Weekly Round Up: The Pink Elephant Edition

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pink elephantTime for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below.

We are entering the final days of Pinktober but there’s still lots to say on the subject. Renn declares that we still have to talk about the pink elephant in the room – there is no cure for cancer,  while Lisa calls for a change in the conversation.

Jean names metastatic breast cancer, the “stepchild of October”.

Brandie writes of the difficulty in finding her place in Pinktober.

Gayle shares her recent BMJ article on pinkwashing.

Referring to one of the latest “breast cancer awareness” (!) activities online, A Lil Earthquake writes:

Before you flash your beautiful, lacy bra strap on Facebook in the name of breast cancer, ask yourself how my friends who have had their breasts removed would feel about seeing your picture pop up on their news feed all in the name of the disease that they are fighting.

Also check out Cancer In My Thirties on the distasteful No Bra Day and Laurie’s plea

This October, as we are awash in a sea of pink, I ask you not to go bra-less on my account, get cutesy about where you leave your purse and I don’t want to know the colour of your bra, if you are wearing one. And please don’t buy pink crap or anything just because it is festooned with a pink ribbon.

Susanne takes issue with the accusation of “victimology” of MBC advocacy.

Uzma writes about the missing conversation in October – the emotional scars of breast cancer.

Jen reflects on the extent of breast cancer awareness and the power of language, while the Cancer Curmudgeon muses on how breast cancer myths still persist and Debra sets out to debunk those myths.

Yvonne Watterson looks back on how a pink ribbon turned her into a blogger.

A powerful and moving message on Susan’s blog The Day We Died At The Capital.

What to do when your middle schooler wants to dress in pink for breast cancer awareness? Jamie has some ideas.

Elsewhere in the blogosphere….

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to work with Audrey Birt this past week on a storytelling workshop – Audrey provides more thoughts on the importance of stories in her blog.

Jo has learned that nothing is straight forward with cancer.

A sad but true reminder from Eileen that bad things happen to good people.

Kate shares her joy at the Something for Kate gala fundraiser held in her honor.

Elizabeth writes this week about the anxious wait for scan results.

I feel heartsore for Diane as she faces a situation at work that seems so unfair to me – please take some time to read her blog and offer any helpful thoughts you might have there.

Words of love and loss on the Pink Underbelly’s blog as Nancy writes of missing her beloved mother on the death anniversary of her death and Yvonne shares lost memories of her own beloved Mama.

Caroline writes about the many costs of cancer.

Love Rebecca’s latest post on not judging each other on our breast cancer choices.

I am grateful to Ann Becker Schutte for this wonderful reminder that you are allowed to want good things.

Beth needs your help – check out her blog to see how you can help her in her MBC mission.

Sending healing thoughts and love to Catherine and Ann this week as they face a set-back.

Carrie writes about how she parents her young son through breast cancer. And more parenting advice from Detrice this week.

Katy share her thoughts on the recent American Cancer Society’s mammogram guidelines. See also a time for such a word, Regrounding, YSC and Dr Elaine Schattner.

Practical advice on dealing with hair loss on Jennifer’s blog.

The #BCSM blog is raising awareness of male breast cancer – also check out Medivizor on the Male Breast Cancer Coalition.

Becky crunches the numbers to reveal the lifetime risk of breast cancer.

Jenny faces more surgery.

Chelsey writes about her choice to become a mother through surrogacy.

Sarah writes of the limbo like state she finds herself in after treatment. See also Deanna‘s latest post The Go Slow.

Yummy recipe for healthy cocoa pumpkin bars from the Pink Kitchen.

AnnMarie challenges us  this week with a question – “are you a sheep or a shepherd”?

I’m excited to read about Nancy’s new book.

Finally this week, I leave you with a gorgeous image from Philippa on sky gazing.

In these days when we stare into our phones and devices oblivious to our surroundings, there is a stronger reminder than ever to pause, look upwards and drink in the free, ever changing moving pictures in the skies above us.

aviation-sunset-oct-2015

Until next week,

Yours with love

Marie xxx

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