Friday, January 08, 2010

The Old Boy's Club

What is breast cancer in men?
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_male_breast_cancer_28.asp

Detailed guide: breast cancer in men
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=28

Breast cancer in men
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/breastcancer.html

Shaft? He's a bad mother------ who is a survivor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Roundtree

Peter Criss, former drummer for the rock group Kiss, is a survivor
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33423027/ns/health-cancer/

Now, why the links? What am I so angry about? I am angry because the general public is led to believe that breast cancer is solely a women's health issue. I am angry because the pink ribbons and pink M&M's and commercials populated solely by women lead men to believe that this is something that won't directly affect their health, therefore, they don't need to worry about it. I am angry because the P.R. firms in charge of marketing breast cancer awareness are sending a subtle message that a man't death from breast cancer just doesn't matter.

But it DOES matter. And it isn't because I like Peter Criss' work with Kiss, and it isn't because Richard Roundtree made classic blaxploitation movies in the 70's. There are plenty of stories at http://www.johnwnickfoundation.org of ordinary men who thought that "this can't happen to me."

But it can. And it does. And it doesn't have to.

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