Pink Ribbons, Inc.

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This October . . .
Is Awareness Enough?

Table of Contents
Author Q and A
Book Information
Excerpt

$24.95 cloth/jacket
ISBN 0-8166-4898-0

What You Should Know About Breast Cancer

· Dangerous odds. In the past 50 years, the lifetime risk of breast cancer has nearly tripled in the United States. In the 1960s, a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer was 1 in 20. In 2005, the risk was 1 in 7.[1]

· False sense of progress? Although breast cancer is becoming more and more common, most breast cancer research funding focuses on diagnosis, treatment, or finding a cure, while ignoring research into preventable causes.[2]

· Selling the disease and the cure? AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical corporation (and sponsor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), is the manufacturer of tamoxifen, the best-selling breast cancer drug. Yet until corporate reorganization in 2000, AstraZeneca was also the leading producer of the carcinogenic herbicide acetochlor, as well as numerous chlorine and petroleum-based products that have been linked to breast cancer.[3]

· More than just genetics? Having a family history of breast cancer does not mean you will get breast cancer. Only 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancer cases are explained by an inherited genetic mutation.[4]

· “Reasonably” risky? 150 chemicals, the majority of which are still in use today, have been found to cause mammary tumors in laboratory animals. The US National Toxicology Program considers such evidence as being "reasonably anticipated to be carcinogenic to humans."[5]

· Misguided priorities? 70% of people with breast cancer have none of the known risk factors. Known risk factors, such as late menopause, having children late in life, and family history, are present in only 30% of breast cancer cases.[6]

· Lopsided philanthropy? Breast cancer is not the leading cause of death in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, breast cancer will kill 40,970 women, while lung cancer will kill 72,130. Cardiovascular disease kills 480,000 women a year — more than 11 times as many women as breast cancer.[7]

[1] Breast Cancer Fund, Breast Cancer Facts 2005

[2] Silent Spring Institute, How is Silent Spring Institute different from other breast cancer organizations?

[3] King, Samantha, Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, University of Minnesota Press, 2006: pp. xxi

[4] Breast Cancer Action, Top 10 Breast Cancer Myths Debunked

[5] Breast Cancer Fund, Key Facts on Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer

[6] Breast Cancer Action, What You Should Know About Breast Cancer Risk

[7] American Cancer Society, What Are the Key Statistics for Breast Cancer?, American Cancer Society, What Are the Key Statistics for Lung Cancer?, American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2006 Update: At-a-Glance

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This October . . . Is Awareness Enough? Table of Contents Author Q and A Book Information Excerpt		$24.95 cloth/jacket ISBN 0-8166-4898-0
What You Should Know About Breast Cancer · Dangerous odds. In the past 50 years, the lifetime risk of breast cancer has nearly tripled in the United States. In the 1960s, a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer was 1 in 20. In 2005, the risk was 1 in 7.[1] · False sense of progress? Although breast cancer is becoming more and more common, most breast cancer research funding focuses on diagnosis, treatment, or finding a cure, while ignoring research into preventable causes.[2] · Selling the disease and the cure? AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical corporation (and sponsor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), is the manufacturer of tamoxifen, the best-selling breast cancer drug. Yet until corporate reorganization in 2000, AstraZeneca was also the leading producer of the carcinogenic herbicide acetochlor, as well as numerous chlorine and petroleum-based products that have been linked to breast cancer.[3] · More than just genetics? Having a family history of breast cancer does not mean you will get breast cancer. Only 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancer cases are explained by an inherited genetic mutation.[4] · “Reasonably” risky? 150 chemicals, the majority of which are still in use today, have been found to cause mammary tumors in laboratory animals. The US National Toxicology Program considers such evidence as being "reasonably anticipated to be carcinogenic to humans."[5] · Misguided priorities? 70% of people with breast cancer have none of the known risk factors. Known risk factors, such as late menopause, having children late in life, and family history, are present in only 30% of breast cancer cases.[6] · Lopsided philanthropy? Breast cancer is not the leading cause of death in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, breast cancer will kill 40,970 women, while lung cancer will kill 72,130. Cardiovascular disease kills 480,000 women a year — more than 11 times as many women as breast cancer.[7] [1] Breast Cancer Fund, Breast Cancer Facts 2005 [2] Silent Spring Institute, How is Silent Spring Institute different from other breast cancer organizations? [3] King, Samantha, Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, University of Minnesota Press, 2006: pp. xxi [4] Breast Cancer Action, Top 10 Breast Cancer Myths Debunked [5] Breast Cancer Fund, Key Facts on Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer [6] Breast Cancer Action, What You Should Know About Breast Cancer Risk [7] American Cancer Society, What Are the Key Statistics for Breast Cancer?, American Cancer Society, What Are the Key Statistics for Lung Cancer?, American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2006 Update: At-a-Glance