Issue #20, Spring 2000

Stop the Epidemic is the official newsletter of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.

• Massachusetts Highest in the Nation for Incidence of Breast Cancer
  According to American Cancer Society statistics released in January, Massachusetts is the state with the highest incidence of breast cancer in the country, and is within the top 5 states for highest mortality.
  
  
• Call to Action!
  One of the primary missions of the MBCC is legislative advocacy. Thanks to the activism and involvement of our supporters, we have had an extensive impact on breast cancer research legislation enacted locally and nationally since the inception of the organization in 1991.
  
  
• National Breast Cancer Coalition Launches Priorities for 106 Congress - 2nd Session
  It's been eight years since Massachusetts women first joined members of the National Breast Cancer Coalition in walking the "Halls of Congress" chanting the mantra - "$300 million more" for breast cancer research. It was the first time women from across the country...
  
  
• STAMP OUT WASTED FUNDING!
  Breast Cancer Stamp Controversy
  
  
• Campaign Vote Breast Cancer
  NBCC officially launched its new initiative, "Campaign Vote Breast Cancer" (CVBC), in November, 1999 with a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. With this campaign, NBCC hopes to raise awareness in the general public that breast cancer is a political issue and that elected officials make decisions every day that impact research, access to care, quality of care and the search for a cure.
  
  
• Genetic Privacy Remains Unprotected in Massachusetts
  Massachusetts continues to fall behind the rest of the country in addressing the issue of genetic information privacy.
  
  
• Reception Held in Honor of Cathy Freedberg
  Cathy Freedberg began the new year with a well deserved hiatus from her position as Program Coordinator at the MBCC. There is no more energetic an advocate of the mission of the MBCC than Cathy, who started working with the organization in 1993.
  
  
• MBCC Board of Directors in Action
  Ellen Parker and Amy Present attended a legislative breakfast meeting with Senate President Thomas Birmingham in early March at which they reiterated the critical need to maintain research funding for investigation into causes of breast cancer as the Massachusetts legislature begins its arduous budget process for FY2001.
  
  
• MBCC Welcomes new Co-Directors
  On January 3rd, Deborah Forter and Deborah Hochanadel stepped into their roles as Co-Directors of the MBCC.
  
  
• SPECIAL EVENTS TO HONOR MBCC
  The participants at the 7th Annual Giraffe Invitational Golf Tournament teed up last September to once again benefit the MBCC.
  
  
• Silent Spring Institute Continues Research
  Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study. Currently, Institute researchers are focused on developing and applying three new research methods: (1) interviewing women about their use of certain kinds of commercial products that aren't usually included in breast cancer research, (2) linking information from women's interviews with geographic information system (GIS) maps that indicate areas more likely to be exposed to pesticides or drinking water contaminants, and (3) innovative testing of household air and dust for chemicals that may affect breast cancer.
  
  
• JUST WHAT IS AVON CALLING FOR?
  The Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, coming in June to our state, is expected to raise more than eight million dollars from Massachusetts donors.
  
  
• THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE PROJECT ENTERS ITS SECOND YEAR
  The John Merck Fund has once again given the Precautionary Principle Project a grant of $150,000, with the promise of an additional $50,000 "challenge grant." The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Clean Water Fund, and Lowell Center for Sustainable Production are all working to meet the $50,000 challenge. Every dollar counts, as the project gears up to work on developing action strategies in Year Two.
  
  
• Estrogen-Progestin Therapy May Increase Breast Cancer Risk by More than Estrogen Alone
  HRT may seem to offer one-stop shopping for postmenopausal risk reduction, but at a price - an increased chance of developing breast cancer.