WHY BOTHER? THIS IS WHY .....

Why bother?  Frankly, I am exhausted.

Last Monday, July 16, I wrote a blog questioning a bikini parade and someone promoting Vitamin D from exposure to the sun as the cure all.  Caused a dustup.  One anonymous person left a nasty comment and a couple of other people left opposing commentary.  There are 60 comments under that post.  Granted.... I try to respond when anyone comments so only half of those came from others.  There was a new comment yesterday.  The D3 debate continues.  The bikini supporters?  No so much.

Then, it continued as the week progressed.  One year ago, could I have possibly imagined I would be here?  Feeling like a lightning rod.  I can guarantee I never expected to be doing THIS.  Yet.... here I am.... one year after publishing my first post.

I made a conscious decision to speak my truth and to stand up for my beliefs.  If I'm going to blog, I'm going to be truthful and honest.  Otherwise, why bother?  I'm not going to shy away from views that may be unpopular.  After dealing with tons of pushback, from what seems to have been every conceivable angle, I remain committed to accepting the fact that we are all different and as long as we are moving toward a common goal, there is no right or wrong way to do cancer.  There is only the way that works for the person dealing with the disease.

There IS, on the other hand, a right way to do research and a right way to help those who need support.  I'm not going to do the broken record on this matter, yet again.  I think, I HOPE after the ongoing discussion about Pink Ribbons Inc my feelings are clear and that we all realize there is only ONE page and we all belong on that page.

To conclude this saga, let me just say that my very respectful remark responding to the offensive comment left here was removed from the movie website.  TWICE.  He got to spew here, call me all sorts of names and when I went to his "space" to respond to some of what he spewed, he took my remarks down.  I had a feeling that might happen which is why I posted the reply on this blog, too.  My rational words in response to a lunatic made him look like more of a well..... umm... a lunatic.  I'm done with him but, having said all of that, it was worth every single ounce of frustration, irritation, aggravation and every other --ation.

You see...... a note was left on one of those movie websites and THIS is why I step into these situATIONS.

The film is near and dear to my heart. I was honored to be one of the Stage IV women interviewed in it. I'm not exactly sure what a "sobering image" means to people but I'm guessing this comment is reflective of only having seen what advanced cancer looks like in the movies and on sensationalized television programming. Perhaps the reviewer would be interested to know that one of the women interviewed died less than a year after the filming. (Mari- she is the one in the trailer who says, "We're living, we're human beings. We're not just a little pink ribbon.") You don't die from breast cancer unless it is Stage IV, and yet we are so rarely acknowledged because let's face it= we kind of suck as marketing tools for the optimistic "you can beat it" propaganda that has been so well fed to us as a culture. 

I want to add that the purpose of the film was to "change the conversation". The fact that there is discussion now about this issue where there was not much before, tells me that the film is doing its job and that we are indeed moving in the right direction. Thank you AnneMarie for "getting it" and speaking out on our behalf.

Thank YOU, Sandy Kugelman for lending your voice to such an important body of work.  I'm so very sorry to hear that Mari died.  I'm sure everyone who reads this blog joins me in extending our most heartfelt sympathies to your entire group and to Mari's loved ones.

I don't even know how to begin to express my gratitude to you, Sandy for acknowledging me.  Your words have meant more to me than I can possibly ever convey.

To answer my own question.... Why Bother?  Sandy's words are the answer.  THAT'S Why.