Before any anti-abortion activists want to take me to task on this, let me make myself clear. I will not argue about the sanctity of life, Margaret Sanger's connection to eugenics or anything else related to abortion. This is a rare moment in which I'm invoking my "this is my sandbox" rule. If you are going to rant about abortion, take it elsewhere. I won't publish it and won't get drawn into that argument. Views on the morality of abortion or the widely disproved but persistent rumor that abortions cause breast cancer will be deleted.
As my readers know, I have a complex and mostly contentious relationship with Susan G Komen for the Cure (TM). For any new readers, I highly suggest you begin HERE (Cancer Culture Chronicles) to understand why. Twenty percent overhead, a lack of progress and an emphasis on education over research are major issues. So is the topic of Pinkwashing, which you can read more about HERE (Pink Ribbon Blues).
But still, I have participated in the Race for the Cure every year since my 2008 diagnosis for reasons I explain here.
But I can no longer hold my nose and send in my registration fee.
More than 90% of Planned Parenthood's services provide sexual and reproductive health care. They operate more than 800 clinics and serve more than 3 million women every year. (SOURCE).
And let's face it. People with insurance and doctors offices don't use Planned Parenthood. These clinics serve the uninsured and the poor. When I graduated from college and didn't have insurance, I used Planned Parenthood too and without them, I wouldn't have gotten my annual PAP Smear. And that is one cancer screening test that is directly correlated with reducing cancer deaths. They provide affordable health services and quality information that focus on prevention though use of contraceptives and education.
In the past two years, Komen has given Planned Parenthood just over a million dollars to pay for breast cancer screenings and other breast health programs. That has covered 170,000 screenings of the over 4 million done at PP in the last five years. (source)
Today the news came out that Komen will no longer offer grants to Planned Parenthood. Leslie Aun explains why.
Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun said the cutoff results from the charity's newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. According to Komen, this applies to Planned Parenthood because it's the focus of an inquiry launched by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., seeking to determine whether public money was improperly spent on abortions.
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| Congressman Cliff Stearns |
That investigation, which has no set timetable, was launched in September when Stearns asked Planned Parenthood for more than a decade's worth of documents.
Stearns, in a statement emailed to the AP on Monday, said he is still working with Planned Parenthood on getting the requested documents. He said he is looking into possible violations of state and local reporting requirements, as well as allegations of financial abuse, and would consider holding a hearing depending on what he learns.
Many of the allegations were outlined in a report presented to Stearns last year by Americans United for Life, a national anti-abortion group, which urged him to investigate.As a word about screening. I have written on here many times about the limitations of mammography. Every time I talk about it, I try to make it clear that while it's imperfect and missed this gal's 8 cm tumor, it is our current standard of care. Here is a portion of Planned Parenthood's website information about breast health.
Breast cancer screenings, such as breast exams or mammograms, help detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage. These breast cancer detection tools can save lives. More than nine out of 10 women who detect breast cancer early live at least five years — and many live much longer.How can anyone who claims to care about the health of women take issue with this?
Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses teach patients about breast care, connect patients to resources to help them get vital biopsies, ultrasounds, and mammograms, and follow up to make sure patients are cared for with the attention they need and deserve.
And let's see. What's Komen's mission again?
Well, that's kind of funny because they don't have anything labeled "Mission Statement" on their website, at least not that I can find. (Are you listening, investors?). But here's something from their About Us page.
As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.
So what can we do?
#1 BIG #1 Not another dime to Komen.
I know that social media has been abuzz about this story. Please share ideas for other actions to take.
And thank you for respecting the boundaries of my sandbox.
EDITED TO ADD RESOURCES
Alternate organizations to consider supporting -
- Breast Cancer Action
- National Breast Cancer Coalition
- METAvivor (Metastatic Breast Cancer)
- Army of Women
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
- Planned Parenthood
- Relay for Life
- Stand Up to Cancer
Local organizations that provide practical assistance to women with breast cancer (In my area, that's Pink Ribbon Girls)
NCI-funded comprehensive/cancer centers which are conducting basic research in to breast and other cancers
Petition to sign from CREDO
Quick note the the Anonymous poster: I don't have a comment. The numbers came from that link.
22 comments:
Yes. Yes, to everything you just said. I'm done with Komen, I was on the fence for a while, because I wanted to believe that SOME good was coming out of that organization. I'm just completely appalled--and so glad you wrote about this so eloquently and passionately. I tried to write about it, and it got really messy and devolved into a "ohmygodkomensucks" mess. haha. :)
Excellent post, Katie. They've never gotten a dime from me, and any spare dimes I scrouge up now will go to PP instead. Komen's moves on this are so ridiculously transparent, they should hang their heads in shame. Time for me to update my drawing of Nancy B dressed as Marie Antoinette...
