Pink Ribbon launches Omhelzingen: a book like a warm blanket

Pink Ribbon had research firm iVOX conduct a representative survey of 1,000 Belgians in 2023 on what they think about the impact of breast cancer on those closest to them: family, partners, children, friends ... As many as three-quarters feel that breast cancer is presented too rosy. An unfortunate statement like "luckily it's only breast cancer (and not lung cancer or pancreatic cancer)," is hurtful. That people still die of breast cancer today is a new taboo, according to just over half of the respondents. You don't talk about that. The seriousness of this disease receives too little attention in the media, according to one out of two respondents. 'It is not just pink'. The heavy treatment, in many cases followed by years of follow-up treatment with hormones, have an impact on relationships and family life that should not be underestimated.

Informal caregivers have their say

The suspicion had been alive for a while at Pink Ribbon when reading the stories that designers of the new ribbon wrote out for us. All of them moving stories about the impact of breast cancer of a loved one on their lives. Partners, children and parents also end up in a rollercoaster because breast cancer does not only affect the patient. Caregivers also need hugs, support. From this grew the idea for a book.

The book Omhelzingen van Pink Ribbon, will be launched this month, in Dutch and French. The book collected moving testimonies of partners, parents and children of breast cancer patients. They tell very sincerely how they experienced the disease, how their relationship survived, what they struggled with and what helped them. They do this for you, for people who are also confronted with breast cancer in their environment. In addition to the witnesses, this book features as many experts. People who in their daily practice, as a doctor, therapist, sexologist, ... see the suffering that breast cancer causes to patients and their loved ones. Suffering that too often remains underexposed. They supplement the stories of the witnesses.

Omhelzingen is a book published by the non-profit organization Pink Ribbon. Buy it now through our webshop. Available in Dutch and French.