Get Off My Lawn

by L

Two years ago, I started my breast cancer journey when I was diagnosed with stage 2B cancer. It wasn’t metastatic or anything but 12 surgeries, chemo and losing my hair and strength later, I can honestly say, I’ve come out on the other end healthy … No thanks to Susan G. Komen Foundation.

You hear everywhere that Susan G. Komen supports breast cancer research and they’re fighting for the cure. Hogwash. They’re supposed to be fighting to help women with cancer to get diagnosed and treated, as well as researching metastatic cancer, where a cure would have the most impact. Instead, they’re spending their money on PACs and organizations that have little to do with things that matter to breast cancer survivors, like partnering with handgun sellers.

I was fortunate enough to have health insurance that paid for about 80% of my treatment. I’m still working on paying off the other 20%. Nevertheless, I’m luckier than a lot of women in the same position, namely the ones who rely on most of their medical care through Planned Parenthood. Regardless of the political issues surrounding Planned Parenthood, they do provide much needed medical care for impoverished women; sometimes, the only doctors low-income women see are those at Planned Parenthood. So having those no or low-cost mammograms there were critical.

Komen has done nothing for me in my journey, despite several requests for counseling help to deal with the aftermath. They’re right on the spot, though, when they need volunteers, money or a cancer survivor to trot out when they’re in front of the press.

Sorry, Susan G. You lost my faith a long time ago. The latest shenanigans just confirm that decision.

by Soben

Now, I’m a guy, and I certainly haven’t had any experience with breast cancer anywhere in my family, so this isn’t immediately related to me, but it doesn’t mean this type of shit doesn’t annoy me.

I love breasts, and I want to see them still exist.

Recently, due to the constant nagging and pressure from anti-abortion groups (who tend to be the same ones that don’t want regulation on THEIR lives, but are fanatical about restricting OTHER people), The Komen Foundation recently pulled their funding of Planned Parenthood.

SGK’s money was put to work at Planned Parenthood for thousands of breast cancer screenings and mammogram checks, which are vital parts of what Susan G Komen’s Foundation is about. So thanks to anti-abortion groups, thousands of women are likely at higher risk of breast cancer now, without access to much needed screenings.

What particularly set me off (and got me to come here to let off steam), is that the VP of the Komen Foundation recently retweeted (and quickly retracted the RT), a message that is highly hypocritical and ignorant:

It argues that pro-abortion (which, of course, sounds worse than what it really is: pro-choice) are complaining about a cancer group as if they have no say in the matter (they’re completely unrelated subjects), but it ignores the damn fact that ANTI-ABORTION groups turned to a CANCER organization to force a decision that is completely unrelated to the organization’s goals IN THE FIRST PLACE. They did the EXACT same thing that the pro-choice groups are now pointing out and making a stand against.

SGK screwed up here. They should’ve kept supporting what they were created for (prevent breast cancer with awareness, regular screenings, and search for a cure), and not let groups that are completely unrelated to that goal intimidate them.

Stick with what you were created for, and don’t focus on anything else!

/endrant