We invite you to join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.
Read More:
“Why Doctors Are Rethinking Breast-Cancer Treatment.” Time Magazine, October 1, 2015.
“Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer.” Peggy Orenstein. The New York Times, April 25, 2013.
Missy, kudos to you to voice your perspective. It definitely takes courage to go against the masses. Keep on going!!
Shame on all of you who attacked Missy for HER opinion. She is NOT giving medical advice. She IS sharing her opinion. It’s her life to live and to express as she desires. Shame on all of you who attacked Title Nine for one woman’s very valid perspective.
I don’t feel even remotely ashamed. No one has a problem with her making her own choices and expressing them in her personal sphere – but us cancer survivors whose lives were saved by routine screenings have one hell of a problem with her forwarding that opinion to a list of customers who signed up to find out about sweater sales. We all know that mammograms are controversial, and women need to do their own research and talk to their doctors about their efficacy, but to send an email like that without citing the full context was incredibly irresponsible.
Shame on you Missy. I am sorry your mother and grandmother had breast cancer which truly surprises me by your lack of common sense, perhaps you’ve had a mammogram and are opting out this year, perhaps you’re too afraid to get one. Complaining that 16% of fundraising is going to research is ridiculous, 16% of something is better than 16% of nothing. If you want more money to go to research, how much have you and Title Nine donated while wearing your $50 t-shirts? Why don’t your start a trend to have people donate and you personally or Title Nine match the donation? How many funerals have you gone to for women who died of breast cancer? How many friends have you consoled who have had mastectomies? How many daughters, mothers, nieces, friends, husbands, colleagues of women diagnosed with breast cancer have you consoled? How many grandchildren have you tried to explain that the woman they call grandma is really their great grandmother because they’re grandma died before their mom even met their dad? Awareness is a good thing, self exams are a good thing, my sister and a close friend might still be alive if they had gotten a base line mammogram. Several of my friends are alive because they did get mammograms, they did find the lump in time. Take your over-privileged opinion and do something useful with it instead of refusing to acknowledge many people do not have the privileges you have of money and education.
This is fantastic! Thank you so much – I couldn’t agree more. What does “awareness” do? There are still people dying no matter how much awareness there is out there. Let’s quit being “aware” and actually research how to cure cancer! Three of my four grandparents died of cancer, and my dad – who held my heart in his hands – died of cancer. I have strong emotions when the topic of cancer in brought up, but for the love of john, awareness did nothing for any of them!! I, too, opt out of mammograms!
Totally irresponsible, Missy. I had breast cancer at the age of 33 – no mammograms at that time but let me tell you, 14 years later I’m getting my mammograms. Absolutely NO family history. Back to -what does donating to charity have to do with mammograms? You may have lost a customer over this post – no clue why you would take this on.
I am sorry if I missed a comment in the previous 568 responses. 😉 I give you that may have missed this in the article. What is the reason for opting out of mammograms? What does opting out of mammograms do to forward the cause of striving for more research?
It seems the American Cancer Society is ‘re thinking’ the awareness thing too!
Big headlines in New York Times today verifying that FEWER mammograms are being recommended by the American Cancer Society because……of all the issues discussed in this brave and thoughtful article.
I will happily continue shopping at a company with a social conscience as regards women’s health. In fact, I will begin my Chistmas shopping at Title 9 as a “thank you” to the mindful CEO who runs it!
In a world full of “spin” and PR, it is exceptionally refreshing to have had a CEO begin an open and important conversation.
My grateful thanks.
P.S. I,too, have had cancer. My father is currently in hospital for colon cancer, and I lost my best friend to cancer this year. I don’t take this lightly, but I also will never treat my doctors as all-knowing deities. Thankfully, most of them are open to new information.
Your message is irresponsible and lacks logic. I agree with not donating to all of these supposed breadt cancer awareness causes; but cancelling your mammogram is a mistake. As a former breast surgeon who cared for a lot of young women with breast cancer, I believe an annual mammogram beginning at age forty can be lifesaving. I get mine every year. Each woman’s life- and quality of life- is invaluable, regardless of overall mortality. Ladies, please ignore this post.
Wow – Missy has us all talking and sharing and isn’t that a good thing?.. But why are so many choosing to misinterpret her thoughtful and personal words as medical advice? She even says “Certainly not the right choice for everybody or really maybe anyone else”. I am a Hospice RN who has cared for far too many women who died of breast cancer and my reaction was one of gratitude for Missy inspiring us to support women and to encourage everyone’s stories. I was also glad I already had a Title Nine order on the way, otherwise I would have placed an order against such an inappropriate backlash. But thank you for all your touching stories. We are all in this together and I have to agree with a recent article recommending that what we already know about breast cancer prevention should be taught starting in all pediatric offices.
Got a 10 dollar off coupon for title nine today–interesting that it arrived 4 days after calling to cancel my catalog….keep it Missy, an honest apology to all the women who will be hurt by your propaganda would be a better start.
Bravo, Missy. Thank you for having the courage to take on the “pink menace” head on and sharing with us your opinion and thoughts on the matter. I don’t take your “musings” as a strident advocacy message telling me or anyone not to have mammograms. It’s your viewpoint; not necessarily mine or anyone else’s. But I do concur that there is way too much fund raising for the sake of fund raising and self preservation of organizations that seem to have lost its way. I think our health care industry as a whole is no longer about promoting health and wellness with so much monetary incentives to keep people slightly ill for as long as possible as long as there is money to be made. But, on the other hand, I see hope in the way people are becoming more aware of the food they eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the lifestyles we lead. I really do hope for the best, and I think your message about the need for more research and prevention and less on “awareness,” which I agree just breeds more fear and anxiety is not something we should just all blindly support, monetarily or otherwise. So, thank you, Missy — please carry on.