#BreastCancerRealityCheck
The hash tag #BreastCancerRealityCheck was ushered in on October 1, 2016. The purpose was to bring awareness to the true reality of breast cancer. Social media participants were given the opportunity to speak through this hash tag and tweet about how breast cancer has affected them personally, professionally and otherwise. Here’s what @curmdgeo (AKA Cancer Curmudgeon… love the name!) says about the hash tag.
On October 1st, include #BreastCancerRealityCheck every time you tweet your truth. It can be a personal story, a picture, facts that people need but do not get from the sugarcoated coverage of this devastating disease.
#BreastCancerRealityCheck Not Over! Ever!
October 1st has come and gone. October has not. #BreastCancerRealityCheck should be revisited more than once a year, in my humble opinion. Why? Because this year alone an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. There will be approximately 2,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in men in 2016.
I asked some friends and colleagues to weigh in on the hash tag. I will share my hash tag first. I will then share those who joined in my request to tell me their thoughts. Keep in mind that some thoughts are longer than the 140 character Twitter limit since they answered the question in comments on the Journey Facebook page.
2X Breast Cancer Survivor: My Response:
It sucks friends and family into an ugly vortex no one wants to be in! Strength together gets you thru! Not easy. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Heather: Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast cancer is not pretty. It’s not pink ribbons. It’s not a boob job. It ugly, it’s painful. It’s being thrust into menopause. It’s feeling like you’re ninety in your forties. Its anxiety and scanxiety. It impacts every facet of your being. We need a cure not more awareness. #BreastCancerRealityCheck.
Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo: Plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
#BreastReconstruction is nothing like a “boob job”. You’re not helping your newly diagnosed friend at all by saying it is. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Diana: Breast Cancer Survivor
A positive attitude about your diagnosis and treatments goes a long way! But, there is still anxiety about every doctor’s visit, scan, mammogram, ultrasound, etc. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Breast Cancer Survivor:
Awareness is meaningless without research! #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Dr. Danielle Carroll: Radiologist
Breast cancer affects more women without family history than those diagnosed with breast cancer due to a genetic predisposition. Don’t wear your lack of family history as a security blanket and avoid screening mammography. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Gaetana: Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast cancer does not define you. How you chose to fight does. Bravery, positivity, dignity and grace are you best assets. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Dr. Daniel Z. Liu: Plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
In 2016, there are > 2.8 million #BreastCancer survivors in the US who all deserve quality #survivorship support. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Courtney: Breast Cancer Survivor
If you’re lucky, you’re permanently damaged and disfigured but get to live. All the pink ribbons in the world don’t change that. #BreastCancerRealityCheck
Throughout the year, know that there are many who are facing that day when they will hear the words, “You Have Breast Cancer”. They have no idea what their new reality will be. Be there for them. Send a card. Make a phone call. Get your own yearly mammogram. Listen to them. Offer to help them in any way you can. Leave them alone when they need time to decompress. But never, ever forget that they are dealing with their own
#BreastCancerRealityCheck
Thanks! Yes our original intent was to merely get the hashtag going, with specific realities to provide balance to the pink avalanche that was bound to begin on that day too. We’d hoped to get it trending–but #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth is a yearly institution!
Indeed, like BC awareness is an every darn day issue for me–and I’ve said it many times over the years–the reality check should also be every day. In fact it has been–I’ve been saying the same stuff on my blog for the past 4 years (groan). Personally, I think we’ve reached as much awareness as can be reached using current social media/marketing to those with disposable income methods. There is still work to be done, but silly selfies of topless women will not do that work. And so let the era of Awareness be at an end; time for Reality–every day.
Thanks so much and great to hear from you! Let’s remind each other to keep this going throughout the year. Let’s surprise everyone and let them know we don’t just bring #BreastCancerRealityCheck only during the month of October! Don’t forget to nudge me on social media later on to keep it going and make it a strong hash tag! 🙂 You’re amazing! ~Terri