Breaking News: Facebook is still dumb.

There have been a few breast cancer awareness campaigns floating around facebook. The first one that appeared last year, post your bra color as your status, I let slide. The second one that started floating around a few weeks ago, post where you keep your purse as "I like it on the...", made no sense to me. Now the third, post your shoe size followed by the word "inches" and a frowny face, is the worst of them all. These have about as much in common with breast cancer awareness as I do with Snookie from the Jersey Shore.

I have therefore decided I'm going to start my own awareness campaign: Know your risk of breast cancer. Play along, it'll be fun! (Do you know your risk? I sure do! It's 100%).

-If you are a woman, you automatically get 2 points. Men get 1 point.
-If you are over 40, add a point.
-If you had your first period before the age of 12, add a point.
-For every first degree (mother, daughter, sister) relative with BC, add a point. If they were younger than 50 at diagnosis, add another point. For every second degree (grandmother, aunt) relative with BC, add a half point. If they were younger than 50 at diagnosis, add another half point. If you have been tested and are BRCA positive, add 5 points.
-If you do not exercise regularly, add a point.
-If you are overweight, add a point.
-If you drink alcohol, add a point.
-If you use birth control pills (or other hormones), add a point.

If you have 1 - 3 points: Low Risk
Perform breast self-exams. Know what's normal for your body. At the age of 40 start getting yearly mammograms.

If you have 4 - 6 points: Medium Risk
Perform breast self-exams. Know what's normal for your body. At the age of 40 start getting yearly mammograms. Talk to your doctor about ways you can reduce your risk (healthy diet, exercise, stop boozin').

If you have 7 or more points: High Risk
Perform breast self-exams. Know what's normal for your body. Yearly mammograms can start as early as 35. Talk to your doctor about ways you may reduce your risk (healthy diet, exercise, locking up the liquor cabinet, prophylactic mastectomy, chemo/hormone suppressants).

*NOTE: These values are subjective and came from my brain and my 11 months of research into the fascinating world of breast cancer. Also, BOOM!

Over pinkification?

I've been thinking for awhile about what I wanted to say about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I was diagnosed last November so this is my first one as a survivor, which makes it a completely different experience for me. As in, before it wasn't an experience at all. The pink ribbons were just on the edge of my consciousness. Sure, I was "aware" of breast cancer. It existed. I knew about it. But it was something that happened to old ladies, not something I had to worry about. I didn't need to worry about breast self exams. I had ten more years before I had to worry about mammograms.

I knew that pink ribbons equalled breast cancer awareness, but I wasn't at all aware of breast cancer. The treatments, the scars, the constant worry, the fighting for my life... this is what the pink ribbons mean to me now. Pink ribbons accost me wherever I go (my sister says "It looks like pink ribbons threw up all over the grocery store"). I would say they're a constant reminder, but how can you be reminded of something if you never stop thinking about it in the first place? Between my own treatments and checkups, managing after-effects, and volunteering for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, breast cancer is constantly on my mind. I don't need the pink ribbon products in order to be "aware".

I especially don't need a pink ribbon product that says "5% of the proceeds to benefit breast cancer research...". The $4 is better spent being donated directly to a charity than to buy a product from a company that disguises their greed under the premise of being charitable. They use the pink as another marketing ploy. It makes sense, too. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and with all-time high survival rates, there are a lot of survivors walking around out there. Not to mention all the survivors' friends, family, co-workers, etc. who just want to show support. "Buy our $4 cereal and 4 cents will be donated to breast cancer research...". No thanks. I'll buy the generic and donate the dollar I save.

"So what, then, can I do to make people aware?". I'm very glad you asked that. I personally raise awareness by blogging, twittering, facebooking, and everything short of shouting my story from the top of a mountain (but only due to the distinct lack of mountains in Florida). "But Cristal, I don't have an inspiring story like yours to share." Yes, thank goodness for that! You can still get educated and spread the word. Breast self-exams: Do them and know what is normal for you. Get your mammograms after 40. Know your family history and know your risk. Boom, I just dropped an awareness bomb on you.

And now for your halftime entertainment...

.... ME!

Chemosabe Cristal: International TV star. (thanks W for the pic!)

(There I am! Just to the left of the lady in the pink wig).



As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (or, as I call it, October) the NFL is going pink to support Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Late last week I received an e-mail from my local Komen affiliate saying that the first 100 survivors who replied would get a free ticket to the Monday Night Football game for the Dolphins vs Patriots and be on the field for the halftime show at SunLife Stadium. You bet I jumped all over that! And lucky for me, the median age of breast cancer patients is 61 so most of the survivors aren't as tech-savvy as a 29 year old with an awesome new smart phone.


They brought us down to the sidelines and had us line up while the players finished the first half of the game. Then a bunch of cheerleaders sporting pink performed while Kelly Rowland (of Destiny's Child fame) sang a few of her songs. When Kelly busted out with "Survivor", we walked down the field and the dancers unfolded a giant pink ribbon. Then the show was over and we were ushered off the field. It was such an exciting whirlwind of a night, and I can't believe I had the opportunity to be on the field!