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Original poster

To think me taking a picture with no makeup on

186 replies

softlysoftly · 18/03/2014 23:37

isn't going to cure breast cancer?

Correct me if i'm wrong of course.

OP posts:
ThreeBeeOneGee · 19/03/2014 07:11

I have also made a point to buy branded prescription drugs

Branded formulations are more expensive. You pay a small proportion of the cost of that. The NHS pays for the rest. If everyone did this, it would leave far less money for things like... cancer treatment.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 19/03/2014 07:12

Fuck me, all it will do is make small children cry. Total arseishness.

Normalisavariantofcrazy · 19/03/2014 07:16

I've also got issue with this.

As I said on the other thread I have family who have suffered hard to detect cancers. Aside from the two I mentioned (nan with bowel uncle died of osoephageal) between DH and I we have lost 2 grandparents to bladder cancer and have a third living with it, a parent who has survived prostate cancer an aunt who has survived uterine cancer and a friend whose child died of leukaemia

Most of those are 'embarrassing' illnesses and require embarrassing procedures to diagnose and treat.

More awareness needed for those perhaps?

themaltesefalcon · 19/03/2014 07:19

"Raising awareness" is one of those handy phrases that lets us know instantly that absolutely no one in need of charity aid is receiving any.

Birdsgottafly · 19/03/2014 07:24

You are supposed to make a donation, starting at £3.

You txt BEAT to 70099.

This isn't a popular view but all of the latest research is that our Lifestyle choices are the biggest factors for allowing some Cancers to develop (not Breast Cancer).

I question some if the research that involves animal testing and some of the budgeting for more and more diseases that could benefit from a change in our attitudes to how we are living, tbh.

I hate all of the FB crap.

Sirzy · 19/03/2014 07:30

Apparently it makes people more likely to check their breasts or something or so I have just been informed!

weebarra · 19/03/2014 07:31

I'm off to chemo this morning as I have been since October. Wearing make up. I very politely posted on fb that a donation to Maggie's Centres or Macmillan would helo support people with cancer.
Incidentally, did you know that big beauty companies donate products and staff time to run 'look good, feel better' sessions for people with cancer?

Atbeckandcall · 19/03/2014 08:00

I actually agree and refrained from putting so on my FB page because I don't want to shouted at!
Also, not every woman is all the constable about going without make up. Especially when you look like Matt Lucas without it (have been told this by two people).Confused

ThreeBeeOneGee · 19/03/2014 08:00

I may just have changed my mind about this. My friend who is in the middle of treatment for breast cancer has just posted her selfie. No make-up, and no hair (or wig) either. She is brave. She is raising awareness of breast cancer when she shares her photo.

Want2bSupermum · 19/03/2014 14:18

To be clear I buy all of my prescriptions out of pocket. I live in the US and while we have health insurance, most don't cover the extra cost of a branded drug. I pay the extra. In the UK I pay the full cost for medical expenses including prescriptions as I am not a resident and not paying taxes.

Joysmum · 19/03/2014 14:45

I started today thinking the same as you lot, I asked the question on my Facebook status and got a reply that made me realise I was wrong.

Many of us don't check our breasts on a regular basis. Many of us don't know how to. That's where the awareness comes in, it's not awareness of the existence of the disease, it's planting the thought that as individuals, we haven't checked ourselves in a while and ought to.

Those posting selfies without the message are missing the opportunity to make more of a difference. In posting a selfie with the message to check your breasts, along with the link to donate if you are able to, that's what gives the most impact.

However, I'm proof that even all those people who are posting selfies without the picture are spreading the message of 'awareness' too. Many people will just remain annoyed and dismissive, many others, like me, will think more deeply and find our own awareness without it needing to have been in those selfies.

This morning I was annoyed, this afternoon I've found out how and checked my breasts. I've urged all my Facebook friends to do the same and posted on the couple of forums I'm a member of so spread the word. Lastly, and least importantly, I've donated to breast cancer research (because I was financially able to).

