by Robin Turner

Teal is the color for Ovarian Cancer Awareness.  I am impressed with how teal is not merely a color for ribbons, t-shirts and accessories but has a greater meaning. T.E.A.L. is used to help women remember the potential warning signs of Ovarian Cancer, which are:

T= Too Frequent Urination
E = Eating & Feeling Full Quickly
A = Abdomen Bloating and/or Pain
L =  Loss of Appetite or Lack of Energy

With Breast Cancer Awareness month upon us, anything and everything that can be “pinked” is pink for the month of October or what I have seen referred to as “Pinktober”.  As a breast cancer survivor, I wear pink to remind myself how blessed I am to have found out extremely early my diagnosis during an annual mammogram, and also in support of other survivors, those continuing in their fight, and those who have lost their lives because of breast cancer.  And like ovarian cancer’s T.E.A.L, I want pink to be more than just a cute color to wear in October.

Truth be told, there is nothing cute about breast cancer (or any type of cancer).  It’s actually the opposite of pink.  It’s not cute, pretty or proper.  I thought – why not give P.I.N.K. a real purpose?  P.I.N.K should help women be proactive in the fight against breast cancer.  So the next time, you put on that pink ribbon, bracelet or t-shirt…tell someone what P.I.N.K. really stands for.  P.I.N.K. with Purpose!