Janet's Blog

I saw an ad for Pink Ribbon Barbie for the first time at the University of Michigan Cancer Center at my infusion appointment.

I was resuming chemotherapy after a two month break, and decided to read a women's magazine promising me fashion advice and information on how to have the best butt ever. It was an older magazine from October, and had a feature on breast cancer prevention (I'd like to point out to people writing breast cancer awareness month articles that whereas regular self-exams and mammograms are key in early detection, they don't do SQUAT to prevent breast cancer...nobody knows how to prevent it, so call your article something else).

In flipping through the magazine, I turned the page and beheld Barbie's smiling face. Her impossible figure is bedecked in a dazzling gown; her hair is flawless. Sales of Pink Ribbon Barbie promise to help support the Komen Foundation.

That's great, and I certainly don't object to Pink Ribbon merchandise, but Barbie as an embassador for breast cancer is a little bit ridiculous. I sat in my infusion chair, bloated, eyebrowless, expecting that my nasty, scraggly hair would begin again to fall out, and praying that chemo wouldn't give me awful fatigue and nausea.

As an alternative to Mattel's Pink Ribbon Barbie (which was perhaps well-meant but not exactly on the mark), you might consider Breast Cancer Barbie.

"While Pink Ribbon™ Barbie® is dressed up for a charity ball in a gorgeous gown and has her flowing blonde hair up in a bouffant hair-do, Real Breast Cancer Barbie is spending the evening alone with her bald head in the toilet."

Breast Cancer Barbie more accurately reflects the experience of breast cancer. She has lost her hair, gained weight from the steroids given to prevent nausea, and has an IV for her regular infusions. She needs a pill case because the chemotherapy makes it difficult for her to remember if she's taken her medications or not.

Bidding is open now! This item is one-of-a-kind. Proceeds will help send the creator of Breast Cancer Barbie, Linnea Johnston, to the 7th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, which is certainly a worthy cause.

Labels: baldness, chemo, eyebrows, infusion, nausea, pink ribbon

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