Ideally I would have posted this at the beginning of this month but the blog wasn't live yet. Better late than never, right?
October is popularly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's associated with pink ribbons and pink products that are sold in stores and by pretty much every company out there. Nail polish? Check. Pots and pans? You got it. Clothes? Of course. Condoms? I'm not sure about that one, maybe for Gynecological Cancer Awareness? Anyways, you get my point. Everyone is so Aware of Breast Cancer that we practically glow pink.What you don't hear as much about are the other issues, illnesses, causes, and conditions that share October with Breast Cancer. What I was able to find is that in addition to being Breast cancer Awareness Month, October is also National Downs Syndrome Awareness Month, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, Depression and Mental Health Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness, Healthy Lung Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Spina Bifida Prevention Awareness, Spinal Health Month, Stuttering Awareness, and Celiac Awareness Month. Please know that this is not an exhaustive list, I'm sure I left some out; if I did, I apologize and please feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what I missed.
Anyways, my point is, how many of those other conditions do we hear about on a regular basis during October? How many of them have ribbon merchandise being sold and signs up everywhere in grocery stores, malls, and gas stations? How many of the other Awareness Months during the year get so much attention that the NFL sports their colors? For instance, September was Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. I didn't hear a bunch of buzz from the NFL about it. September was also Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month but I didn't see Yoplait changing their lids to be Lavender.
I'm not bashing any company or organization that chooses to participate in raising awareness and/or money for any particular illness/cause/etc., but let's even it out a little. Women are aware of breast cancer, and that they need to check for lumps. Let's focus more on getting the word out about male breast cancer, and on raising awareness for other forms of cancer, illness, conditions, and causes. And for goodness sake, lay off of the Facebook "games"!
October is popularly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's associated with pink ribbons and pink products that are sold in stores and by pretty much every company out there. Nail polish? Check. Pots and pans? You got it. Clothes? Of course. Condoms? I'm not sure about that one, maybe for Gynecological Cancer Awareness? Anyways, you get my point. Everyone is so Aware of Breast Cancer that we practically glow pink.What you don't hear as much about are the other issues, illnesses, causes, and conditions that share October with Breast Cancer. What I was able to find is that in addition to being Breast cancer Awareness Month, October is also National Downs Syndrome Awareness Month, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, Depression and Mental Health Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness, Healthy Lung Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Spina Bifida Prevention Awareness, Spinal Health Month, Stuttering Awareness, and Celiac Awareness Month. Please know that this is not an exhaustive list, I'm sure I left some out; if I did, I apologize and please feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what I missed.
Anyways, my point is, how many of those other conditions do we hear about on a regular basis during October? How many of them have ribbon merchandise being sold and signs up everywhere in grocery stores, malls, and gas stations? How many of the other Awareness Months during the year get so much attention that the NFL sports their colors? For instance, September was Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. I didn't hear a bunch of buzz from the NFL about it. September was also Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month but I didn't see Yoplait changing their lids to be Lavender.
I'm not bashing any company or organization that chooses to participate in raising awareness and/or money for any particular illness/cause/etc., but let's even it out a little. Women are aware of breast cancer, and that they need to check for lumps. Let's focus more on getting the word out about male breast cancer, and on raising awareness for other forms of cancer, illness, conditions, and causes. And for goodness sake, lay off of the Facebook "games"!
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