I realize that Breast Cancer (or any type of cancer for that matter) and IBD are two totally and completely different illnesses in the world. And before I go any further I would like to state that I am not downplaying Breast Cancer. My Aunt had Breast Cancer. I watched her go through chemo and radiation. I reluctantly helped pull out tufts of her hair. I watched her puke and have more life drain out of her everyday. I know. Cancer is horrible. I get it. I have lived it.
That being said I believe that Crohn's Disease is never going to be as publicized as Breast Cancer.
It's not anyone's fault. Crohn's Disease is a very internal thing. You don't loose all of your hair. You don't have to go through a rigorous chemo and radiation schedule. Some people don't have to have a "major body changing surgery". This is the attitude.
What some people don't understand is that yes, a lot of CD patients do have to go through these things. And they don't end. Yes our hair falls out, but slowly so you can't tell because we change up our hairstyle. No we don't have to go through chemo but we do have to get Remicade. And guess what? It doesn't end as chemo does. And yes we do have surgeries. And while you may no longer have boobs we now poo through our stomach into a bag. It's not fun.
So I guess the major difference is....
Breast Cancer is a "short term/intense battle" that either ends in death or remission. And in five years the majority of patients know wether or not they need to worry.
Crohn's Disease is a "long term/marathon" endurance that is unpredictable and never ending. After five years chances are patients have been in and out of the hospital(numerous times) and are still not better. We can never let our guard down.
And that my friend is why purple will never be as pink....
*I PLEDGE THAT EVERY DAY IN OCTOBER (BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH) I WILL POST A FACT ABOUT CROHN'S DISEASE TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CD*
1.Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the World.
