Keeping you Abreast of How Plastic Pollution Impacts our Bodies

It's October, which means Halloween, fall favorites and of course, everything covered in the color pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month. While we see everything from restaurants, to sports to our favorite products get in on the action, have you ever stopped to think, how do these products impact my health? 

Maybe not, but guess what? I did it for you ... while waiting to get a mammogram. 

Getting a mammogram is a strange experience. It felt like a herd to me, but a normal, every day routine for the staff. 

I walked into the office and waited in a line to check in. There were several people ahead of me and several more after me. It seems they stack the appointments on top of each other. We all checked in and waited in the lobby together. We all gave each other a nervous smile that says, "I'd rather be doing something else right now," but know it's important to be here. 

One by one, we're called to the back. We're given the same spiel by the nurse - "top off only, put your belongings in the closest, gown on with opening in the front." Thank goodness it's a reusable, washable gown and not paper! The nurse perks up, "Any questions?" You nod and she exits not to be seen again. We all are once again waiting in another room together. Everyone isn't visibly nervous, but we all make ourselves look "busy" by doing something on our phones. There's a few side glances, but for most part, we're all just there together. Perhaps it's a bit calming to know "we're all on this together" and glad to know you're not alone. Maybe we're all just checking each other out in our fancy gowns. Who knows?! As we all sit there naked from the waist up under those gowns, I remind myself that many (all?) of us have this experience and it's just a routine day for the staff. 

As I pretend to be reading my book, the thoughts race through my mind. The stats say "1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer." I quickly count - there's 8 of us in the room. Could it be one of these people? Could it be me? Before I can go down the dark rabbit hole of "oh my gosh I have cancer" as my brain likes to create it's own story, I shift my thinking to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It just so happens to be October 1 - the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I look around. We're all dressed in some variation of pink of course. (Side note, why do women have to always be designated as dainty pink - give me Neon Green or Canary Yellow instead! Geesh!) 

Anyways, it's pink, moving on. I saw this graphic this morning that raised the question as I sat there pondering my own destiny, "Should a company 'fighting' breast cancer be using chemicals that contribute to breast cancer ... just for better sales?" 

While this comment is relating to chemicals in our food, the same applies for waste ... plastic waste specifically. (Side note: In case you didn't know, the pink Breast Cancer Awareness gimmick is used by marketers to influence people into buying (more of) their products in return for making the buyer "feel good" about their purchase. Most of the time (not all, but most), these are falsely marketed claims and very little of profits are distributed to cancer patients or survivors. This is called 'pinkwashing'. If you want to learn more about it, check out this 2018 Vox article.)

Science continually proves that there is a direct correlation from plastics to cancer. We're finding microplastics in our blood and bodies. We know that plastics are made from oil ... aka chemicals. Styrofoam is one of the WORST things we can eat hot greasy foods off of and yet, it's every where.

According to BreastCancer.org, "Research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in these [plastic] products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people."

Did you ever watch Pee-Wee Herman as a kid? (I wasn't allowed, but snuck it anyways.) One of Pee-Wee's segments were - connect the dots, falalalala. I sing this song often to myself when thinking about waste issues and climate change. We have to start connecting the dots to show how we, the humans we, are directly impacting the fate of the exact Earth that sustains us. Let's connect the dots ...

I asked myself, "how did Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) even start?" It's amazing how many thoughts can fly through your brain when you're trying to avoid the thought of an existential life crisis and looming death. Just me? The reality is I was only sitting there for no more than 10 minutes till the tech called my name, but it seemed like 10 hours.

Anyways, I did research and found a little surprise. If you would have asked me who started BCAM, I would have said the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Well, I would have been WRONG. Did you know this? BCAM was founded in 1985 in partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, better known to you and me as AstraZeneca ... yup, the company that funds drugs for breast cancer. Oh and Imperial Chemicals is maker of you guessed it ... PLASTICS. GGGRRRRR..... Why do we have the pink ribbons? Well we can thank Estee Lauder for that - yes, the makeup company. I'm not going to go into the whole history because there's Wikipedia for that and honestly, I feel a little gross about all of it right about now.

I do want to leave you with this though .... "Critics have said that "the BCAM idea 'was conceived and paid for by a British chemical company that both profits from this epidemic and may be contributing to its cause...'"

Are you connecting the dots? 

What this comes down to is before you buy that pink item, ask yourself, do I need it? Start to understand that companies want your money, they don't necessarily care about you or your health. And YES, that item may in fact be impacting your health. Ask yourself, do I want to be that 1 out of 8 stat?

After a 5 minute exam, the tech said something to me but didn't really pay attention. I went back to the dressing room and placed that reusable gown in the bin to be washed for the next person. I hope the person who wears this next is not part of those stats. Grateful that technology and free wellness checks allow me the opportunity to prevent further despair, hopefully. And yet, I was ready to get out of that office. Now to wait .....falalalala. 

A couple end notes: 

- If you want to donate to Breast Cancer Research, search for a local organization doing the work. It's more likely to get to those who need it most and supports your local economy. 

- Don't buy into the marketing hype ... for anything really 

- If you are a women 40 or older, do yourself a favor and go get checked out. Breast cancer is curable, if detected early. Your brain is telling you it's scary and awful. I know - mine did for 4 years. It's not fun, but it's bearable and you can make up stories of people in the waiting room with you. We're all in this together - go and get checked out. It's free. It's good for your health. I love you and want you to be here a long time so you can hear me rant about trash. Just do it! If you're up to - share your story with me too at becky@theprotrashtalker.com.