Cancer Walks Blog

9 Responses

1. Jess

   2010 May 13 1

   no, bottom line there VERY over done
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2. Spreedog

   2010 May 13 2

   You are correct that it is just one of many cancers and not the most deadly at that.
   When the money goes to the American Cancer Society, I wonder how much is used to actually help patients. The salaries of the executives in the ACS are far higher than I ever made as a cancer specialist doctor taking care of women with breast cancers – often at my own expense for those who had no insurance. The ACS never helped any of my patients with their expenses going through costly treatments in the 1980′s and 1990′s, and we did ask for their help. I don’t believe any of the high paid executives of the ACS ever stayed up all night taking care of people with breast cancer or any other maligant disease. I also doubt they had 13 years of expensive training before they obtained their lucrative executive positions. But, I may be wrong. Perhaps some of these executives were practicing doctors at one time. I would gladly be corrected if someone knows if any ACS executives are doctors with training and experience.

   From Wiki : "In 1995, the Arizona chapter of the American Cancer Society was targeted for its extremely high overhead. Two economists, James Bennett and Thomas DiLorenzo, issued a report analyzing the chapter’s own financial statements and demonstrating that it uses about 95% of its donations for paying salaries and other overhead costs, resulting in a 22 to 1 ratio of overhead to actual money spent on the cause. The report also found that the Arizona chapter’s annual report had grossly misrepresented the amount of money spent on patient services, inflating it by more than a factor of 10. The American Cancer Society responded by alleging that the two economists issuing the report were working for and receiving pay-offs from the tobacco industry, but did not offer any evidence to support these claims.
   Long before the problem with overhead in the Arizona chapter was exposed, the decentralized nature of the ACS was pointed to as a problem in cutting down overhead costs in local branches: central managers have little control over local chapters, which are run by independent boards, and are reluctant to pressure the boards as they receive funding from the local chapters. The ACS did move from New York City to Atlanta to reduce overhead costs of the central part of the organization."

   I suggest donating money to local hospice organizations rather than the ACS. At least that donated money is then used locally.
   References :
   MD medical oncologist – cancer specialist physician for 20 years

3. Tamarack

   2010 May 13 3

   Frankly you sound pretty sexist implying that ‘feminists’ normally live in ‘kitchens and basements’. Maybe things are different where I live, but personally I don’t find supporters of breast cancer walks any more feminist than any other women–it’s a time to come together as women and offer support to one another. If this seems particularly feminist to you I think your view is a little skewed.

   On the other hand, I agree that public support seems to be overwhelmingly on the breast cancer side, and I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it’s that somehow breast cancer is more intimidating for women than other types of cancers–it’s something that hits us in a place that defines part of our identity–and this makes women band together in support of one another, almost as a safety thing. But that’s just my theory.

   Now I’ve never looked at the statistics myself, so I don’t intend to argue with yours, BUT… all the women I know who have died of cancer have died of breast cancer, and a LOT of people I know know someone who has died from it, so I thought it was pretty common, even outside of consideration of all the Walks and other events. Anyway, I have seen people hold other fundraisers and awareness events for other kinds of cancer–they’re just not as well ‘advertised’. Breast cancer seems to have its own ‘branding’. Perhaps this is because someone just sat down one day and decided to start something. If you think other cancers deserve more publicity, it’s within your power to begin!
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4. Vapor Trails

   2010 May 13 4

   I have to agree with you to a point. It seems like breast cancer gets so money for research and other cancers seem to be pushed aside. My guess is more high profile people have gotten breast cancer as apposed to other types. You don’t see much of Anything for cervical cancer either. And like Spree said, I wonder how much of this money actually goes to helping cancer patients.
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5. Bala

   2010 May 13 5

   You can find the related answers in http://aboutcancer-info.blogspot.com
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6. lo_mcg

   2010 May 13 6

   I’ll just start with a few statistics – the 85% survival rate you mention refers to people diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.

   In the US an average of 112 women die from breast cancer every day – that’s one every 15 minutes.

   In the UK the average is 33 deaths from breast cancer each day – that’s over 1200 deaths a year. In the UK 3100 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year.

   I agree that awareness needs to be raised about other diseases, including other cancers, and while I hate ‘competitive illness’ I can see why there is resentment about an imbalance in awareness raising and fund raising.

