Missteps by Komen
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest breast cancer charity in the world, having taken in over $1.9 billion since 1982, according to information on their website. Komen’s focus has been on early detection of breast cancer through increasing access to mammography. It also focuses on research on treatment of breast cancer. The one thing that Komen does not focus on is the causes of breast cancer. I feel that this is misguided. Why spend so much money on detecting and treating breast cancer, and no money on how to prevent it in the first place?
Komen has $500 million in assets, according to their latest financial statement. Of that, they spend $75 million on research, $181 million on public health education, $54 million on health screening services, and $23 million on treatment services. They spend $50 million on fundraising, and $28 million on administrative costs. These numbers are staggering.
As a board member of MBCC, I appreciate those who are dedicated to cancer detection and treatment, but it is time to put research dollars, education and advocacy into the prevention of breast cancer.
Margo Golden, President of the Board of Directors of MBCC, is living with metastatic breast cancer. She said: “I am grateful and thankful to all the dedicated men and women, past and present, in all capacities, who helped to develop treatment options, and hope that I never run out of options. I also support the common sense approach of preventing cancer before it starts. True prevention of breast cancer, I believe, is eliminating carcinogens in the environment that cause breast cancer in the first place. I feel strongly that prevention is the cure.”
While Komen is a big player in the breast cancer movement, it has been under fire lately for some missteps. One item that was in the news recently is that Komen has been suing small companies that use the term “for the cure,” for which they have the copyright. We’re talking bake sales, folks. If you use the term “for the cure” and Komen finds out, they may sue you. It just doesn’t seem right. Another thing that Komen did recently is endorse a perfume – “Promise Me” – which was determined to contain cancer-causing ingredients. Breast Cancer Action, a breast cancer advocacy group that is a partner with MBCC, called out Komen on this issue.
And this week, Komen is in the news again, this time for pulling nearly $700 thousand in funding to 19 Planned Parenthood clinics nationally, funding which is used for breast cancer screenings and education, according to the New York Times. A Komen spokeswoman said the decision is the result of a new policy that bars the charity from giving grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. Recently Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla) launched an inquiry to determine whether Planned Parenthood’s public funding was improperly spent on abortions, making Planned Parenthood ineligible for grants from Komen.
Planned Parenthood is often the only place that low income women can go for healthcare such as GYN exams, breast exams, and related services. So these cuts will naturally hurt low income women, and women of color, the most. The outrage that has been generated by this issue is amazing. Donations to Planned Parenthood have been pouring in by furious supporters. The blogosphere has been abuzz with discussion on this issue.
The MA chapter of Komen sent out a statement earlier today. It reads:
We have received a lot of messages of concern today regarding our national office’s recent decision to halt funding to Planned Parenthood and wanted to take a moment to update our local supporters. This decision was made by Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Headquarters based on new guidelines that prohibit funding to organizations that are under local, state or federal investigation. We at the Massachusetts Affiliate are not part of these overarching decisions.
At Komen MA, we address barriers to health care and our programs increase access to screening, awareness, education and treatment initiatives through a variety of grantee partners, who are chosen by an independent committee of volunteers from various backgrounds. Currently, Planned Parenthood does not receive funding from the MA Affiliate. None of the current funding from Komen MA for vital services in Massachusetts has been halted. We continue to fund programs in counties that provide the highest level of service to our community.
I am happy to hear that the MA chapter of Komen hasn’t pulled any Planned Parenthood funding, but I wish that they did more for prevention. At MBCC, my fellow board members, program staff, and I work diligently to educate the public and our legislators about chemicals in our water, soil, air, and consumer products that evidence shows are contributing to the rising rates of all cancers, and breast cancer in particular. It is essential to prioritize primary prevention research – research to find the causes of breast cancer — and action to remove the causes to prevent the disease. We also need to build alliances rather than politicize the issue, in order to create an environment to ultimately stop this epidemic.
Institute of Medicine’s “Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach”
You may have heard of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report released recently, Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach, discussing environmental impacts on breast cancer risk. The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is encouraged by the findings of the report – evidence that MBCC has long supported – recognizing the need to further research the role that environmental toxins play in breast cancer risk. MBCC calls for further emphasis on the need to forward health protective policies that remove toxic chemicals linked with breast cancer from consumer products, manufacturing and other sources of exposure.
According to the report, chemicals like benzene, 1,3-butadiene and ethylene oxide – found in some workplaces, gasoline fumes, car exhaust and tobacco smoke, have possible links to breast cancer. Additionally, the IOM prioritizes the need for further research on chemicals with hormonal activity, including perfluorinated compounds, bisphenol A, and atrazine (a pesticide) and points out that existing chemical safety research leaves out effects on breast cancer. The report also highlights the need to consider a full-range of research methods, including laboratory experimental studies, given that evidence solely derived from human studies not practical.
