Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon - Not for Women Only!

Wear a breast cancer awareness ribbon? Who me, a six-foot, grizzled, conservative man?

For that matter, why should any man even think of wearing a breast cancer awareness ribbon? The darn things are pink!

But my answer, after looking objectively into the matter, was, “Why not?” Why the shouldn't I wear a breast cancer awareness ribbon?

Furthermore, I’m now convinced that any man can and should wear a breast cancer awareness ribbon proudly.

After all, nothing is more important to men than women, and since one in eight women will develop breast cancer, awareness is crucial. By wearing a breast cancer awareness ribbon, we so-called He-men not only fulfill our old-fashioned role of helping to protect the women we love from harm, but we join the all-generational, all gender movement to bring the widespread disease into the light.

That’s why the breast cancer awareness ribbon is so important. Much awareness progress has been made, starting in the mid-seventies with Betty Ford’s public admission of breast cancer. Her willingness to discuss what had been a dark secret for afflicted women was followed closely by a statement by then Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller’s wife, Happy, that she too was afflicted. Their men---the most powerful men in the world at that time, stood behind their wives, doing their part for Breast cancer awareness. Ribbon publicity wasn’t operative in those days, but if there had been a breast cancer awareness ribbon available, the Ford and Rockefeller men would have been the first to wear them.

So if wearing a breast cancer awareness ribbon would have been manly enough for Jerry and Nelson then why shouldn’t it be good enough for me now? My wife’s mother died of breast cancer, and my wife and sisters are at high risk.

So here’s how I proceeded to become part of the solution: I did some research on the net and found many breast cancer awareness sites and many breast cancer awareness ribbon outlets. I learned plenty about breast cancer and what can be done about it. And I learned that increasing the awareness of my fellows is the first step. I ordered my breast cancer awareness ribbon, and I found some beautiful breast cancer awareness jewelry for my wife, my mom, and my daughter.

So I recommend to all my fellow manly men who would have scoffed at wearing a breast cancer awareness ribbon before you read this article: now that you have read it, ask yourself, “Why not?

Lance LaHara writes unique opinion pieces on life topics for PulseMed.org.

.