to get naffed off with the raising breast cancer awareness frippery?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Fecking FB.

Tbh, I'm a bit irrational about it, having been touched signifcantly by BC recently, so my view may be skewed, but how on earth is I like it on the doorknob going to raise awareness in any mindful manner?

There's a photo of lemons in an egg box with clues to changes in breast tissue that are worth looking out for. Now that's worth sharing.

And raising money by running, cakes, whatever - worthwhile as well.

But stuppid inane posts? Meh.Wanky.

AIBU?

[BrianTheMole]

Good post birds. Food for thought.

[AndYouCanDance]

Interesting post Birds. Not being sarcastic - you have genuinely made me think.

Also, ApocalypseCheese your post made me sad, and then happy and then sad again. Your family sounds lovely and fun and your Mum was no doubt fortunate to be a part of it .

[Birdsgottafly]

"It might, but why not just post a link telling women (and men) how to do that correctly."

Because teenage girls and many others "blank out" what they are not really interested in, these random status's grabs people's attention and is then noticed daily, so keeps them interested, if only to complain about them.

I have seen plenty of instructions for examining the breasts etc amongst all of the frippery.

I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by cancer. My middle DD (17) has posted an ending to the "I like" campaign, her best friend died at 18 from an undiagnosed brain tumour, my DH died of cancer, her cousin died at 23 after multiple surgeries from a female cancer, my Mum has lung cancer, I could go on.

My point is, don't assume that you are anymore affected than anyone who does indulge in this. I have seen these types of campaigns starting conversation that without them, wouldn't of taken place.

Some people are not interested in randomly finding out about health matters. It takes these sort of campaigns on social media sites to get them interested.

MN isn't a good cross representative of the general population IMO, that these campaigns are aimed at, posters on here are better informed, interested in important health issues and want to talk about those issues, rather than Cleb culture etc.

There are people who only read when the log into FB and most things pass them by. Some people use the television adverts as a chance to go the toilet and get a drink etc.

I think sometimes posters on MN widely over estimate the intellectual level of many in our society, tbh.

[AnaisHellWitch]

I'm over forty and adopted . For all I know there could be a history of breast cancer in both sides of my biological family. Is there any provision for early screening when these things are unknown?

[LackaDAISYcal]

So far this year I have ignored the few messages I've had, but after reading this have posted I like it here: and linked to the cancer research donation page.
I haven't had anyone in my close family affected but family of friends have and we have our fair share of other cancers in our family.
Hiding behind twee messages will not raise awareness. YABNU Chaos.

[CuppaTeaForTheBigFella]

porto Thank you, I'm really sorry to hear you have lost your Mum too.

Apologies to all actually, if I have been a bit shitty in my defensive views about this. I guess it just hit a nerve, and upset me. I didn't mean to be rude

[thegreylady]

I wasn't offended by your post flowers I just thought there was another pov worth expressing.
I'll support any 'cancer is crap' campaign to the hilt.
My lovely mum died of myeloma [hardly heard of] and my gran of ovarian cancer.

[struggling100]

I just want to say one thing to all those women with a family history of breast cancer, especially those with a first degree relative diagnosed under the age of 50...

Guidance from NICE has changed recently. There is a high risk breast screening programme available on the NHS (including screening with MRI) and many of you may qualify, but it is not being offered by all Trusts yet. PLEASE pester your GP about it. Many women should be offered genetic counselling and/or testing.

[PortoFiendo]

CuppaTea - I was referring to people who just post stuff on FB without even thinking about it. I know how much this upsets people who are genuinely suffering. I am really sorry about your mum, and of course did not mean anyone who does actively do something. My mum died of cancer too. It is shit.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

buffyp

[EvaBeaversProtege]

My beautiful sister was 32 when she was diagnosed.

She has had surgery, will have reconstruction in time, is receiving Herceptin & taking tamoxifin.

Me not wearing a bra, posting where I like it etc won't make her feel better.

My sister is a very positive person, her attitude is getting her through this. Well, that & her two very young children.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Personally, whilst i'm aware it's a good thing i'm fed up of all the attention focussed on breast cancer full stop. There are many other cancers out there which are big killers and barely get a mention.

Pancreatic cancer for example killed my mum, the survival rate for this cancer is something like 5% , it kills near on 8000 people each year. the symptoms are pretty much none existent ie they're the sort you'd ignore......who'd go to the doctors with mild tummy pain and a bad case of the windy millers ?? Of course by the time you get any symptoms. (( in my mums case she woke up one day, looked in the mirror and had gone bright yellow )) We did the kind thing, took the piss because she looked like an Oompa loompa.......of course by then it was killing her. And it did within 6 months.

The symptoms of cancer need highlighting, especially the silent types, but that goes for all cancers, not just the ones which primarily effect women and sending silly posts around facebook isn't the way to do it. If some idiots had been posting shite such as 'I like it hanging out the window' in the months leading up to my mums diagnosis in relation to pancreatic cancer i'd have been beyond angry. If people must 'campaign' FFS, spread awareness of the symptoms.

[buffyp]

Thanks for the kind words. I have no objection to raising awareness of breast cancer and have supported it often myself, I just wish all cancers got equal awareness and help with fundraising too. I agree that these games are totally bizarre and don't really acheive anything.

[AndYouCanDance]

Oh no! So sorry buffyp

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Someone on fb has justified it saying it might get women to check their breasts.

It might, but why not just post a link telling women (and men) how to do that correctly.

[AndYouCanDance]

Agreed.

But I am totally behind HoneyBooBoo's Fuck Off Fucking Cancer campaign.
Except maybe we should change it to Feck Off to avoid alarming the pearl clutchers?

[SmiteYouWithThunderbolts]

This game has fucked me off this week. My bloody brilliant and lovely ex-MIL died on Monday from cancer, so to open my inbox and see this shite brought out the face.

[radiatormesh]

grey - I've name changed but was flowers and I agree. I'm really sorry if I upset you: I was fearful my post would have that effect.

Lifestyle changes are ways in which we can try to avoid BC, although they obviously make no difference in the majority of cases. BUT I still believe that they are worth telling people about, since they will help some. Of course nobody causes their cancer (unless you smoke, in which case my sympathy is limited I'm afraid) but being proactive can help some people (and is good for our health in any event).

And FWIW I developed my cancer 6m after my baby was born, whilst breastfeeding (I was myself BF for 9m), never been overweight, exercised daily etc etc. I'm also proof that 'lifestyle' is often irrelevant, but I still believe we need to try to do something.

[buffyp]

I agree Tunnocks. I lost my son nearly a month ago now to what we now know was a very aggressive tumour that is extremely rare in children. Unfortunately he died from complications after surgery so he didn't even get a chance to fight it however the staff were all brilliant. I wish you and your dh and family all the best and hope he beats the odds. I was shocked to discover how little money goes to brain tumour research and personally I will be directing my money straight to them in future.

[foofooyeah]

what really pisses me off is that 'get your tatas out!' Go braless one.

Facing a double MX I wont have any bloody tatas to get out.

Bet a bloke thought that one up.

[CuppaTeaForTheBigFella]

I DO do something, Thanks. I fundraise for a local hospice that looks after cancer patients, and I have a direct debit leaving my bank every month to Breast cancer and cancer research charities.
But of course, I'm only making out that I care. I don't really give a shit that I lost my Mum to breast cancer ffs

[PortoFiendo]

Cancer is a bastard. Stop all your hand bag stuff, your angel hug stuff, if you don't like this post you are a heartless bastard stuff. It is all meaningless fuckwittery that does nothing at all. It is not imperative to do anything at all, but if you like to make out to your friends that you care, then fucking do something.