Breast Cancer Awareness Month is officially over. Not that you needed a reminder: The abundance of media stories have screeched to a halt. The yogurt lids have resumed their normal shade of blue. And while those NFL players and coaches so proudly wore pink apparel in October, you’d be hard pressed to find even a stitch of the color on them for the rest of football season.
I understand the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Funding for the disease skyrockets in October and the barrage of pink seems to really remind women to get their annual mammograms. And thanks to media coverage on the whole concept of previvors, women are starting to learn about their risk and how they can protect themselves.
But sometimes the merchandise tie-ins take it a step too far: I was absolutely caught off-guard, for instance, when I walked into my grocery store this morning and there was this prominent sign that said, “50% Off: Breast Cancer” above a display of pink shopping bags, fanny packs and other accessories.
Ever since FORCE coined the word “previvors” in 2000, the word has been slowly gaining ground. And this year, it seems to have really burst into the limelight: It was featured on CNN, The Today Show, and in Glamour magazine. The book I wrote, Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions, was published by Penguin. And, thanks to FORCE, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bright Pink, and the Young Survival Coalition, the last Wednesday of September is now officially National Previvor Day.
However, with increased awareness comes increased confusion. Many people seem to misunderstand what the word “previvors” really means. I hope to help clear things up a bit.
I just had to write about something I’ve been noticing lately. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month in full-swing, I’ve been attending luncheon after luncheon, seminar after seminar, speaking about my book Previvors. And the feedback has been tremendous: So many women have told me that, because of their family histories or other risk factors, they know they have to confront their risk. They agree with the book’s message that they have to take charge of their health. They have to turn their fear of breast cancer into empowerment.
However, I’ve also learned that many women are still so afraid of breast cancer (or so in the dark about it), that they are actually doing themselves more harm than good.
I just got back from a whirlwind trip to New York where Fox and Friends interviewed me about my October article in Glamour on breast cancer myths. Thanks to Alisyn Camerota for a great interview!
I wrote a piece for Glamour‘s October Issue about breast cancer myths which I discovered while researching content for Previvors.
After interviewing more than 70 leading breast cancer experts, it was clear that some ideas believed by many were simply untrue and needed to be clarified. Glamour also included a great sidebar about Previvors and preventative options.
While writing Previvors, I’ve come across so many brave, inspirational women. And one of them is a 23-year-old woman named Claudia Gilmore. Claudia has launched a blog and web series called Previve, where she is documenting her experience as a previvor. She is planning on having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in January.
On the one hand, it’s sad that women have to make such a choice to prevent a disease they feel they’re destined to get. And experts are desperately trying to find better options. But on the other hand, how lucky are we that we can take charge of our health and fight breast cancer before it strikes.
Kudos to CNN for exploring the subject of previvors and prophylactic mastectomies in an extended, in-depth segment. Rori Clark and Suzanne Citere, two of the women featured in Previvors, share their stories with anchor Fredricka Whitfield.
Thank you to WPTV NewsChannel 5 for helping spread the Previvor message of empowerment to South Florida. For the second time in a week, they ran a segment on Previvors. In the clip below, they interview me and BRCA-positive Amy Rosenthal, one of the women in the book.
Today is the big day!!! Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions is now available nationwide. I started working on this book in January 2008 and I can’t believe that this day has finally come.
I can’t even describe what it’s like watching a seed of an idea (which wasn’t mine by the way) transform into a 267 page book. I am moved beyond words by the support and attention the book has received so far. I am honored to have delved so deeply into the world of previvors, full of so many brave and inspirational women. And sadly, I have met far too many women who are living in fear of breast cancer because of their family history. I hope this book helps you in some way.
I was so blessed to go through this incredible experience with five of the most passionate, intelligent, loving women I have ever met. Lisa, Mayde, Amy, Rori, and Suzanne: I love you and I am so lucky to know you. Your seed of an idea is now a reality. Now LET’S CELEBRATE!!!
The whole point of writing the book Previvors, and the whole reason Lisa, Mayde, Amy, Rori, and Suzanne decided there should be a book in the first place, is to raise awareness. With the book coming out on October 5th (three more days!), it seems like the local and national media realize the importance of this topic as well.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, CNN will be covering cancer and genetics every Sunday in October at 4:40 EST. And this Sunday, on October 3rd, CNN News Anchor Fredricka Whitfield will featuring our book PREVIVORS!!!!. Our very own Suzanne Citere and Rori Clark will be on the air live.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is officially over. Not that you needed a reminder: The abundance of media stories have screeched to a halt. The yogurt lids have resumed their normal shade of blue. And while those NFL players and coaches so proudly wore pink apparel in October, you’d be hard pressed to find even a stitch of the color on them for the rest of football season.