Pink Ribbons
Cancers are the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. aged 35-64 ( CDC 2004), and breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer for women ( WebMD). Blogger Susan Metters (2007) complains that the "pinking" of breast cancer excludes men, who can also develop breast cancer. Men make up less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses, according to the National Cancer Institute (2007).
However, many cases of male breast cancer can be linked to abnormal estrogen levels. Giordano et al (2002) found that male breast cancers were more often responsive to hormone treatments than breast cancer in women. In a report released today, the National Cancer Institute (2007) suggests that female breast cancer may be related to hormonal issues as well: the report attributes a recent drop in breast cancer rates to decreased use of hormone replacement post-menopause.
October has been National Breast Cancer Awareness Month since 1985, and I am surrounded by pink. I was lost in a sea of pink on the subway yesterday as a crowd left the Making Strides walk. I was baffled by Gatorade's Pink Towels on the NFL sidelines. I don't object to the "pinking" of breast cancer because it excludes men. I object to the color coding of causes, because it trivializes the cause and encourages superficial "support" without understanding. The Personalized Cause site lets you pick a cause by your favorite colors -- don't support a cause that clashes. I also object to the gendering of colors, but I feel like that battle's lost. I'll continue to voice the opinion that a genetic female predisposition towards pink is unsubstantiated and ridiculous", but as a social convention, it appears to have won.
However, many cases of male breast cancer can be linked to abnormal estrogen levels. Giordano et al (2002) found that male breast cancers were more often responsive to hormone treatments than breast cancer in women. In a report released today, the National Cancer Institute (2007) suggests that female breast cancer may be related to hormonal issues as well: the report attributes a recent drop in breast cancer rates to decreased use of hormone replacement post-menopause.
October has been National Breast Cancer Awareness Month since 1985, and I am surrounded by pink. I was lost in a sea of pink on the subway yesterday as a crowd left the Making Strides walk. I was baffled by Gatorade's Pink Towels on the NFL sidelines. I don't object to the "pinking" of breast cancer because it excludes men. I object to the color coding of causes, because it trivializes the cause and encourages superficial "support" without understanding. The Personalized Cause site lets you pick a cause by your favorite colors -- don't support a cause that clashes. I also object to the gendering of colors, but I feel like that battle's lost. I'll continue to voice the opinion that a genetic female predisposition towards pink is unsubstantiated and ridiculous", but as a social convention, it appears to have won.