   But the reason breast cancer has a consistently higher profile than other cancers is simple – sheer hard work.

   People who campaign around illnesses are usually concerned with the illness that’s affected them or their family. I know a couple who have a child with a very rare and life-threatening condition (not a cancer). Much of their time is now taken up with campaigning around this condition – fundraising and agitating for more funding for research, more education, more awareness etc.

   Individuals don’t have unlimited time, and choose their campaigns.

   Similarly, breast cancer awareness campaigns and Breast Cancer Awareness Month were started by ordinary women, most of them with breast cancer or who had lost family members to breast cancer, to raise awareness so that people knew the symptoms, examined themselves regularly, attended their routine mammograms etc. Enthusiastic participation and hard work by women made it grow into something nationally, then internationally, recognised (and then big business cashed in).

   There are other cancer awareness months, ribbons etc; here’s a list:

   http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_1_Cancer_Calendar.asp

   - but no cancer campaign has had the sheer hard work put into it that breast cancer awareness has.

   There are many fundraising events for other types of cancer, and the imbalance is sometimes not as great as you suggest. For example, Cancer Research UK, the largest cancer charity in Britain, does not hold a national event specifically for breast cancer – thy do hold the annual Race for Life which is exclusively for women – but this is to fundraise for cancer in general, not a specific cancer. They do, however, host a national series of runs for men only to raise funds and awareness for bowel cancer.

   Any group of people can start an awareness campaign for any illness – but if they want it to be as successful as the breast cancer campaigning, they’ll have to be prepared to be as dedicated and work as hard. If any of the cancers you mention are causes close to your heart – and good for you if they are – you and a group of friends could start an awareness campaign; that’s where breast cancer awareness started.

   As someone in remission from breast cancer, I’m not actually a supporter of BC Awareness month and all the pink crap that goes along with it. I lean more towards the Think Before You Pink and Pink Stinks! campaigns, which were started by women with breast cancer too.

   http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=13

   BUT it does annoy me a little when people complain about the attention breast cancer receives in comparison to other cancers, and sneer at those whose hard work has led to the high profile of breast cancer, rather than doing anything themselves. The solution is not less attention for breast cancer, but more attention for other cancers.

   Oh, and I too find the words ‘come out of their kitchens and basements’ offensive and sexist..
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7. Denisedds

   2010 May 13 7

   What does feminism have to do with cancer?
   And how are any of them acting as if they are oppressed?

   Breast cancer has gotten so much attention due to a lot of hard work by everyday women who lost someone to the disease and decided to get organized to do something about it. If there is a disease you feel that strongly about you can do the same thing

   These women probably act like they are actually making a difference because they have. With big thanks to them breast cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was. It’s because of their hard work that you can use better survival rates for your point of view.

   Personally I think it’s a bit overdone and I hate all the pink stuff, but what I hate even more are people who sit on their rear end criticizing others for their hard work and accomplishments.

   I find it ironic that men put such a premium on breasts can blame women for wanting to keep them. I agree, you do sound sexist and are probably one of those guys who have a hard time looking you in the eye when they speak to you as they are too busy talking to your chest.
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   I am a cancer registrar.

8. Verite R

   2010 May 13 8

   As a breast cancer survivor, I am very glad that people go on walks, because the money raised has helped give me and others a better chance of life.

   However, you are right – there has been a lot of walks around, and I do feel guilty that other charities don’t get as much attention – but hey! What’s to stop the others from doing the same? Or is it that us breast cancer survivors are a jolly lot and like to exercise.

   Or it is because we realise that exercise helps recovery – so get out there, get plenty of it, and help a good cause. If you go to http://www.after-cancer.com/exercise there is lots on benefits of exercise, how it aids recovery, and different things to do like swimming or Dragon Boat Racing.

   Perhaps other charities could ‘adopt’ swimathons to raise money?

   And if you really want to get me riled up – I agree with the doctor – and what makes me even angrier is how, in the UK, our cancer charities sell all sorts of pink ‘tat’ to make money – but nothing that actually is useful for a cancer patient. Ughh!

   Verite R
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9. mdGreg C

   2010 May 13 9

   No, I’ve Done Things Like this In the Past (HIV/AIDS), Other than Raising Awareness In a Very Few people, they Serve Only to Make Some Feel Better.
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