I couldn't agree with you more Patty.

The devastation that OC can have on our lives and in its aftermath is life changing and a difficult challenge we have to face every single day. For many of us the simple things in life like no longer speaking clearly and eating a normal meal have now become something we have to struggle with daily, and in some cases now only a dream.

And for those who have had OC and have had to have a trache to breath with know only to well how painful this disease is.

Whatever impact OC has had on us, greater awareness of this beast is overdue.

Karen

I persoanlly love the OC bracelet idea. I get Malka and Brian's point. However, I want people to say "what is that for?" Susan Lauria and I both have one from SPOHNC it stands for Support People with Oral, Head, Neck Cancer. It is maroon and cream. I just bought them because I wanted one. Susan told me about hers when we were discussing bracelets.

The only way we will get it recognized is to just keep telling enough people and letting them see what we go thru. I put brochures and phamplets in Hospital waiting rooms, Dr offices and anywhere I can think of. I have to get more of them from Brian because I am hitting 2 different Hospitals for this anneurysm work.

Please just email Brittany at the OCF office and she will see that you get anything that you need. mcginley at oralcancerfoundation.org

While I believe that the red creme red ribbon may make some of you feel good, no one has a clue what it means. there are over 2700 registered ribbon colors.... who is going to remember more than pink and red ( breast and AIDS)? Remember also that there are so few of us, as our incidence rate is low, and our death rate is high. 300 million people in the US and a few thousand wear an oral cancer ribbon... NOT going to change the world. Malka is right there are better ways to do this. You you want to wear something to attract attention, the button that I wear always gets questions as does my t shirt. Anyone who would like an OCF medallion button (not in the store but that we give to donors) just ask. That one works when I wear my suit for getting attention, but the ones with sayings on them get more questions, which is of course what they were deg]signed to do, since the saying is open ended. I have worm my LiveSTRONG bracelet ever since Lance gave it to me at a cancer conference in 2002. It means something to ALL cancer survivors. It is a statement about how you should approach each day. When I am not feeling good, or positive about where things are going, the message is a readily available and meaningful reminder to me to take the most away from each day, each opportunity, each encounter. We have had the opportunity to do the bracelets since Lance gave me the Chinese manufacturer info. But its a me too thing. There are zillions out the green for our troops purple for prostate, other rainbow ones for gay pride, etc... the list is limitless, and at the end of the day they (except for the yellow one), don't get lots of attention. A ribbon color out of several thousand options does also not bring much attention, and it doesn't go with my daily jeans and t shirt that well. It's a lapel kinda thing. There are better things to do if you are motivated.

I wear my bracelet for ME and for Robin.I carry my fight in the dog bag everywhere i go and my pin is on my bag all the time.My car carries a hospice sticker,and an ocf sticker,and a macmillan sticker.Like them or not ,feel they are useful or not,i believe in them and to me thats all that matters.

And your right. If it matters to you, you should be doing it. My post was not an observation on what others are doing, but a comment on why OCF is not investing any donated money into pursuing this. Cookey, creates awareness and spreads information everywhere she goes, with or without stickers and goodies. She's that kind of lady.

Central IL is getting a big dose of pamphlets, brochures and information also Jim. We will have the midwest covered. LOL

Everyone is very receptive to the information, but most have said that they did not know of the Foundation or the website. I intend to change that.

Patty

Liz...that is a good point. Well spoken as always. You always have great words of wisdom:)