One of the worst things you can hear a doctor utter is: “Oops!” And that word is exactly what a Tampa area hospital was trying to keep at bay when administration decided to stick adhesive over patients’ Livestrong wristbands in order to avoid having them mistaken as a certain other yellow bracelet. In particular, the hospital’s "Do Not Resuscitate" bracelet.

The next time you find yourself moaning about a paper cut, a runny nose, or a toothache, before you pick up the phone to let your boss know that you just can’t make it in, take a quick look at your wrist. If you are like millions of people worldwide, chances are good you have – at one time or another – sported the yellow rubber wristband claiming your commitment to Livestrong.

A simple concept endorsed by seven-time Tour De France ass-kicker, Lance Armstrong, the bracelet originated as a means to raise funds and show support for individuals living with cancer. And the yellow-jersey-donning Lance would know a thing or two about that. After his testicular cancer metastasized, appearing as golf-ball sized tumours in his brain and his lungs, Lance did more than just simply get better, he got best; beating not only cancer but every other cyclist on the world’s most challenging course.

While the much sought-after wrist adornments have been monumental when it comes to generating both cash and awareness, they have also been monumental when it comes to generating both fad and irony. A fad in that Livestrong bracelets have appeared on the wrists of A-listers to Z-listers alike, with offshoots that include every cause from canine cancers to the heart-wrenching eat more bacon.

And irony in that nothing looks as ludicrous as the Livestrong bracelet on the wrist of a fashionista puffing a smoke. To that, Lance’s response is always an understandable: “Give me my wristband back.” (While he may stop there, we’d like to throw in a: “Give Lance his wristband back, you ridiculous bonehead of a twit.” But Lance is a much nicer person than we are.)