Can "breast cancer awareness" cause breast cancer?

[Kylark]

Maybe this will sound weird, but I think there is too much breast cancer "awareness" in our culture. Cancer is everywhere!

I'm really tired of seeing pink ribbons adorning cereal boxes and containers of yogurt.

I know breast cancer is a serious issue, but sometimes I wonder if companies are trying to cash in on this illness, putting pink ribbons onto every damn thing in order to appear socially responsible and boost sales.

In my city, I see billboard advertisements trying to persuade you to get cancer treatment at one hospital or another. For example, I saw one that said, "My cancer, My doctors, My Fairview." This is disturbing! I don't want to see this when I'm driving down the street! It's like, they can't advertise cigarettes (which cause cancer) on billboards anymore, so now they have to advertise directly for cancer!

I think it's great that people are more compassionate toward people with this illness as a result of all this "awareness" going on, but I am really fed up with seeing reminders of breast cancer every where I go.

Our minds are such powerful things; I am afraid all these suggestions about cancer may be affecting people on some level. I'm afraid it might be affecting me!

I found this article about "pinkwashing" that seems relevant:

Pinkwashing is a form of slacktivism -- a campaign that makes people feel like they're helping solve a problem, while they're actually doing more to boost corporate profits. Pinkwashing has been around for a while, but is now reaching almost unbelievable levels.

The worst pinkwashers exploit the intense emotions associated with breast cancer while selling products that actually contribute to breast cancer.

[Jesann]

I'd wondered about that, too, and just try to fend off negative thoughts as best I can. And avert my eyes from the bubblegum pink glow emanating from stores. Bubblegum pink ranks up there with chartreuse on my "colors to never look at" list.

I'm okay with yogurt campaigns and the charity walks and such-- they were either low-key (you had to actually pick up the yogurt to see the pink cap) or very specific and dedicated, and repeatable, so they kept raising money. The pink blenders and such festooning the aisles now seem rather pointless to me-- you buy the blender, I assume a donation is made, and then what? You're not going to buy another blender each month.

That sounds cold. I really do appreciate the idea that we should be aware of this issue that is treatable and survivable, and that we should take it seriously. I know people who have participated in 3-day walks, and they are always glad they did so. But I too wonder about the marketing of it all, and its affect on us.

[seeker5]

I have an evern more cynical view of it

Why is there so much about Breast Cancer going on with the corporate world? Why not a different type of cancer, such as skin cancer, lung cancer or heart attack? Because the breast is a sexual organ, and mentioning breast in the product is a form of making a link to sex. And the more links to sex a corporation can provide in their product, the better the product sells.

[marinik]

I am a breast cancer survivor. As I have read so much about manifestation I don't want to hear, see or do anything that has cancer or any sickness as a topic. I refuse to listen to other peoples stories and just zone out if I am not in a situation to stop them or change the topic. I have lived a big chunk of my life in the "West" so I was exposed to all of it.

SO YES I DO BELIEVE that rising of awareness can in some way cause the almost epidemic number of breast cancers all around. But in my country I would think that the war and the dirty bombs that were thrown on us have much more to do with it. And of course what we ate in the '90a and drank and ..... We have 700% rise of numbers since the 1999 bombing. And the awareness campaigns are just slowly beginning here.

[TonyToneTone]

Yes. Your breasts like any other part of your body have consciousness. Women are being told to constantly feel their breasts while checking for lumps. Their constantly thinking about breast cancer while checking themselves for it. They are literally transmitting the idea of breast cancer from their minds to their bodies.

[Lil Chris]

It could be viewed as a form of subliminal advertising, that is right in your face... I'm interested in how much of people subconscious picks these things up from commercials that are on the tv, even playing in the background while your making dinner or something.

Or things like the red cell phone, pink ribbons, yellow wrist bands to "remind" everyone of cancer or some other disease... How about one to remind people of your healing nature and healing ability...