The Nevada Sagebrush

Dear Breasts,

It’s me, Prostate. Look, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it.

Memo Sanchez

You see, I had an epiphany the other day, and I’ve been dying to share it with you.

I used to think I was jealous of the attention you’re receiving, and I’m not talking about your sex appeal. I have become accustomed to that; men like breasts and women have a pair, I get it.

I’m referring to Breast Cancer Awareness month. For 25 years now, you have had your cause glorified amidst a sea of unremittingly supportive fans.

Just this last season I was aghast to see so many businesses piggybacking on your cause, trumpeting it ostentatiously across America in an all-out crusade to save the boobs. All that I have seen lately is breast cancer this and pink ribbon that.

Whether or not your cause comes before their profits is questionable at best, but maybe that’s just me being bitter.

I know I have my Prostate Cancer Awareness month during September, but year after year, the blue ribbon signifying my cause is smothered by a tsunami of illustrious pink in October. All the while, I’m cast aside like that worthless Appendix, left hanging alongside Bladder, feeling as blue as my ribbons.

Don’t get me wrong, Bladder’s an amiable companion, especially when Kidney comes down to hang out. But it really isn’t until Testes shows up that we have a ball.

But I digress.

I know we’re different glands in different bodies, but we face the same enemy: uncontrolled cell growth.

With great difficulty, I was able to log on to the Center for Disease Control Web site (keyboards aren’t what you would call prostate-friendly these days) and found some alarming statistics for the both of us. In the United States in 2005 alone, there were roughly 186,000 new cases apiece of both breast cancer and prostate cancer.

When we get sick with cancer we endanger Lungs, Lymph, Kidneys, Heart and the rest of the gang. This is the cold reality that unites people behind your pink ribbon and I understand that now.

Whether it’s you, me or any of the other organs, I’ve come to realize that we’re all in this together. Your cancer is my cancer.

That being said, I want you to know I whole-heartedly support you and your crusade against cancer. Although I know some of the other organs and I may seem green with envy during times like Breast Cancer Awareness month, we’ve come to realize we’re all fighting the same battle.

Plus, I’ll be the first to admit there’s nothing sexy about a prostate (sigh).

Yours,

Prostate

Memo Sanchez would like to remind everyone that a Memo a day keeps the doctor away. Reach him at perspectives@nevadasagebrush.com.

Related Posts:

• Sixteen inches of scar tissue later
• Detect problems early to help pets fight cancer, stay alive
• Student, in remission for 20 years, volunteers to help other patients
• Faces: Student to shave her head for charity
• New bill helps seriously ill students