Happy #Pinktober. Your Mammogram Won't Save (30% of) You.

Tomorrow is the first day of #PinkTober. In the spirit of "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," here are a couple of insidious facts that bear repeating, as they could one day save you or your family's lives.

1. 30% of all breast cancer that is detected early will return and become metastatic. "Metastatic" means permanent, terminal, as-yet-uncurable #stage4 cancer. https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/recur_metast
2. Only 2-5% of all breast cancer funding makes its way to research for stage4. This research is the ONLY way we get cures and treatments for real people with cancer- of all stages and types. By this estimate, 95 cents of every dollar spent on pink crap will instead fund marketing, overhead, "awareness" and early screening. As mentioned, early screening will be clinically ineffective for 30% of all humans who develop breast cancer. https://www.metavivor.org/research/

If you want to make an actual difference this year, avoid the pink tchotchkes and donate DIRECTLY to breast cancer funding and research, OR organizations that support humans with breast cancer and their families. In the case of the former, this is the ONLY way that we will solve this disease and save our daughters and sisters, while there is still time. In the case of the latter, these services and programs are often underfunded, always sorely needed and greatly appreciated.

• If you know of any organizations, institutions, programs or scientists that are researching cures and treatments for cancer, please let me know and we will try to support them.
• If you know of any organizations, institutions or programs that are supporting humans and families living with cancer, please let me know and we will try to support them.

In the words of one inspirational #MBC survivor on Twitter, "We need to change 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month' to 'Breast Cancer ACTION Month.'" And we need to do it NOW! Because your pink water bottle won't save your daughter.