Celebrities and breast cancer

[Well1501]

These days celebrities often lend their name or voice to a cause or issue. Do you think its helpful when celebrities use their platform to bring awareness? Examples of celebrities that have used their voice for breast cancer include Sandra Lee, Angelina Jolie and Christina Applegate, to name a few. I'd like to know your thoughts about this.

[BklynCatwoman]

It definitely raises visibility, which is good. I like when it is slipped into the conversation as a matter of fact, though, not waved around like a banner. E.G. I recently read an interview with Kathy Bates, who had a bilateral mastectomy. She talked about trying to get a shot in "American Horror Story" and there was a shadow that kept getting in the way. The director realized it was her breasts. She said, no problem, and whipped out her breast forms, much to the surprise of the crew. The scene went off without a hitch. I love that!

[PJBinMI]

I was born in the first months of the baby boom and during the time I was growing up, I don't remember ever even hearing of breast cancer! Those were the days when TV shows had married couples sleeping in twin beds, and there wasn't openness about so many things! Celebrities like Betty Ford, Happy Rockefeller and the writer whose name I can't come up with at the moment really brought breast cancer out of the closet! But even now there are limits to "Breast Cancer Awareness." When Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy, I did not read or hear anything about the fact that even that rarely removes every single breast cell and that it is still possible to develop breast cancer after that surgery. Not as likely as without but still in the range of possibilities. And there are still celebrities who celebrate junk science and nutty "cures." There is so much info that just does not get out there, even during Pinktober. And I want to scream every year when I go to the mammogram clinic and see signs that imply that mammograms always find any cancer that is present! I have had nearly 20 mammograms since first noticing the thickening in my breast that was invasive lobular bc and it has never shown up on the film. Never! I better stop writing down or I am going to go down a dark rabbit hole........lol

[RLN-overcomer]

Greetings: Sister/Warrior. When celebrities use their status to help to find a cure for breast cancer, it is absolutely necessary, and a time for them to empathize with other woman warriors who have, or are facing a cancer diagnosis challenge. This can be a humbling time in these celebrities lives. Cancer does not discriminate. Celebrities with lots of money available to them will get the best treatment that money can buy. Though I rely on GOD first, and then the health coverage that has been provided to me. We woman have come along way, but still have more work to do to eliminate the still existing challenges that confront us. Some of us warriors have to rely on the less costly limited health insurance that may not cover some of these costly lifesaving treatments, and medications. Remember woman were, and still are discriminated against in all work fields in this country, we call America the land of the free. Years ago a woman couldn't even tell her, usually male boss she had cancer, or some other medical female related problem, or that she was pregnant and needed time off. These bosses would years ago fire you, or find some reason to fire you, or lay you off. Even then woman would have to fight for limited unemployment benefits. Each one teach one. Iron sharpens iron. I pray God will continue to bless us all Amen XoXoXo. Still standing, and still grateful.