Every year October is Breast Cancer Awareness month (or ‘Pink-Tober’). People show their support for those affected by breast cancer by raising money and wearing the famous pink ribbon.
What many people may not know is that some cancer patients believe there are serious issues with these awareness days and months. They believe these issues need to be addressed. At Insurancewith we are always interested in issues affecting our customers and community. So, we wanted to do our own research into the debate – and the below outlines our findings.
No matter which side of the debate you sit on, we think everyone can agree and fully support:
Therefore the debate actually stems from:
Many people feel passionately that awareness campaigns, and especially Breast Cancer awareness month, have become too commercialised. This dates back to the ribbon’s origin. Breast cancer survivor Charlotte Haley created it in the 1990s. The original pink ribbon was actually peach coloured, and was used to campaign legislators for more funding for cancer prevention.
Apparently, corporations such as Estee Lauder and Self Magazine approached Ms Haley and asked for permission to use her ribbon. She refused because she wanted to keep the ribbon focused on her political campaign. They then changed the colour to pink, and the ribbon we know today was born.
It is worth noting that the pink ribbon is now an iconic symbol of awareness. Over the years, it has inspired many campaigns for different illnesses. It has also raised millions for research, support and prevention.
For many, it is not the ribbon itself which is the issue, as it can still spark awareness and discussions; instead it is the marketing around the campaign.
‘Pinkwashing’ has been coined for when organisations use the pink ribbon or the colour pink as a marketing technique in order to sell more products. If this is a genuine partnership, then that’s great! It raises funds and awareness all in one go. However, the reality is that some organisations are simply jumping on the bandwagon. They may donate only a very small percentage of each sale to charity. Others donate nothing at all or do not donate to the right place.
For consumers who are concerned about this, we have some top tips below.
There are some fantastic products and companies out there who are official partners of Breast Cancer Now and other amazing charities.
Despite the great intentions of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there has been criticism that awareness initiatives and charity donations do not go far enough to help those with secondary breast cancer. One in three women diagnosed with primary breast cancer will later receive a secondary diagnosis. However, only a small proportion of donations fund research, awareness and support for people with secondary breast cancer.
Uncomfortable as it is, it is secondary breast cancer which people die from, not primary breast cancer.
Therefore there is an urgency for the argument that secondary breast cancer awareness and research should get more funding.
Secondary cancer charities such as Make 2nds Count, and Little Lifts specifically help those affected by a secondary diagnosis, so look out for them on Amazon Smile, or when fundraising or donating.
The reality of breast cancer is scary and potentially life changing. Survivors believe this needs to be communicated through marketing. It should encourage people to learn, donate and take action. The majority of people who have experienced a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and, in some cases, a secondary diagnosis will say that breast cancer is not pink and fluffy. However, this is often how it is portrayed in Breast Cancer Awareness Month marketing campaigns.
There have been calls for more images of real cancer survivors, including those who’ve had mastectomies and other procedures and treatments. This is something that many influencers and bloggers are doing incredibly well, ensuring that;
Recent social media campaigns around Stoma Bags and reducing the stigma attached are great examples of how marketing can work exceptionally well for education, support and fundraising for both camps.
Top Tips if you want to support any awareness campaigns:
It’s all well and good us telling you what you should do to help during Breast Cancer Awareness month, but what are we doing?
We work with charities like Breast Cancer Haven throughout the year. We donate £1 from every policy sold to charities like them and others that support people like our customers every day. Over the years, we’ve donated over £100,000 to support these organisations. At a time like this, donations are more important than ever.
How do you feel about Breast Cancer Awareness month or awareness campaigns in general? Do they resonate with you, or do you think more needs to be done? We’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings – join our discussion via Facebook and Instagram.
If you are looking for breast cancer travel insurance, take a look at our dedicated breast cancer travel insurance page here.
