I was in the grocery store a few weeks ago and saw a bag of potato chips with the seemingly omnipresent pink ribbon on it. It was a moment where I was almost pushed over the edge with regards to how many products are now associated with Komen For The Cure and other breast cancer organizations.
Let me be very clear: I would never argue against fighting breast cancer, cancer research or other such organizations.
That being said, seeing the chips led me to type a tweet along the lines of "How long until we see a pack of Marlboro's with a pink ribbon on it?"
...but my better judgement kept me from actually hitting "send." Why was I on edge? Because of this:
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By Jenny Hope, The Daily Mail
Eating junk food raises women's risk of developing a range of cancers, researchers said yesterday. Two studies demonstrated the dangers of a diet that includes high levels of fat and processed foods.
A major European study shows that women with raised levels of blood sugar face significant extra risks of suffering cancers of the pancreas, skin, womb and urinary tract. And older women with the fattiest diets have a 15 per cent increase in their chances of developing breast cancer, according to a U.S. study.
(Read the rest of the article from The Daily Mail here)
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But then there's this information...
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Drinking as little as half a glass of wine a day may raise a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, a new study shows.
By Charlene Laino, WebMD Health News
By Charlene Laino, WebMD Health News
Alcohol may be good for your heart in moderation, but drinking as little as half a glass of wine a day may raise a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, a new study shows.
And don't think that switching to beer or spirits is the answer: The more alcohol consumed on a regular basis, the greater the risk, says Wendy Y. Chen, MD, PhD, a cancer specialist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Chen notes that women thinking about having a few glasses of wine a day for their heart-healthy effects need to figure in the new findings when weighing the risks and benefits. She stresses that "its only regular, repeated use that increases the chance of breast cancer. For most women, having a glass of wine or beer on occasion is not a problem."
And don't think that switching to beer or spirits is the answer: The more alcohol consumed on a regular basis, the greater the risk, says Wendy Y. Chen, MD, PhD, a cancer specialist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Chen notes that women thinking about having a few glasses of wine a day for their heart-healthy effects need to figure in the new findings when weighing the risks and benefits. She stresses that "its only regular, repeated use that increases the chance of breast cancer. For most women, having a glass of wine or beer on occasion is not a problem."
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Of course the Drink for Pink event is not suggesting women drink every day and in excess... my concern is that marrying activities (like drinking alcohol & eating junk food) to organizations fighting diseases which research indicate these activities can help cause, sends the wrong message in general. It also brings the sincerity of the organization up for debate. If you're really trying to prevent people from getting breast cancer... why encourage activities that may lead to greater risk? Can you imagine MADD having a happy hour fundraiser? A Humane Society outing at the dog track?
What are your thoughts on these type of campaigns and associations between causes and potentially inappropriate partnerships? Am I just being too cynical and critical? Or should an organization be so true to its cause that it lose the opportunity to raise funds that may have a more significant positive impact than negative? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
By the way... I've since discovered that NaturalNews.com did a satire piece on Komen-branded-cigarettes. On one hand, it's pretty funny. On the other, it's pretty telling that Komen has done enough to merit such a satire. The Komen Smokes For The Cure image above is from the Natural News piece.
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