Pink Ribbon

Jena · Post by **Jena** » Fri May 09, 2003 6:55 pm

My friend emailed me this today, I thought id share it with everyone here.

A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down.
Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.

The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand
beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?" With that the men all
began to laugh out loud.

The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"

The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor."

"Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"

"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an
infant, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts, and her
health."

"Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah."

"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife", the middle aged man went on.

"And she's okay, too?", the other guy asked.

"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving
pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and
for her health."

"Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?"

"No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died
of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about "

Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry
mister."

"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which
allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends. And here," the
middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.

The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me put it on?"

This is breast cancer awareness month. Do regular breast self-exams and have annual mammograms if you are a woman over the age of 40. And encourage those women you love to do the same.

Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness.

A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE. PLEASE KEEP THIS CANDLE GOING!

Oof · Post by **Oof** » Fri May 09, 2003 9:25 pm

One thing to add to that. At least at the Post Office near my home, and I suspect all US Post Offices, they sell special stamps that cost a little more than the regular ones, but the few extra cents from each stamp goes toward breast cancer research. That's a way you can help too.

Jena · Post by **Jena** » Fri May 09, 2003 9:55 pm

Im doing a 26 mile marathon next month for Breast cancer to help find a cure. In ten years they raised 250 million toward the fight against breast cancer. http://www.avonwalk.org

A Few Facts About Breast Cancer in the U.S.*

There is no cure for breast cancer. Early detection is still the best defense.

A woman has a one in eight chance of developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. In 1975, the chances were one in eleven.
This year, an estimated 40,000 women will die from the disease.
Breast cancer takes another life every 14 minutes.
Another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes.
An estimated three million women are living with breast cancer. One million of them don't yet know it.

Neuslayer · Post by **Neuslayer** » Fri May 09, 2003 10:23 pm

But as a side note, more women die from lung cancer every year then die from breast cancer. And from heart dieases too. Time to quite smoking ladies!!!!!!!!

Jena · Post by **Jena** » Fri May 09, 2003 10:45 pm

And guys should quit smoking too. My Uncle just died last month at 64 from cancer. He smoked

Phade · Post by **Phade** » Sat May 10, 2003 12:33 pm

And there goes Neut with her anti-smoking

/me puffs

Neuslayer · Post by **Neuslayer** » Sat May 10, 2003 1:57 pm

*smacks the cigarette out of Phade's hand*

Someone has to do it

Mist · Post by **Mist** » Sat May 10, 2003 2:18 pm

And a reminder to the women, one of the best things you can do for yourself is check on a monthly basis!

Neuslayer · Post by **Neuslayer** » Sat May 10, 2003 2:23 pm

YEP!!!! A monthly breast exam is a great screening tool. As is being sure to get your yearly physical and pap smear, and when you are old enough, that fun thing called a mammogram:) Lots more breast cancer is being detected early because of these simple things.

*gets off her soap box* for now;)

Sassy · Post by **Sassy** » Sat May 10, 2003 2:59 pm

Stupid Mammogram machines had to have been designed by a man

Phade · Post by **Phade** » Sat May 10, 2003 3:23 pm

That wasn't a cigarette though?

so women have to have a physical every year?
thats gotta be rough

Pee-Wee · Post by **Pee-Wee** » Sat May 10, 2003 5:34 pm

Sometimes, men don't worry about these things until you put it into some terms that effect them (us).

In 2003, about 40,200 people will die from breast cancer in the United States (39,800 women, 400 men). The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2003 some 1,300 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States.

As for smoking... After 15+ years of a pack and a half a day, I have been smoke free for a year and a half. (I took up crank).

DAMN I need a cigarette.

Phade · Post by **Phade** » Sat May 10, 2003 5:36 pm

I smoke maybe 1 cigarette every couple of days.. a pack in 1 day would kill me I think

Jena · Post by **Jena** » Sun May 11, 2003 6:56 am

Congrats on quiting smoking PeeWee! That great. Dont go back. Try and remember what a pain it was to quit.

stumpy wallace · Post by **stumpy wallace** » Sun May 11, 2003 2:28 pm

i dont smoke cause i cant!!

so i took up assesive sugar highness