So that's what the word 'awareness' related to. It's a prompt to learn how to check your breasts and then do it today! I hadn't for quite a while so it worked to raise my 'awareness'. I'd like think that I've raised the 'awareness' of many of the people reading this. CHECK YOUR BREASTS FOR ABNORMALITIES AND DO IT TODAY BEFORE LIFE GETS IN THE WAY. Wink

To think me taking a picture with no makeup on
Normalisavariantofcrazy · 19/03/2014 14:54

I have just been laid into by someone for saying I won't partake and that I have donated to cancer research but won't screenshot and post my confirmation text

I'm so angry that someone can call me uncaring for failing to take a selfie!!

Thingymajigs · 19/03/2014 15:00

I'm slightly confused as to why being without make-up is some kind of statement for cancer. I also didn't realise that so many women had an issue with going barefaced. I've just realised my FB profile pic is natural actually. No statement, I just can't be bothered to take it off so I never put it on in the first place.

Normalisavariantofcrazy · 19/03/2014 15:02

I don't wear make up as it is.

I resent the self congratulatory compliment seeking nature of this trite 'campaign' and I'm actually more angry about it than I realised!

Joysmum · 19/03/2014 15:05

I'm slightly confused as to why being without make-up is some kind of statement for cancer.

It's not, it's a ploy, a way of gaining attention. It's like Red Nose Day. Having a red nose doesn't relate to the charity aims but that doesn't mean it's not effective.

Lj8893 · 19/03/2014 15:05

Not one no make up selfie on my Facebook has included a message about checking your breasts etc.
Only one has included a link on how to donate.

It has raised awareness, but only because people like myself have got annoyed about it and posted links on how to correctly check our breasts, links on how to donate and signed up for race to life.

daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 15:06

I just posted the following to another thread...

A post off FB from one of my school friends who is currently undergoing treatment. She has said the following:-

"I see a lot of people saying that the selfie pictures even along with the posting of charity donations is vain. Personally I don't think it's about vanity. It's women stripping back the war paint and showing that we are all the same under the make up. It could happen to any of us. It's a shame that this is being over shadowed by the negativity surrounding the selfie. The importance for everyone to check themselves could save a life, the £5 donated could be the £5 needed to uncover something brilliant. It might not, but it might. Not everyone can afford to spare £5 but a picture takes seconds and it might inspire someone else to donate when they wouldn't have before"

ThreeBeeOneGee · 19/03/2014 15:13

In the UK I pay the full cost for medical expenses including prescriptions. Fair enough. I just didn't want to see NHS money going where it doesn't need to.

Joysmum · 19/03/2014 15:45

^Not one no make up selfie on my Facebook has included a message about checking your breasts etc.
Only one has included a link on how to donate.

It has raised awareness, but only because people like myself have got annoyed about it and posted links on how to correctly check our breasts, links on how to donate and signed up for race to life.^

Exactly, so it worked! It did the same for me too. I started off pissed off then changed my mind and started posting like made about what 'awareness' in this context actually meant. For some it will only be a feel good thing for them, for others it'll prompt them to look deeper and post the message despite having not been given it.

anklebitersmum · 19/03/2014 16:05

seems to me like cancer research uk aren't doing too badly off the self portrait phenomenon. If some idiots think that just by showing your face with no slap on on facebook you're helping to cure cancer it's probably a small price to pay Wink

YouTheCat · 19/03/2014 16:12

The only awareness it has raised in me is how many twerps I have on facebook.

heidipi · 19/03/2014 16:24

I have been tempted to post "Ooh you look a bit tired, u ok hun?" on all of them.

Lj8893 · 19/03/2014 16:27

But it has only worked to a limit.

For every one serious post (donation, information etc etc) there's about 10 "oh I'm so brave to show my face with no make up" post. And then a million "aww babe you look beautiful" comments. Completely missing the point.

daisy0chain · 19/03/2014 16:32

Lj8893

Yeah you're right they are missing the point but so what? There are still so many that haven't and have donated because of what is going on, on FB.

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