Calamity Song

I try not to discuss the political here, because that's not what I'm about. However, as a woman and a somewhat feminist, I am a passionate advocate for women's health. I think the access to quality prenatal care and cancer screenings should be a universal right (to be fair I think similar screenings for men to be the same). One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lives. That statistic to me is staggering. My life has been touched by breast cancer (see my post here http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/05/this-is-why-we-fight.html?m=1)although I never had it. I've been passionate for pink for years.
I've gone all out for October with raising awareness, supporting the cause, etc. This movement of breast cancer being part of the national consciousness is due in part to Komen. The story of how the organization came to be is outlined in a bestselling book.
On the flip side, they are protective of their trademarks and have sued smaller charities and fundraising groups for the use of the words "for a cure" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2011/01/04/colbert-komen-cure-cancer_n_804233.html) which I find to be sad and bullying behavior.
The little known fact is Komen doesn't raise money for patient care or assistance. They raise money to fund research and give grants on the community level, but their primary goal was to raise awareness and eliminate shame (they were wildly successful with that).
In many communities, another flashpoint organization provides vital women's health services-Planned Parenthood. Regular readers know that I am staunchly pro-life (meaning birth thru death; against abortion and the death penalty), yet I support Planned Parenthood. It's oxymoronic to some, but for those who are aware of the services they offer, it makes perfect sense.
Contrary to what some conservative pundits will have you believe, Planned Parenthood doesn't just do abortions. They also provide exams and medications at little or no cost. Back in the day, my health insurance did not offer gynecological services as a regular service (it was subject to my deductible) not did it cover the pill-which i took to keep fibroids at bay. The only way I could afford both was to use Planned Parenthood. For that I'm grateful there was an organization that was there to fill in the gaps.
In many communities, while there are state funded resources for those who meet criteria, hundreds of women do not. They fall through the cracks and may not have care critical to their health and well being. Did you know that Planned Parenthood provides infertility services? Care for urinary tract infections? Menopause care? There's a lot more to them than what a lot of politicians will allude to.
The other big part of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are cancer screenings. For many women, pap smears, breast exams and even mammograms are subject to deductible and coinsurance (if they have coverage) therefore making them less important than say, groceries. Planned Parenthood offers cancer screenings and mammogram referrals at little or no cost to patients.
Komen decided earlier this week to no longer give Planned Parenthood grants to provide breast exams and mammogram referrals, as well as breast health education. It's a decision that is in blatant disregard to Komen's original mission. Denying women access to low cost screenings is basically sentencing them to death, which is a violation of the promise made which resulted in the founding of Komen.
Anytime an organization that claims to support women decides to hurt another organization with the same mission, it hurts all women. We are all in this together, and we can choose what organizations to donate to. I, for one, will not be supporting Komen anymore. They dont speak for this woman.

This Is Why We Fight

I recently discovered the Decemberists, thanks to WXPN (http://www.xpn.org/). Its public radio out of Philly, which I miss desperately. For all the great stuff in South Dakota, radio is not one of those things. I like less than mainstream music, so...I listen to streaming audio either on line or with the radio app on my phone.
So, late last year, the Decemberists began to get a lot of airplay for Down by the River. But it was the follow up song, This is Why We Fight that totally hooked me.

Earlier this week, the accordianist/keyboardist Jenny Conlee announced she had breast cancer and was dropping out of the tour to receive treatment.
Cancer sucks, to put it bluntly.
Breast cancer really sucks.
I've had friends (and clients) die from it.
My mother in law beat it.

L-r my mother in law, me and the Big Man
July 2005

I had a cancer scare myself. When I had my first mammogram at 36, I had bad finding. There was a "spot". So I had to have another mammogram.
There was that spot again.
So, then I had to have a biopsy. Two days before Christmas.
It was negative. I was relieved, but...I felt guilty.

There are a lot of women who don't share my sense of relief.
Jenny Conlee just joined that sisterhood.

My team for last year's race. Even though it was Mother's Day weekend, at race time the temperature was 30.

On Saturday, I will be running in a 5k to raise money for breast cancer patients in South Dakota. Many people I know have been helped by the funds that the race generates.
http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=450022&lis=0&kntae450022=209CF77E78494F60AF6A5CB8D1EED4BC&supId=323262260

If you are ever curious about what life is like while undergoing treatment, check out http://lisabadams.com/blog/. It is alternating and uplifting at the same time. In a comment on her blog, I wrote

In my day job, I manage medical bills for people with chronic illnesses. Many have cancer, many more are young and have young families. My heart aches, even though I see such a small part of their journey. Ive seen many, many miracles. I have also seen a lot of pain.



I am grateful my mother in law beat breast cancer. I’m equally heartbroken that colon cancer took my dad before he could walk Mr me down the aisle & meet his grandson. My father in law also died from colon cancer, he saw us get married but he wasn’t there to.meet my little guy.


This Sat I will run to raise $ for breast cancer. I run because I can. I run because not everyone has a traveling scarf to wear. I run to restore dignity to patients. I run because I’m grateful I dodged the bullet twice with cancer scares. I run for those who can’t.

And on Saturday, I will run with the wind on my back and an awesome playlist on my ipod.

This is why I run, and this is why we fight.