AARP magazine has a new piece out featuring singers Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge where the two discuss their fights against breast cancer. Most of the story is what you’d expect from a somewhat fluffy interview on a horrific subjcet, but what has people incensed on Twitter is this graphic that details how the two “beat” cancer (full-sized version here.)
.@AARP runs vomit-inducing, quackerific breast cancer item with Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge http://t.co/HzJlgprIiB pic.twitter.com/GyOfntcSJP
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) November 11, 2014
“Stress is a formula for cancer”? “I turned on my [breast cancer] gene with a poor diet”? That’s not very, you know, scientific. And many agree:
The title is "How they beat cancer". None of the text says "chemo, radiation, or a combo". Did they use magic? http://t.co/IwK036Cs5V
— Jen Keane (@zenbuffy) November 11, 2014
https://twitter.com/anaraug/status/532046955795722240
@BoingBoing @Ihnatko @AARP Plus they have lots of $$, never hurts to have for any problem..
— General Kanye_Trump. (Space Force)? (@Barack_McBush) November 11, 2014
@BoingBoing @outseide @AARP horrible ad and very destructive, blame yourself don't blame yourself WTF!!!!!!!!!
— Kathy Gori @? (@kathygori) November 11, 2014
@outseide @BoingBoing @AARP this stuff just makes me want to arrrrrgh!,, release the kraken!!
— Kathy Gori @? (@kathygori) November 11, 2014
@__oana @BoingBoing @AARP I'm sure the healthcare available to the super wealthy had absolutely nothing to do with it
— Ten Second Cynic (@TenSecondCynic) November 11, 2014
Now since Melissa Etheridge is pretty friendly with Michelle Obama and Sheryl Crow once described President Obama as “one of the most conscious people I’ve ever met,” we wonder just how much of this happy-talk science denialism is subscribed to by the most important people in the Democratic party?
More criticism:
http://t.co/xfq0TxVewX Got cancer? Try quitting gluten! Or meditating! @michellewwong "I turned my gene on with my poor diet." *eye roll*
— Chloe (@sciencechloe) November 11, 2014
FYI, bowel-looseningly, pants-crappingly stupid victimblamey breast cancer thing with Sheryl Crow and @metheridge was published in @AARP
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
@AARPMag @SherylCrow @metheridge What a slap in the face to the 150k US people living with Stage 4 breast cancer. http://t.co/3qbtu47Ujg
— Katherine OBrien (@ihatebreastcanc) November 10, 2014
And here is Boing Boing writer and breast-cancer survivor Xeni Jardin who go into a little spat with Melissa Etheridge over the article:
Hi @SherylCrow @metheridge do you have Lessons For All of Us on How To Beat #Ebola also? Thanx http://t.co/OuM8wusLPw pic.twitter.com/5qQsuvU2NV
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
@xeni @SherylCrow what's up? You mad I said taking care of myself might be good for me? I am fascinated at all of these responses.Fire away!
— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) November 11, 2014
@xeni @SherylCrow I will gladly have any discussion with you about my health beliefs anytime. Feel free to reach out. I am available.
— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) November 11, 2014
.@metheridge thank you. The AARP item is offensive because it contains non-science based woo and reflects misconception cancer is our fault.
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
.@metheridge none of us can know exactly what caused our breast cancer. AARP piece suggests patient is culpable for diagnosis.
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
.@metheridge your words suggest sugar, meat, wheat/gluten, dairy caused breast cancer or eliminating can "beat" cancer. Citation please?
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
@xeni I do believe in a healthy lifestyle. I believe my choices keep me healthy. I, in no way, judge anyone else's choice or health. Peace
— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) November 11, 2014
.@metheridge the whole alkaline diet thing is bogus and not based in science. No evidence that we cause our own breast cancer in that way.
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) November 11, 2014
And we’ll end it with this. Melissa Etheridge tells Jardin that she “never meant to come across as giving a lesson” on cancer. Except that’s how AARP titled it:
@KateAurthur @jonlovett @xeni Oops. pic.twitter.com/PD4uJZ1UzG
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) November 11, 2014
Oops, indeed.
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