Tickle Me Black

Thanks to Al at Black is the New Pink , I learned just the other day that November is the official awareness month for both lung and pancreatic cancer. That’s right, two of the five biggest cancer killers have to share an awareness month, which just can’t help but dilute the message. And among the five most common and deadliest cancers (lung, colon, breast, pancreas, prostate), lung and pancreatic cancer are relative losers in receiving National Cancer Institute funding per new case and per patient death. My best guess is that lung and pancreatic cancer are losing the federal funding race because both are so deadly; and sadly, there just aren’t legions of healthy lung and pancreatic cancer survivors out there who are able to form a loud and effective advocacy group for a more level playing field in cancer funding. So maybe the rest of us at The Hotel Carcinoma ought to climb out of our silos this month and speak out on behalf of lung and pancreatic cancers’ victims?

I look forward to the day when the cancer funding game ceases to be a popularity contest. And when that day comes, I’ll be ‘tickled black’.

And, thanks to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, there’s a song for that: “Don’t Do Me Like That”…



I was talking with a friend of mine, said some donors had hurt his pride.
Told him that they loved pink so and turned around and let him go.
Then he said, "You better watch your step, or you’re gonna get C
yourself.
Some doc’s gonna tell no lies, cut you down to size."
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
What if we fund all cancers?
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
Someday we might cure you cancer.
Please tickle me black.
Listen donors, can’t you see? Cancer, we should bury thee
If they were in the public eye, gettin' some more bucks to fight.
And you know you better watch your step or you're gonna get C
yourself.
Some doc’s gonna tell no lies, cut you down to size.
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
What if we fund all cancers?
Please, please, please, please...
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
What if we fund all cancers?
Please tickle me black.
'Cause somewhere deep down inside
Someone is saying, "Life doesn't last that long."
I got this feelin' inside night and day
And now I can't take it no more.
Listen donors, can’t you see? Cancer, we could bury thee
If they were in the public eye, gettin' some more bucks to fight.
And you know you better watch your step or you're gonna get C
yourself.
Some doc’s gonna tell no lies, cut you down to size.
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
What if we fund all cancers?
Please, please, please, please...
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
We just might cure you cancer.
Please tickle me black.
Wait!
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
Cancer, cancer, cancer,
Please, please, please...
Yes!
Please tickle me black.
Please tickle me black.
Cancer, cancer, cancer...
Oh, oh, oh...