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PINK RIBBON A handsome, middle aged man walked into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men seated next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about. The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked quizzically, "This?" With that the men all began to laugh out loud. The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey sorry man, we were just commenting on how pretty your little ribbon looks against your blue jacket." The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor." "Oh sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?" "No she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and for her health." "Umm," the stranger replied, "yeah..." "And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife," the middle aged man went on. "And she's okay too?" the other guy asked. "Oh yes, she's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts and for her health." "Uh huh...and I guess you wear it to honor your daughter also?" "No, it's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about." Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh man, I'm so sorry mister." "So, in my daughter's memory too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife, your daughters, your mother and your friends. And here...." The middle aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head, and asked, "Can you help me put it on?" October is breast cancer awareness month. Do regular breast self-exams and have annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. Encourage the women you love to do the same. Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer) and is the most common cancer among women, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2000 approximately 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer (Stages I-IV) will be diagnosed among women in the United States. Another 39,900 women will be diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS is the earliest form of breast cancer, confined to the milk ducts of the breast. Though much less common, breast cancer also occurs in men. An estimated 1,400 cases will be diagnosed in men in 2000. In 2000, more than 700,000 people will die from breast cancer worldwide. It is estimated that 41,200 deaths will occur from breast cancer (40,800 among women, 400 among men) in the United States. The incidence rate of breast cancer (number of new breast cancers per 100,000 women) increased by approximately 4% during the 1980s but leveled off to 100.6 cases per 100,000 women in the 1990s. The death rates from breast cancer also declined significantly between 1992 and 1996, with the largest decreases among younger women. Medical experts attribute the decline in breast cancer deaths to earlier detection and more effective treatments.
Take a logo and help spread breast cancer awareness!
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This site created May 11, 1998. |
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