Anger over cancer is common. As a survivor, I’m very familiar with the emotion. My anger, however, is because of the lack of variety in cancer awareness. October is drowned in the color pink, and the pink ribbon has made breast cancer a household topic. September was Ovarian Cancer month, but I was the only person wearing teal.
Social exposure to the different types of cancer is lacking because cancer is a tough topic. Boobs are fun to talk about. “Save first base!” It’s a fun slogan. While it’s great that breast cancer receives so much support, it’s not the only cancer plaguing people, and it’s certainly not the worst.
The National Cancer Institute states that ovarian cancer has a 45 percent survival rate for five years. If the cancer is found before stage three, the survival rate doubles. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is referred to as the “whispering cancer” because only 15 percent of ovarian cancers are found in those two earlier stages. Nervous system cancers, such as brain cancer, have a 36.4 percent survival rate for five years.
Did you see any grey ribbons this past May? When was the last time you saw a big campaign for childhood cancer outside of the occasional commercial? September was also childhood cancer awareness month, but I saw a severe lack of gold ribbons.
Ovarian cancer is rare in women less than 40 years of age, but it is still a possibility. I was diagnosed at 18, after my first year of college, with a stage two malignant teratoma tumor. At that time, I was playing college soccer and in great physical shape. We first noticed an abnormality when my abdomen hardened and began to increase in size. Over the course of a month, I had gained nearly thirty pounds in my mid-section despite our rigorous post-season training. By the time I had the surgery to remove both my right ovary and the attached tumor, my tumor was the size of two footballs. A week after my nineteenth birthday, I began chemo. Currently I am four years in remission.
When I was diagnosed, I had never heard of cancer. I also had no idea how quickly things could progress. From the moment I noticed the weight gain to the day I started chemo, only three months had passed. During my treatment, I didn’t want to talk about anything cancer related. It wasn’t until I learned that ovarian cancer had no voice that my mindset changed.
I also began to notice that if the ribbon wasn’t pink, it was hardly worn.
Let me say again, I am thankful that breast cancer receives attention. It deserves attention just like every other type of cancer. I’d also like to warn you again certain organizations that accept donations. Health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola revealed that the well-known Susan G. Komen foundation is under heavy heat. Only 20.9 percent of the money accrued actually goes towards breast cancer. Of that 20.9 percent, only 5.6 percent is for treatment. Staff salaries eat up most of the foundations money.
I’ll admit to being openly jaded about the color pink. While I’m happy that at least one type of cancer is receiving mass support, others types shouldn’t have to take a backseat. Public awareness of how foundation money is spent needs to be more accessible as well.
I’m not trying to take away from breast cancer, nor am I telling anyone to stop donating. I just ask that you research your chosen foundation and be aware of the other cancers around you. September is home to six different cancers, and October was liver cancer awareness month as well. For November, five cancers are represented, among them lung cancer. Hopefully, society will grow to represent every cancer openly. Maybe KSU can spearhead that movement.
