October is one of my favorite months–except for this year, as its been so rainy. Then again, I’ve hardly been at home to really get too soaked. Have been orbiting around–first in Milan, then Vancouver, and more happy trails are lined up. I love Halloween, all that orange and black.

Notice, orange and black, not pink. No breast cancer “awareness” month for me. No frilly pink idiocy, pink ribbons pinned on my shirt, and doling out money to pink items that I don’t need or want, or have no idea if even one cent is going to breast cancer causes. Or if it is, exactly what cause and what will it be spent on.

In honor of Pepto Bismol month, the New York Times has a review of two breast cancer related books. Very appropriately, the title of the review is called Breast Cancer Tales: The Inspirational vs. the Actual.

The inspirational is a sweet memoir by Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G Komen for the Cure, and really the person who is ultimately responsible for not only breast cancer awareness, but for turning breast cancer awareness into a combination circus and industry.

The other book, rips into the pinky sweet movement by “taking issue with the “she-ro” of the breast cancer movement — an idealized patient who is assertive and boundlessly optimistic, and remains feminine and sexy despite the depredations of disease and treatment. This paragon often uses a diagnosis of breast cancer as a catalyst for a personal transformation; she begins to “take time for me,” discovers “what’s important in life” and comes out of the experience a changed and better person.”

I have to give Brinker credit for bringing attention to a “women’s” issue at a time when women’s issues were pretty well ignored–other than the ever ongoing battle of abortion.  But I think Komen has evolved into a business, and the final straw was their partnership with Kentucky Fried Chicken–selling junk food in pink buckets. If you’re an advocate for breast cancer patients–then you have to draw the line somewhere. And that line is advocating food which can directly lead to a huge number of health problems and indirectly lead to cancer–including that of the breast.

At any rate, the only advocacy group that I really see working towards prevention is the Breast Cancer Action, and I mean real prevention, like taking on corporations, industry, regulatory bodies (like our friends at the FDA). They also have a fantastic “Think before you buy Pink” campaign which seeks to educate the consumer about pink buying and what you need to know.

So I continue to ignore pink. Instead, I am enjoying the reds, yellows, golds, of the fall season. And the orange and black of Halloween.