The Breast Cancer Fund is the leading national organization focused on identifying and eliminating the environmental - and preventable - causes of the disease. Through public education, policy initiatives, outdoor challenges and other innovative campaigns, the Breast Cancer Fund mobilizes the public to secure the changes needed to stop this devastating epidemic. www.breastcancerfund.org

Why Focus on Prevention of the Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, excluding cancers of the skin. Breast cancer accounts for one of every three cancer diagnoses in women.

Today, a U.S. woman's lifetime risk for breast cancer is 1 in 8. In 2006, an estimated 213,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 41,000 will die of the disease in the United States. It is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women aged 35 to 44.

Fewer than 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic. When all known risk factors and characteristics are added together, including family history, genetics, smoking and obesity, more than 50 percent of breast cancer cases remain unexplained.

State of the Evidence Report

BCF educates the public on the environmental links to breast cancer through reports, fact sheets and other research materials including helping to produce State of the Evidence 2006- What Is the Connection Between the Environment and Breast Cancer?, a report which reviews and analyzes nearly 350 journal-published scientific studies on environmental links to breast cancer.

Key Findings:

Over 100,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use today in the United States, with an additional 1,000 new chemicals added each year, yet less than 10 percent of these chemicals have been tested for their effects on human health. Large numbers of these chemicals are found in products we come into contact with every day and compelling scientific evidence points to these chemicals as contributing to the development of breast cancer, either by altering hormone function or gene expression

Many toxic chemicals are now credibly linked to serious chronic diseases including breast cancer. Furthermore, new science demonstrates that even very small amounts of some chemicals can have adverse health effects, particularly in pregnant mothers, infants and small children.

Advocacy

The Breast Cancer Fund advocates for environmental health policies that place the public's health first including efforts to secure the institutional changes and legislative reforms to help end breast cancer.

California State Legislation:

Biomonitoring: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1379 on September 29, 2006 creating a statewide program to monitor the pollution in people, a process called “biomonitoring.” This landmark program helps doctors and scientists better understand the relationship between chemical exposures and high rates of breast cancer and other diseases. Biomonitoring, or “body burden,” studies, are scientific tools that detect the presence of chemicals in the body. The American federal government has been conducting biomonitoring studies since 2001 and has encouraged states to develop their own programs. California is the first US State to enact a biomonitoring program. The data produced through biomonitoring can:

*Support efforts to improve public health by indicating trends in chemical exposures.

*Identify highly exposed communities.

*Assess the effectiveness of current regulations and set priorities for legislative and regulatory action.

Cosmetics Safety Act: In an advance for the safety of cosmetics products, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 484, the Cosmetics Safety Act of 2005, bringing additional scrutiny to an industry accustomed to only minimal oversight. The chemical and cosmetic industries both vigorously opposed the bill.

Radiation Safety Bill: The governor also signed in 2005 the Radiation Safety Bill, AB 929, establishing quality and testing standards to make sure that patients receive the lowest possible dose of radiation without compromising image quality. Currently, X-ray equipment is only tested once every four to six years and may over expose patients to ionizing radiation, a known breast carcinogen.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: The Breast Cancer Fund is one of the founding members of The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a group that protects public health by calling on the cosmetics industry to phase out chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation or reproductive harm. After countless protests and a successful Miss Treatment ad campaign, in August 2006, OPI Products, Orly International and Del Laboratories (makers of Sally Hansen) agreed to remove dibutyl phthalate (DBP) – a chemical known to cause cancer- from their products. Since the Campaign’s inception, 425 companies have agreed to remove cancer causing chemicals from their products. For more info Safecosmetics.org

Precautionary Principle: Seeking to prevent harm before it happens, the City of San Francisco passed a groundbreaking Precautionary Principle Purchasing ordinance, which requires the city to weigh the environmental and health costs of its $600 million in annual purchases – for everything from cleaning supplies to computers. The Breast Cancer Fund, as part of the Bay Area Working Group on the Precautionary Principle, helped bring this to fruition.

Fundraising and Events

The Breast Cancer Fund has a long tradition of organizing challenging, inspiring events to support their prevention work.

Climb Against the Odds: In its eighth year, this event features approximately 40 breast cancer survivors and supporters climbing a mountain to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer prevention. The 2007 climb is set for California’s Mt. Shasta and training begins as early as winter 2007.

Peak Hike: Complete with Safe Cosmetics Spa Expo and organic lunch, this event includes over 500 hikers on Mt. Tamalpais fundraising for breast cancer prevention.

Bike Against the Odds: Over 500 cyclists on 5 different routes ride from Lake Merritt throughout the East Bay fundraising for breast cancer prevention.

Heroes Tribute: The Breast Cancer Fund recognizes the work of those who have contributed to the organization's mission to identifying and eliminating the environmental causes of breast cancer.

For more info see Breast Cancer Fund Events

Prevention Tips

Practice Healthy Purchasing: Don’t bring toxic chemicals home from the store. Choose chlorine-free paper products to reduce dioxin, a carcinogen released when chlorinated products are incinerated. Read food labels, and choose pesticide-free, organic produce and hormone-free meats and dairy products. Replace harmful household cleaners that contain bleach with cheaper, nontoxic alternatives like baking soda, borax soap and vinegar. Look for alternatives to chemical weed and bug killers— many contain toxic chemicals that accumulate in our bodies.

Use Caution with Plastics: Some plastics leach hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates into the substances they touch. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics release carcinogens into our air and water during the production process. PVC plastics are especially dangerous in toys that children put in their mouths, so keep an eye out for nontoxic toys. Further, never put plastic or plastic wrap in the microwave, as this can release phthalates into your food and beverages.

Advocate for Clean Air: The soot and fumes released by factories, automobiles, diesel trucks and tobacco products contain chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are linked to breast cancer. Indeed, breathing these compounds from secondhand tobacco smoke may increase your risk for breast cancer more than active smoking. Stay away from secondhand smoke, and advocate for stronger clean air protections.

Avoid Unnecessary Radiation: Ionizing radiation is a known cause of breast cancer. Radiation damage to genes is cumulative over a lifetime—thus many low doses may have the same effect as a single high dose. Mammograms, other X-rays and CT scans expose you to radiation. While mammography screening may benefit postmenopausal women, mammography for women in their 30s and 40s remains controversial. Whenever you have an X-ray or scan, request a lead shield to protect the areas of your body not being X-rayed.

Explore Alternatives to Artificial Estrogens: Women who have prolonged exposure to estrogens are at higher risk for breast cancer, and major studies continue to show an increased risk when postmenopausal women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women who use both birth control pills and—later in life—HRT face an even greater risk of breast cancer than those who use neither. Explore your options with healthcare professionals.

Advocate for Safe Cosmetics: Chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects do not belong in cosmetics, period. However, some popular brands of shampoo, deodorant, face cream and other everyday products contain these dangerous chemicals. The Breast Cancer Fund demands safer products and smarter laws by letting cosmetics companies know they need a makeover. The public can join BCF in asking cosmetic companies to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to substitute chemicals linked to birth defects, infertility, cancer, brain damage and other serious health consequences with safer alternatives. For info visit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Resources

Environmental Risks and Breast Cancer-a free Vassar College interactive CD on breast cancer and the environment