Thank you for all of your responses mumsnetters, and thank you too for the good wishes many of you have expressed - I really, really appreciate them. And my heart goes out to all of you experiencing cancer, whether personally or with family, friends and colleagues.
I will be getting around to responding individually at some point soon I hope, but in the meantime, I have to say I am baffled by the notion that such a thread is ‘dangerous’ as a big donor might read it and then pull the plug on their donation.
Maybe a big donor would look at the discomfort - and often emotional pain - these ads clearly cause to many, and take the time to ponder wether a charity for people with cancer should take into account the effect their ads are having on the very people they purport to want to help - people with cancer!
What an outrageous idea!
Here’s another outrageous idea - how about instead of shroud waving and fear mongering, charity ads do something USEFUL, like explain the early signs and symptoms of cancer?
How about letting the world know that Triple Negative Cancer exists (I had/have it) and that it predominantly effects YOUNGER women, ie those in their thirties and up?
Many women in this age group do not expect to get breast cancer and are unaware that what they believe is a blocked milk duct or mastitis, for example, could in fact TNBC. Yep, young pregnant and nursing mothers have passed away and left their young children and babies motherless because they had no idea TNBC exists and that they could have it.
There is so much ignorance around cancer, adverts should feel duty bound to at least attempt to put this right in exchange for donations, instead of just scaring and upsetting those with cancer, those who care for and love those with cancer, and those already terrified of cancer.
Every single person I know mutes or turns off these ads, so I’m not convinced they are the MOST effective - maybe they were at one point - before people got sick and tired of seeing them.
Maybe it’s time for a review.
Oh, and PS, I have spent my adult life to date in the caring services including nursing, and would absolutely never want anyone currently - or in the future - to be denied cancer care.
Whoever suggested that (Strawberrysomething?) illustrates precisely what is wrong with the current approach, shroud waving, fear mongering and (false promises to a degree) and hyperbole to boot.