From Education to Action: Stand with MBCC to Prevent Breast Cancer – End of Year Appeal from Dr. Barbara Malkas, MBCC Board President

Dear Supporters,

I began my teaching career as a middle and high school science educator. It was an exciting time to enter into science education as the focus shifted from the acquisition of knowledge for top performing students to scientific literacy for all students. This shift was promoted as necessary for graduating students to be well-informed of the issues impacting the environment and to become active global citizens in understanding the connection between the environment and human progress. Now, after over 36 years as an educator in various roles, I find that the various topics that I used to teach my students as possible outcomes are becoming a reality. 

After my diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in 2015, I became even more concerned about the impact of my environment on my own health, the health of my family, and the community’s health. When I was introduced to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC), I knew that I had found an important organization dedicated to the very things that I believed in, specifically, prevention of future diagnosis of breast cancer due to environmental causes through education, research, and legislative advocacy.

With 1 in 8 women, and 1 in 726 men, receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, the impact on our families, communities, and healthcare system is significant. Many people assume that once surgery and treatment are done that you are “cured”, but cancer survivors know that this diagnosis changes everything about your ongoing health care for the rest of your life. There is no cure, but prevention can make sure that we are not seeing the trauma of a cancer diagnosis for our future generations.

I am very proud to be associated with MBCC, specifically for the work on Let’s Talk Prevention educational resources and providing curricular materials at no cost to schools. These curriculum modules are readily available and take the cutting edge research and legislative needs for our state and make them transparent. That is a contribution to our democratic society as a whole..

As I facilitate webinars for scientists studying the impact of PFAS in water, the chemical composition of products that disproportionately impact women of color, or understanding the pathology of different types of tumors, I am reminded that the scope of this work is far reaching and systemic. The work of MBCC is at the intersection of how we view women’s health care issues, access to high quality medical care, and the treatment of the environment. It is, in fact, an issue of equity and education is the foundation on which research advocacy and legislative change can occur.

None of this work can happen without your support. With MBCC, you can be assured that your donation is going to activities that promote the prevention of breast cancer. Please make a contribution to be a part of the mission to prevent future diagnosis.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Pictured from left to right: The Late Margo Simon Golden (former MBCC Board President), Cheryl Osimo (MBCC Executive Director), Barbara Malkas, Ed.D. (MBCC Board President), and Hannah Rockwood (MBCC Volunteer) at the 2016 Hopkinton Against the Tide event.