Editor's Note: 7NEWS Meteorologist Pam Daale is grateful to all of the viewers who have expressed their best wishes as she wages her fight against breast cancer.

Daale has chosen to use TheDenverChannel.com as her way of keeping the public updated on her health. New journal entries will be posted weekly.

BREAST CANCER See Pam's Story Her Struggle From Her Husband's Perspective Pam's Last Chemo Treatment E-Mail Pam Spread Word Survival Stories Myths and Facts Cancer Quiz Risk Factors SELF-EXAM How To Do It Diagrams How Do You Check? How Often? ARTICLES: Fitness Center For Patients WEB RESOURCES: Susan. G. Komen Foundation National Alliance Of Breast Cancer Organizations Breast Cancer Info National Breast Cancer Organization National Breast Cancer Coalition

I've got a bone to pick with advertising agencies. Is there anyone else out there who is as sick of advertisers using "sex appeal" in ads as I am? T

he recent negative TV campaign ads drove me crazy, but it was a nice break from the seductively-clad, "perfect-bodied" women parading in commercials for underwear. Of course, we didn't completely get away from those ads, especially since you can see them on billboards all over the city too.

The one that most makes me grind my teeth is for a popular beer brewer. It celebrates twins. If you know what I'm talking about, it doesn't show cute little babies in their bassinets!

Now, I'm not a beer drinker. But when I saw that ad, I said to myself that if I were, I WOULD NOT drink that beer. I am SO SICK of companies using superficial beauty to promote their products. Our entire culture, including our children, is bombarded by the message that outer beauty is where it's at.

And lest I rant too long on this subject (if this was a typewriter, I'd have punched holes through the paper by now!), I'll get to what this has to do with breast cancer.

Here I am. I have no hair. And because of my positive test for the BRCA1 gene, in a few months I'll be having my breasts removed to prevent a cancer recurrence. I will be without the two symbols that are so often used in those sexist commercials!

But let me stop here and say that I've never bought into the LIES of the commercials. What you see is NOT what you get. The person that God has made me is in my heart and in my head. You have to talk to me (or anyone!) to find out what I'm really like, what I'm made of.

My hair, my figure (or lack thereof!),are totally incidental. And they certainly don't guarantee what kind of life I live! Now I'm not knocking the beautiful women that advertise the underwear. No doubt there are some truly nice women in that group. But looks are very secondary. That's why the surgical choices I've made were fairly easy for me.

No, I don't like the idea of being sliced up, but that's because I have a hard time with the immobility afterward. But if removing the symbols of my femininity reduces my chance of getting cancer in that location by over 60 percent, I'll do it in a heartbeat!

Contrast that to stories I've heard of women who refuse to give up their "symbols", even though it means a higher risk of the spread of their cancer, or even death. It may not be as drastic as "keep your boobs, lose your life", but in essence, that is the risk that some young women are taking.

Have we been so programmed that we think sex appeal is more important than our very lives?!

Don't buy into the "looks" theme that is so hyped in every type of media. And don't you think there have got to be other ways to sell underwear? C'mon advertising agencies. Let's get creative. I know I'm not the only woman who's tired of sex as the sales agent.

Okay, so I've been needing to get that off my chest (no pun intended!). I guess I should get off my soapbox and prepare for my next chemo. Tuesday (19th) will be my last Adriamycin/Cytoxin cocktail, and the first time I get to use my port. Before my last chemo I was feeling a little anxious, but today I'm not anxious at all. I know I won't have to experience pain as my veins play hide-and-go-seek.

And I've felt pretty good over the last 4 weeks since my last treatment. In fact, I've felt very good! Fatigue has been setting in a little more than before, but I have a feeling that's tied to the fact that I didn't exercise for about 2 months. I've gotten back into the exercise routine, and I'm hoping that will relieve some of the tiredness.

So as the steam from my ears evaporates in the room around me, let me add one more thing. I'm not a good idea person. If anyone reading this has any ideas on how we can combat sex in advertising, I'd love to hear them.

Until next time...keep getting to know your breasts!

Pam Daale
The Happy Cancer Patient