I wrote today's post as part of the WOW-Women on Writing Blanket Tour for Healing With Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey by Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN (www.dianaraab.com). The book includes Diana's experiences, reflections, poetry and journal entries, in addition to writing prompts for readers to express their own personal stories. A survivor of both breast cancer and multiple myeloma, Raab views journaling to be like a daily vitamin--in that it heals, detoxifies and is essential for optimal health.
Diana, the author of eight books, spent 25 years as a medical and self-help writer before turning to poetry and memoir. She teaches creative journaling and memoir in UCLA Extension Writers' Program.
If you comment on today's post you'll be entered to win a copy of Healing with Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey. To read Diana's post about breast cancer and a list of other blogs participating in Diana's Blanket Tour visit The Muffin.
The Power of Pink
The pink ribbon is ubiquitous. Perhaps its likeness adorns your car's bumper, or maybe you wear it on a tee-shirt or pin it to your jacket. If not, I bet you know someone who does. It symbolizes the fight against breast cancer, and the tags that accompany it are myriad---Fight Like a Girl, Walk for a Cure, Find a Cure, Big or Small Save Them All, and my personal fave, Save the Ta-Tas---to name only a few.
So where did the pink ribbon originate? I Googled "pink ribbon" and the first website to pop up was Pink Ribbon International. Here's what they say about the origin of the pink ribbon as it pertains to breast cancer awareness:
"The first chapter in the history of Pink Ribbon as a symbol for breast cancer awareness can be found at the Komen Foundation's Race for The Cure, on the 16th of June 1990. At this race, held in Washington DC, the Komen Foundation handed out pink visors randomly to the 8,529 walkers. A year later, in 1991, Komen distributed pink ribbons to participants in it's New York City Race for The Cure. As from this year, the pink ribbon became the symbol for breast cancer awareness."
So where did the pink ribbon originate? I Googled "pink ribbon" and the first website to pop up was Pink Ribbon International. Here's what they say about the origin of the pink ribbon as it pertains to breast cancer awareness:
"The first chapter in the history of Pink Ribbon as a symbol for breast cancer awareness can be found at the Komen Foundation's Race for The Cure, on the 16th of June 1990. At this race, held in Washington DC, the Komen Foundation handed out pink visors randomly to the 8,529 walkers. A year later, in 1991, Komen distributed pink ribbons to participants in it's New York City Race for The Cure. As from this year, the pink ribbon became the symbol for breast cancer awareness."
That information raised another question. Who is Susan G. Komen? Her name is as well-known as the pink ribbon.
In brief, Ms. Komen was a 36-year-old woman who, in 1980, lost her life to breast cancer. Her sister, Nancy Brinker, founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure in her honor. Its mission is lofty: eradicate breast cancer.
1 in 8 women will face a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer at some point in her life. 1 in 8. The statistic caused me to catch my breath. I thought of my nieces, whose mother has bravely fought the disease and, thank God, is winning; I thought of my own daughters, whose amazing and much loved grandmother (my mother-in-law) died over a decade ago from breast cancer. What does this statistic mean for them? Genetic risk factors increase their likelihood of a breast cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives.
Does this scare me? You bet it does. And that is why I believe in the Power of Pink. That ribbon symbolizes my daughters; it symbolizes my nieces; it symbolizes dear friends who have fought the disease with success. . .and those who did not. It symbolizes the woman who is that 1 in 8. It stands for strength, determination, courage, spirit and a motivated drive to eradicate a widespread killer.
That's a lot of punch packed into a little pink ribbon, and it proves what every female has known all along: There's nothing sissy about pink.
God bless -
Lisa
For important information regarding risks and prevention of breast cancer, please visit this link: Koman--Lower Your Risk
