One thing I appreciate about the blogosphere is that when a topic stirs people up, a passionate discussion often follows. This week the hot topic was a certain Pancreatic Cancer Action ad. Most of you know the one I’m talking about. Basically, a couple of people in the ad were stating that they wished they had a different cancer (such as breast or testicular) other than pancreatic because the survival stats for pancreatic are so dismal.
Many others have written about this topic, but I decided to add a couple of my thoughts as well, and I hope no one is offended by them. Heaven knows we don’t need more people feeling offended.
First of all, the ad was intentionally created in this controversial manner to stir things up. The ad’s whole purpose was to generate discussion and awareness about pancreatic cancer by making it an emotionally charged shock ad. In this, I would say it was a huge success.
The question is, did the ad creators go to far?
Was some kind of line crossed?
Many of my blogging buddies were deeply offended by this ad, especially those in the metastatic breast cancer community. I totally understand why they were. I do. My memories of my mother’s intense suffering with mbc are very fresh in my mind and always will be. I know and care about others grappling with metastatic disease as well. And of course, any kind of cancer has the potential to metastasize. There is no good cancer. But for some reason I wasn’t that riled up about the ad. I’m not even really sure why I wasn’t. This doesn’t mean I approve of it. Maybe it just means I was not surprised by it.
Was the ad insensitive?
Yes, it was.
Was the ad effective?
Yes, it was.
Lots of people are talking about it aren’t they? Again, this was the whole point of the ad in the first place.
Does the end justify the means?
Some on the “pancreatic cancer side” might say yes. In fact, here’s an article/video saying, “No cancer advert that saves a single life can be accused of going too far”.
Many on the “breast cancer side” say no.
Creating a hierarchy of suffering, or specifically in this case of cancer suffering, seems divisive, counter-productive, insensitive and possibly dangerous. Having said this, I do understand the desperation, at least somewhat, that the ad creators perhaps felt and why they resorted to a shock ad. Those who are dealing with pancreatic cancer often feel more than a bit desperate about many things. Does this make it a good tactic? No. Does it make a a smart one? Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.
In the end, the ad’s effect on me was mostly to make me sad.
Cancer is not a competition; but yet when you think about it, as far as research dollars go maybe it is.
How are research dollars divied up? I have no idea, but I imagine there’s competition involved based on various facts and figures. Perhaps this should be the real focus; perhaps the real question should be why isn’t there more collaboration?
Because we need unity in Cancerland.
We need more research across the board in Cancerland.
We do also need to “raise up” awareness of the lesser spotlighted and lesser funded cancers too, including pancreatic.
There has been a lot of backlash to this ad. I’m wondering if the bulk of it is coming from the breast cancer community. I hope not.
Because if it is, then our status of the “cancer that gets all the attention”; or even the “bully” of cancers, will be re-enforced for some.
And that would be really sad too.
Ads like this one do indeed step on toes, but we must be mindful of whose toes we have stepped on as well.
Perhaps the lesson in this controversy is that we ALL should do better.
In fact, we must.
If you saw this ad, were you offended by it?
Does the end ever justify the means?
Do you have any ideas to encourage more unity in cancer research efforts or fund-raising?
Susan Zager
Friday 14th of February 2014
Nancy you really bring out so many sides to this ad. And yes the survival rate of of pancreatic cancer is only 3% which is very sad. My dad died 10 days from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer yet in some ways I was glad that he didn't suffer very long as he only felt a little more tired and wasn't sure what was wrong the last six months of his life. What is so difficult is that there are so many more cases of breast cancer so when I look at the death rates in the UK I discovered there are 22 deaths a day from pancreatic cancer and 32 deaths a day from breast cancer in the UK. I think that Cancer Curmudgeon brought out some very thought provoking ideas about pink culture and how that plays in to this whole issue. But I really wish the the PCA would come up with another ad that shows they listened to those in the breast cancer community who were upset and realize that there is no good cancer and we all need to be united on this one.
Nancy
Monday 17th of February 2014
Susan, Your perspectives are from such a personal experience then, and gosh your dad dying 10 days after diagnosis, that's incredible. I'm so sorry. I thought Cancer Curmudgeon brought out some excellent points, too, and I certainly think the ad is questionable, but at the same time I understand the tactic. Thanks for reading and commenting, Susan. Hope you're feeling better...
Claudia Schmidt
Thursday 13th of February 2014
I thought the ad was in horrifically bad taste and very insensitive. I understand that they want to bring focus and awareness (and funding) to their own cause but there are better ways to do that. NO cancer is a "good" type of cancer, there's no need to minimize one type for another, that serves no purpose in my mind.
Nancy
Friday 14th of February 2014
Claudia, You aren't alone in how you feel about the ad. I read somewhere that it was deemed successful because it had gone global and there was lots of discussion going on now about pancreatic cancer. It certainly is a questionable ad, that's for sure. Thanks for adding your thoughts on this.
LaVonne
Thursday 13th of February 2014
I have pancreatic cancer and is stage 4 when I first heard I had it back in oct I was shocked how little we really know about it But this ad just made me mad There is NO ood kind of cancer it is nasty mean and evil It may have gotten their point across but so wrong wrong
Nancy
Thursday 13th of February 2014
LaVonne, I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this one. As a pancreatic cancer patient, your vantage point is certainly an important one in this discussion. Thank you.
Elizabeth J.
Sunday 9th of February 2014
It is not right to pit one disease against another. All cancer is bad and unpredictable. One friend was left a widow only weeks after her husband's pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Another friend, who had pancreatic cancer a year before my inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis, and who is doing great, actually told me she is thankful not to be me as my treatments seem never-ending and her life has returned to normal. (Of course, only God knows how either of us will be doing 5 or 10 years from now.) As my oncologist says, "you are not a statistic." I really do wonder, since this ad was in the UK, how it would go over if instead of wishing they had a different cancer, it was "I wish I was in Canada or the US." Survival rates for pancreatic cancer are still not good, but US and Canada they are double what they are in UK. All cancers need more research, better detection, better treatments, and most of all, cures!
Nancy
Sunday 9th of February 2014
Elizabeth, I didn't know that about survival rates in the UK. I can't imagine that the people in the ad wish they were somewhere else. I do think sometimes people with other cancers have the impression that bc isn't that bad. I also know there is even resentment about the attention given to and the dollars designated for breast cancer. Again, this is partly due to the pinking of breast cancer. The reality is, however, that only about 5% of dollars are ever designated for metastatic research of any kind... This is what needs to be addressed IMO. More collaboration. More research. And more research specifically for better understanding metastatic cancers period. Thanks for reading and for sharing your insights.
eileen@womaninthehat.com
Sunday 9th of February 2014
I understand that the ad packed a punch, but it was not well thought out, reeks of the ignorance that is pink washing, and has flat-out stepped over a line that shouldn't be crossed -- offending a specific group of people for the sake of advertising and fundraising.
Nancy
Sunday 9th of February 2014
Eileen, The end does not justify the means. It sort of comes down to that. Thanks for letting us know your thoughts on this.