Pink Envy

My guilty pleasure is listening to celebrity gossip. I'm not quite as bad about it anymore--and I watch VERY little television--but I do listen to the morning radio station when they do their celebrity topics. Yesterday as I was driving to work the topic was Giuliana Rancic and her public announcement that she is battling breast cancer. I have to admit something that is going to make me sound like a horrible human being. When I first heard that Rancic came public with her breast cancer battle, I rolled my eyes. When will a celebrity come out about a less popular cancer? Then I automatically regretted my bratty feelings and felt sympathy for Giuliana. Cancer is cancer. And, as we know, cancer, well, it sucks.


As author of Black is the New Pink writes, we all feel a bit envious towards breast cancer. Breast cancer receives so much support from society both financially and emotionally. It seems to most of us non-breast cancer warriors that our cancers get left out. Still, I have learned quite a bit and related to many breast cancer stories. Al, author of Black is the New Pink, posted a great quote of Giuliana's that I believe all of us will relate to:


"I had a friend call me yesterday, and she said, 'I'm so sorry, can I do anything for you?' And I said, 'Just call your doctor tomorrow and make an appointment. That's what you could do for me.'”

Isn't that one of the exact reasons why I am sharing this blog? I want people to learn from my experience. No matter what happens, I want them to take the extra steps to keeping themselves and their loved ones far, far away from melanoma hell.

(Please forgive me for my selfish resentment...I would not wish cancer--no matter which kind--on my worst enemy. As for Giuliana, not that she will ever read this, I wish her the best. I have always admired how public she has been with her struggles with infertility. I imagine she has helped many women.)

By the way, I came across this article today from The Skin Cancer Foundation. It says, "If you’ve had breast cancer or melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer), be aware that having either one raises the odds of developing the other, according to a study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science."

I hope the Pink folks pay attention to this and vice versa...