Girl-Bloggers' Night In

Last night Bea hosted a Girl-Bloggers Night In. I followed her original link and learned that this was part of an Australian cancer awareness project for women. This is a great idea, and I'm considering hosting such a party next year. A Girls' Night In would be a welcome addition to the "shop pink for breast cancer" campaigns so prevalent in the United States. (Shopping being the primary way Americans are told to help ourselves, our loved ones, and our country after 9/11.) Unfortunately, the manufacturers of many so-called pink products do not contribute substantially to breast cancer research or treatment. At the grocery store in October, I couldn't help but notice that most of the "pink" food products on front and center display were high in saturated fat and calories. Being overweight is a risk factor for breast cancer. Who, exactly, thought that pink M&Ms were a good way to promote breast cancer awareness?

After a day at home, proofreading dull medical texts, I needed to get out for at least awhile, so it wasn't an entire night in. D. and I went out for an early dinner last night and were home by 7:30 to snuggle on the couch with Sadie (who vastly approves of all nights in), watch TV sitcoms, and read magazines. Later I went online and donated the equivalent of our dinner bill to St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness, a group that organizes support groups and health fairs, works with local obgyns and oncologists, and advocates for Missouri women's health at the state legislative level. A friend who is an ovarian cancer survivor told me about this organization, and since my ultrasound last week, I've been anxious about my own ovarian health. Breast cancer doesn't run in my family, but my mom and her sisters have all had ovariectomies and/or hysterectomies. Sadly, both nulliparity (never giving birth) and the use of certain fertility medications increase the risk of ovarian cancer, although pregnancy after taking these drugs appears to return the risk to normal.

Comments

[Bea]

Excellent stuff! Glad you and Sadie enjoyed the night in (and hopefully D, too).

Bea

[Irish Girl]

Dang it if it isn't bad enough to worry about trying and not succeeding but then add into it that we're just about pushing all our (female anatomy health) chips into the center of the table and ... well, that's pressure for ya! I think what makes IVF so daunting is that there is so much at stake. I feel it too. I think of these things too. I'm feeling lucky so I'm betting on the concept that with great risk comes great reward. Here's hoping I'm right ;-)

[Katie]

Ugh, I had heard same about the companies of "pink products" not donating significant sums.

[risingrainbow]

You are so right about this.