# Ottawa cancer foundation's bid for publicity places cancer patients at risk **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964 "2013-01-31T22:04:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/1 "2013-01-31T22:04:55Z")
In a really dumb move, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has decided to invite Jenny McCarthy as the the celebrity spokesperson for its “Bust a Move for Breast Health” [cancer fundraising](http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Great+cause+poor+choice/7889610/story.html) [event](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2013/01/31/well-take-the-money-you-can-bring-us-even-if-youre-antivaccine/) in March. \*"Bernice Rachkowski, chair of the event, said McCarthy was not chosen for her (antivaccination) views. “We chose her because she’s funny, she’s very much a people person, she’s vivacious and full of life. That’s what we look for in a celebrity,” Rachkowski said.\* Brilliant - except that discouraging people from getting themselves and their kids immunized places cancer patients in danger (those receiving immunosuppressive treatments to treat their cancer are at much greater risk of contracting serious or fatal infectious diseases from the unvaccinated). [There is a campaign](http://action.centerforinquiry.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=35521.0) to convince the foundation to change its mind and disinvite Ms. McCarthy. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/2 "2013-01-31T23:23:58Z")
I’m also a tad confused about why a breast cancer charity would invite her except perhaps to say ‘she still has **her** breasts, and you’ve probably seen them!’ ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/3 "2013-01-31T23:31:02Z")
Not to mention that the HPV vaccination _prevents_ cervical, penile, and some forms of mouth and throat cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/4 "2013-02-01T00:16:12Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Not to mention that the HPV vaccination _prevents_ cervical, penile, and some forms of mouth and throat cancer. Don’t mention that! The cancer foundation might decide to cancel Jenny McCarthy and invite [Michele Bachmann](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/media-fails-the-public-by-allowing-michele-bachmann-to-spread-hpv-vaccine-misinformation/) instead. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/5 "2013-02-01T00:22:12Z")
If they wanted a celebrity, Christina Applegate would be perfect. You know, a breast cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/6 "2013-02-01T22:43:18Z")
Well, here’s some good news on this! > **[Jenny McCarthy Dumped from Bust A Move Ottawa event](https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/jenny-mccarthy-dumped-from-bust-a-move-ottawa-event-1.1139494)** > > Actress Jenny McCarthy has been dumped again. McCarthy won't be in Ottawa for Bust A Move. She’s out! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/7 "2013-02-01T23:18:52Z")
Good! ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/8 "2013-02-01T23:23:30Z")
Glad that she’s out. Maybe it will teach her something about expressing such dangerously stupid opinions (not that I expect it will) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/9 "2013-02-01T23:42:33Z")
There seems to be a little, um, [disparity](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/02/01/ottawa-fundraiser-drops-jenny-mccarthy.html) between what the cancer foundation is saying and what McCarthy claims about her non-appearance: \*"The Ottawa Cancer Foundation has reversed its decision to hire actress and model Jenny McCarthy to headline its one-day fitness fundraiser Bust A Move. In a statement released late Friday afternoon, the foundation said McCarthy would be replaced by Canadian celebrity fitness instructor Tommy Europe… On her Twitter feed Friday afternoon, McCarthy blamed the cancellation of her appearance on scheduling conflicts: “So, so sorry Ottawa! I had to pull out of (the) event because of my new show taping conflict but will be back in a few months to make up for it!”\* I suppose it is highly possible that after protests broke out about her impending appearance, Jenny suddenly discovered a scheduling conflict would make it impossible for her to show up. :dubious:😃 Not sure what’s more hilarious, that excuse or the comment on **Horatio** ’s link by an outraged McCarthy supporter who blames her ouster on “males trolling for Big Pharma”. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-cancer-foundations-bid-for-publicity-places-cancer-patients-at-risk/648964/10 "2013-02-02T20:40:53Z")
Aren’t there any funny, vivacious, full of life, people-person celebrities who aren’t anti-vaccine?