many men as breast cancer kills women each year.
Yet when did you ever see a product/company stating they were supporting prostate cancer research?

As an aside, and in response to PelecanusQuicks post about ribbon colours (a link would be nice, as it's blatantly obvious you got it off some site!) I always thought Yellow Ribbons were for old oak trees.

As a recent cancer survivor (testicular, in my case), I see no problem with using any gimmick to raise money for a cure for any type of cancer.

Of course there won't be. Cancer is too vague and all-encompassing a term for one thing. And really all cancer is, is unihibited cell growth. If we shut down our body's ability to grow cells, we kill ourselves.

That's why you don't shut down that ability. What you do, (among many other things) is induce normal cell death, which occurs in non-cancerous cells but doesn't happen in cancer cells; that's somewhat easier said than done, of course, but one of the main targets for cancer treatment is to induce these cancer cells to die and/or direct the immune system to successfully target and destroy them. Other aspects of the same strategy would include repairing or replacing the genes that lead to cancerous behavior in cells, using genetic analysis to find potential cancer triggers early, and so on.

Nanotechnology is especially useful because it can be used to direct and deliver these technologies with a precision that isn't available with current methods. A cure for cancer is like a cure for disease; there will be cures for individual cancers, not an overarching cure for all of them. Of course, advances in very early detection and prevention are also critical, because almost all cancers can be far more successfully treated if they're detected early. Of course, it's plausible that in the future there could be devices sufficiently advanced to deal with a wide variety of different conditions, but right now the only way to effectively treat cancer is to custom-tailor treatments to the given cancer. Genetic analysis will be very helpful in this regard because it makes treatments all the more effective.

The current work in cancer research, aside from basic understanding of the mechanisms behind it, is to improve treatments. We're moving from throwing a generic set of cancer drugs and technologies at everybody (it's like throwing a thousand darts at a dartboard and hoping some hit the bullseye) to aiming those darts at the dartboard with increased accuracy as well as finding out earlier what that dartboard looks like prior to actual treatment.

just donate to the patient association... it is more effective then buying products.... because they don't state clearly how much is given to the cause

As opposed to the zero % of women who get prostate cancer, which kills almost as many men as breast cancer kills women each year.
Yet when did you ever see a product/company stating they were supporting prostate cancer research?

As an aside, and in response to PelecanusQuicks post about ribbon colours (a link would be nice, as it's blatantly obvious you got it off some site!) I always thought Yellow Ribbons were for old oak trees.

Ooops, you are correct I forgot the link:

http://www.kyledesigns.com/category/footer.library.awareness_ribbons_colors_meanings/

Indeed, we should be trying to cure cancer as a whole, not just breast cancer. And we should be trying to cure diseases outside of cancer as well. The issue is that we need more progress in biotechnology, and the opposition to embryonic stem cell research isn't exactly helping, to put it mildly.