BTW, my word verification for this comment is 'refundle' -- LOL, how appropo!
i love you. you can put into words what i am unable. (c:
Would you mind commenting on this? You said:
"More than 90% of Planned Parenthood's services involve provided sexual and reproductive health care. They operate more than 800 clinics and serve more than 3 million women every year. (SOURCE)."
I visited the link you provided and did not see the 90% number you quoted. I was wondering where you got that percentage from? Thank you.
Katie, is there an alternative organization that you can recommend that isn't so political? Maybe each of us can find a local organization that funds BC research or provides funds to women in our respective communities that assist women undergoing BC treatment? Not a rhetorical question, I just don't know.
I plan on catching up on many of your posts over the next few days. Whenever someone I knew was doing a walk I donated, no question. It never even occurred to me that the money might not be going to actually SOLVING anything. I'm infuriated by what I'm learning about the Komen foundation.
They will never get another dime from me. As for further actions I will be educating everyone I know about the Komen Foundation. I will also be giving a monthly donation to Planned Parenthood, something I've been meaning to get around to anyway.
I was finished with them ages ago. In no way have they done anything to support me. In fact, their continuing to develop products under the guise of 'for the cure' just infuriates me.
I was disappointed, but not surprised, that they stepped up their fund collection efforts from me AFTER my dx in 2010. It took three letters (from me) and three calls (from my husband) to be removed from their mailing list. Just received a card from Avon the other day asking for money...maybe the same day I received the anesthesia bill for my recon? Yep, they are getting the call from my husband next.
I have not supported or believed in the walk for ages, especially since the whole suing of non-profits for the use of the phrase "for the cure." I am so glad to see how many people are absolutely livid and will donate directly to PP vs. to SGK and that is as it should be!
I'm fine with them pulling out of PP. As far as I know, PP isn't doing anything 'for the cure' either.
Coincidentally, Canada's National Film Board is releasing a documentary called 'Pink Ribbons' on exactly where that money goes and does NOT go.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/pink_ribbons_inc_trailer/
Katie,
An excellent posting on an important topic. Let's see, what else can Komen do wrong? In the past, I did the Komen race, but I am proud to say, I have given Komen no more money for many years.
This break with Planned Parenthood more proof that Komen doesn't really care about women's health.
Grr. I fat fingered it again and deleted a comment from Terri Spahr Nelson. (sorry Terri). Here it is:
Terri Spahr Nelson has left a new comment on your post "Planned Parenthood Cut Off":
PPH provides health services to women from all backgrounds, but most critically to low income women with no insurance. If PPH loses funding, who will pay for the consequences of women going without gyn care, breast exams and birth control? Prevention saves lives. The folks at Komen should know this.
In these economic times, if I have to chose between Komen and PPH, I'll send my money to the agency that provides services to all women. Thanks for sharing this blog Katie.
holy crap!
-Dorry
I will no longer financially support this group. From now on, when I am asked to donate or sponsor a walker, I will give that money to a group who helps the poor get the screenings and care they need.
Other organizations to support: NCI-funded comprehensive/cancer centers which are conducting basic research in to breast and other cancers. Please.
Katie, well-said. +1. And any other accolades I can think of. For those who wonder about other organizations that they could support, may I suggest they support 1) Planned Parenthood directly, 2) their local Relays for Life sponsored by the Amer. Cancer Society, where the funds raised go to local patient support programs, 3) groups like Stand Up 2 Cancer which are funding research. Yeah, some of this support goes to people who have other than breast cancer - but the more we learn in researching all cancers, the more we learn that all cancers are linked in intricate ways. And the more we learn that ALL cancer survivors need support organizations.
I have never liked Komen and have never trusted any thing they have done. But, if Nancy Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer, Komen should have only been funding breast care facilities, right?
Katie,
Great post. You really tackled this one head on and in a timely manner. I've got a post brewing too. It's such a disgrace. I'm thankful for the out cry that seems to be happening.
I agree to a point many a watch dog groups have come out showing that mammograms are not done by planned parenthood . You are right this is not a abortion debate this is a case of poor financial management. Millions of dollars are raised by people affected by breast cancer and that is what the money should go too....if your not using the mOney for what it was raised for then your a crook and a predator.
Thanks for the well defined blog post.
I just posted to a progressive talkshow's facebook blog regarding the SGK crap and was able to include your links to the other women's health organizations.
Thank you for providing the good info and those links.
Hear, hear! Thank you for this post and the helpful references for readers to follow up on.
This was fantastic, Katie! (btw, we've crossed paths on FB) : ) Would you consider adding BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation) to the resources? They give a minimum of $0.90 of every $1 raised directly to research (in fact, my oncologist is one of their grantees). I'd also love to see us brainstorm and stage some kind of anti-Pink day to show support.
Finally blogged on the topic yesterday: http://dinoiafamily.typepad.com/the_dinoia_family/2012/02/i-never-thought-id-blog.html...I was just fed up!
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