Going Pink For October

Matthew Oliphant is inviting anyone and everyone to turn their Web sites pink during October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Nearly 150 sites have done so as of this writing. And by the way, guys can get breast cancer too.

Comments

Strangely unfamous cancer

[Henry V .009]

What color do I make my website for prostate cancer?

Re:Strangely unfamous cancer

[Anonymous Coward]

I always make that point too. Prostate cancer is as prevalent in males as breast cancer is in females, and kills about the same number of people too.
But for some reason there isn't the same concern for it.

What is really disappointing is that some women criticise men for not caring about breast cancer, but seem completely unconcerned themselves about one of the most common cancers for men.

As with most things gender-related, it shouldn't be a case of competition, but it is for the simple fact that there is an overwhelming lack of effort out there on the part of men's health issues.

Re:Strangely unfamous cancer

[t-twisted]

I have mod points but I can't let this pass:

The only reason breast cancer awareness is so high is because women, WOMEN, organized themselves and brought both the public and government's attention to it. This was more a grass-roots effort that became a force to be reckoned with than a "oh, never mind the men, we women are more important!" action. Breast cancer was thought to be treatable and curable through early detection and women set out to prove it through these campaigns, rather than continue the barbaric treatment of lopping off their breasts and blasting them with chemotherapy to treat any and all signs of cancer.

Yes, prostate cancer is high among men, it's the second leading cancer for men. For every 3 men who die of prostate cancer, 4 women die of breast cancer, so it's almost, but not quite, equal. What makes it more unequal is 70% of all prostate cancer cases occur in men 65 years or older in age. Compare that to 50% of all cases of breast cancer cases occur in women 61 years or older in age. In addition, prostate cancer can be so slow-growing as to be a non-issue in men - they frequently die of causes OTHER than prostate cancer due to age.

I think it's misguided to be "bitter" that one group garners more attention than the other, when one group isn't doing as much as the other to bring attention, publicity and resources to their cause. You're right, this isn't about a competition, this about who is doing what for their "own". And don't think men do not benefit from the publicity and research generated from these campaigns, as men can get breast cancer, too.

However, I can't even believe you went there with your "overwhelming lack of effort out there on the part of men's health". Please. Do you know how differently signs of a heart attack present themselves in women than men? Yet the rhetoric (tingling in left arm, shortness of breath, etc) is always about signs of impending heart problem in a man, not a woman, yet heart disease is the #1 killer of women, too.

Don't be upset because a group of people got organized. Organize yourself and get out there.

T.

Re:"Awareness"?

[davidc]

Awareness might make the difference between a woman having a mammogram, or not.

Let's not be ignorant about this: screening and early detection can make a huge difference in breast cancer (others, too!). I just don't agree that awareness makes people think they are safe. And, yes, something is being done about the problem, starting with screening.

Every bit of publicity helps. Please don't belittle educational programs. Grass-roots education for regular screening arguably helps as much as the latest whiz-bang chemotherapeutic agent. If you catch it early, you markedly improve survival rates.

Re:OMG Ponies!!!

[Simon Garlick]

breast cancer is bad.
Noone is immune, it knows no boundaries, rich and poor, famous or not it could hit.


And more people die of prostate cancer than of breast cancer. Yet, strangely, I see no huge PR campaign against it. I guess breasts are more trendy.