Dear Diary,
Today I shared a photo on Instagram and thought it would only be right if I shared the same sentiments here.
October 1st brings out all the companies trying to “pinkify” everything all for a cause. Before I had breast cancer I loved the novelty of it…my favorite color has always been pink and I was always excited to see it on everything. Fast forward to being a breast cancer thriver I have another perspective, other survivors don’t like the novelty because it diminishes their story. I have been extremely lucky and blessed with my journey but not all of my peers had the same experience. Many have been to war with their own bodies, many have wanted to give up, many are barely surviving while others are also thriving…pink is still my favorite color and I still appreciate Breast Cancer Awareness month but I have a new found respect for those who have experienced this disease. I will say it again…I was blessed!!! I HAD stage 1b mucinous carcinoma. My 23 mm tumor WAS estrogen & progesterone positive. I didn’t need any chemo or radiation. I simply had a bilateral sensation sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I was diagnosed in April and it’s now October, within 6 months I have not only beaten breast cancer I’ve recovered from my surgery and am back to normal life…If I went the 1st surgeon I met with I would have been done even sooner but I took the time to research and meet with multiple doctors and surgeons to find the best fit for me. Millions of women have been diagnosed with this disease and not a single one of them has walked the same path. DO NOT GET IT TWISTED…I had an easier journey because I advocated for myself and pushed for a screening 4 years before I was supposed to. Early detection is what saved my life.
Before you start buying up all of the pink products thinking the money goes to breast cancer research double check how much is actually going. Less than 10% of these profits actually make it to research. My disease isn’t a marketing ploy. My disease is real and life threatening. Making something pink is making this ugly, scary and mean disease pretty. Personally I will continue to buy pink things because my favorite color is indeed pink. -G
Gel's Sueso 