While looking through social media accounts, at some point, you’ve probably noticed people sharing a photo of themselves with a caption about raising awareness of cancer and showing support for those battling the disease, however, one frustrated mom and cancer survivor decided to show the world what cancer really looks like.
Just over three years ago, mom-of-two Rebecca Wilkinson finished chemotherapy after finding out she had breast cancer, and later underwent a double mastectomy and had her ovaries removed when she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. She has come to terms with what happened to her and her body, but couldn’t help but feel outraged when she saw the newest viral sensation where people, many of whom have never been affected by cancer, were posting seflies to ‘raise awareness.’
“Challenge Accepted. It’s the latest viral craze; people sharing black and white selfies for “cancer awareness” or to “show support for people with cancer”… That is ABSOLUTELY not what you are doing,” Rebecca wrote in post to Facebook that has since gone viral. “Everyone on Facebook is aware of cancer, so you cannot play the awareness card…You’re not raising money. You’re not showing support either.”
“A selfie is just a way of saying ‘look at me’. When I had cancer and was bald, the last thing I wanted to do was take a selfie. I looked awful. I didn’t want people to look at me,” she said. “Do you really think someone with cancer will be happy because you posted a narcissistic picture with an arty filter? No. They won’t. Go visit them in hospital, or take them to chemo, or cook them a meal. Hell, even send them a Facebook message to let them know you are thinking of them. But this? This does F**K ALL.”
“I’m not trying to diminish what people do when they enter a fun race or donate to one of the big charities, but most survivors I speak to are opposed to what we call the ‘Pinkification’ of cancer,” said Rebecca, who decided to post a photo of her breasts online to show what cancer really looks like. “I’m trying to show what cancer actually did to my body. It’s not the same when it comes from flawless young women with perfect breasts and faces taking selfies.”
“This selfie here is awareness of what cancer does to your body. You can see the result of one successful, and one botched mastectomy and revision. You can’t see the effect chemo has had on my immune system, my hands and feet, or my memory. You can’t see the psychological effects cancer has had on me or my children (who might also have the gene). You can’t see the scars from my oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) either. You can see my bitchin’ eyebrows, but they’re tattoos; chemo stole my real ones,” She explained.
“Everyone is aware of cancer. All this “campaign” does is antagonise many people who have cancer and who need actual help, not a selfie. Someone cunningly decided to start a viral Facebook campaign to achieve precisely nothing, and they USED cancer in their attempt to go viral. That’s SICK and TWISTED.”
Were you aware of how insulting cancer awareness selfie campaigns were to those fighting cancer and survivors? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook to spread awareness.
[Featured image: Facebook/Rebecca Wilkinson]
Cancer Survivor Slams Narcissistic ‘Cancer Awareness’ Selfies is an article from: LifeDaily