The color pink used to dominate my life. When my parents were building their house, I got to pick out the color of carpet and paint in my room. It was one of the perks of being the oldest. And as any 5 year old girl would do, I picked pink. For both the carpet and walls. Bubblegum pink walls at that. And a dark pink carpet. Why in the world my parents let me do this I’ll never fully understand, but I appreciated it for many years. Until I decided I hated pink. It became too girly and I wanted blue, all the blue. I was able to paint my walls a teal-like color that helped offset the pink carpet, but it still was pink.
Fast forward 30 years and I’m diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, I embrace the pink. I am not painting anything in my house pink, and I can assure you that there will never be a pink rug anywhere in my house, but pink pillows? Absolutely. Pink shirts? Bring them on. Pink décor? Within reason (especially if it also includes pandas or gnomes)
I know there are many in the breast cancer world that hate pink and what it represents. They resent the pink ribbons. I’ve tried to look at it a different way. It’s something that connects me to a plethora of people that understand what I’ve gone through the past 2 years. Yes, there are companies and people that use it as a marketing ploy, but there are so many good things that come out of that little pink ribbon. There are Facebook communities and MeetUp groups. There are blogs and TikToks. All trying to share the stories of those that have battled.
Prior to my diagnosis, I would support some breast cancer groups occasionally, but it wasn’t a focus of mine. I knew a few people that had been diagnosed, but it wasn’t super present in my life. Now, I am drawn to the pink ribbon and the stories of those that sport it. Survivors, co-vivors, parents, kids. I want to share my story. I want someone to hear my adventure through the world of cancer and get themselves checked out.
So, I haven’t shied away from sharing my story and what I’ve gone through. I don’t fault those who chose to keep it private. Each person’s journey is just that, theirs. I share for knowledge; I share to hopefully get someone to find their cancer early enough instead of waiting. I share so people know they aren’t alone. I offer my contact information to anyone I hear that is newly diagnosed, because I know that would have been amazing to have when I got those results. My girls know way too much about cancer for being 9 and 6. They know about chemo and ports and radiation and mastectomies and reconstruction. I proudly show them my scars because I want them to see that I was stronger than what tried to come for me. I want them informed. They will both need to start mammograms by the age of 25 because of my history. That part is scary, but I want them prepared.
So, pink it is. And pink it will always be.
Plus, the blue…I mean I can’t give that up now.
Sunshine and HoneyBunch 