This report signifies an important shift in perspective within the medical community regarding primary breast cancer prevention, even though advocates have long supported such evidence. Recommendations put forth by the report include: better testing of chemicals for effects on breast cancer risk, “limit or eliminate workplace, consumer, and environmental exposures to chemicals that are plausible contributors to breast cancer risk while considering risks of substitutes,” and avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke exposures – among others.
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, and many other groups, go further to push for chemical policy reform to ensure that chemicals linked with breast cancer don’t find their way into our products, as well as greater consumer product oversight and product component labeling so that companies are more accountable for the chemicals they use. MBCC supports several policy campaigns that advocate for health protective change towards breast cancer prevention - learn more and get involved!
For a further scientific analysis of the IOM report, visit Silent Spring Institute’s website for their commentary and hear how some of their research was used to inform the report’s findings.
Holiday Festival
The 14th Annual Festival of Giving Trees is a display of beautifully decorated trees. The event opened on December 1st and will run through Sunday, December 4th.
Over 100 trees are decorated in the spirit of hope and remembrance. Some are playful, full of toys, a few with traditional Christmas messages, even some with cookies. Each tree’s decorations and the gifts beneath them are being raffled off on Sunday afternoon. This is a community-wide event to bring your family, friends, and neighbors to view some of the most uniquely decorated trees. It is obvious that a great deal of work goes into the planning and executing this event. Many thanks to the event’s chairwoman, Sue Hapgood, and the Festival’s committee members, that once again, planned a spectacular event.
Additionally, there is raffle of several items which would make great gifts for someone on your holiday gift list. As well as live entertainment by local musicians to listen to while you make your way through the displays. The volunteers are friendly and helpful and refreshments are available for purchase.
The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Silent Spring Institute and the Cancer Center at Harrington Hospital are the beneficiaries of this event. The MBCC is both honored and grateful to have been chosen again to benefit from this event.
For additional information, visit …. (http://www.sparklingtrees.com/)
Prevention Continues
We began our 31 Days Towards Breast Cancer Prevention campaign talking about the need to change the conversation during Breast Cancer Awareness Month from awareness towards action for breast cancer prevention. Why? We are all aware of breast cancer, know far too many women and men affected by the disease and spend the month of October in near
celebration of a devastating disease. Despite these awareness activities we still see rates of the disease that have doubled
over the past 40 years, and we still see women, men and their families devastated by a diagnosis. We also know that sadly, this disease is still too often deadly. We need to change the conversation about breast cancer from awareness, towards prevention – to save lives, protect the health and well-being of women and end this epidemic.
This October, we’ve seen the displays – piles of cupcakes emblazoned with the pink ribbon, a giant pink ribbon positioned in front of
store fronts, newspapers turned pink in “support”. However, where do these awareness “festivities” land us? We hear stories of women who feel haunted by their breast cancer diagnosis during October as they walk by product after product bearing the disease mascot.
They feel confused about why it is suggested that they celebrate a disease that leaves them in vulnerable health wondering if the other shoe is going to drop and when they will once again be faced with a repeat
performance. Personally, I’ve met too many women who have faced the disease who are left wondering if or when a tumor
will reappear, if their metastatic breast cancer will spread and/or if they will continue to be able to endure their caustic treatments.
The movement is overdue for a message change. Over the course of the month, we’ve discussed pink ribbon marketing, toxic products, the results of traditional breast cancer messages and actions to take towards health. All of this leads to the same vital message – we need to PREVENT this disease. We need to cut the rate of the disease back in half to start – and then keep on going! With only 5-10% of diagnoses linked with a family history and another 20% to various lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and smoking, we can make a major improvement in health by tackling the difficult question – What is CAUSING breast cancer and how do we remove those elements.
I hope that you’ve learned about prevention and ways at home and in the public realm to take action for change. Hopefully, you have shared this information with loved ones, considered support for our work or otherwise found hope in our campaign. We believe that together, we CAN take action towards prevention and that we WILL see a future without needless breast cancer diagnoses.
The month of October is coming to a close but, our work continues on. We appreciate that you are with us, contributing to our efforts of action towards prevention and look forward to our continued conversation.
Solidarity in Action and Wellness,
Erin
Cleaning with Bubbles?
Scrub your dishes clean with products that don’t contain endocrine disrupting fragrances by trading your petroleum based soap for a castile, glycerine-based, or other naturally derived liquid soap. In fact, did you know that “bubbles” are added to most cleaning products as an aesthetic feature, they don’t actually help you clean better but, make you think that your products is cleaning better.
You can check the safety of the products you regularly use by checking out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website on preferable product information at www.epa.gov/epp/tools/database.htm.
