Breast Cancer Action turns 20 this year!
Save the Date! October 7, 2010
The City Club, San Francisco, CA
6 pm Sponsor Reception
7 pm Main Celebration
Tell Eli Lilly to stop Milking Cancer!
Last year, Breast Cancer Action challenged the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to stop manufacturing the cancer-linked hormone rBGH. This year we’re looking for 6,220 outraged and bold people – that’s one person for every day that rBGH (also known as rBST) has been on the market – to stand up to Eli Lilly with us by Sept. 24. Eli Lilly is the sole worldwide manufacturer and distributor of rBGH, a dairy hormone that may increase your risk of breast cancer. They also manufacture a drug claiming to “prevent” breast cancer. Completing the perfect breast cancer profit cycle, Eli Lilly makes drugs like Gemzar that treat breast cancer. We are committed to getting Eli Lilly to stop Milking Cancer. Stand with us for women’s health—sign the petition and be one of the 6,220.
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends End to Avastin for Advanced Breast Cancer
Avastin for breast cancer – no evidence of improved overall survival, no improvement in quality of life, serious side effects, all at $50k a year. We didn't think this was an improvement for women needing treatment for breast cancer, and as of yesterday, neither does the FDA’s Advisory Committee. Although we’re in agreement with the committee’s recommendation, we’re saddened that after all this time there is still nothing helpful to offer patients when current treatments have failed. We hope the pharma industry takes this message to heart and can find treatments that truly make a difference for all in need. You can read our letter to the FDA regarding full approval of Avastin here.
Click here for BCA's commentary on the panel's recommendation.
Get your FREE "Cancer Sucks" button!
At Breast Cancer Action, we talk about breast cancer as the disease that it is - a disease that has environmental causes, a disease that kills more women of color than white women, and when it comes to device and drug approval at the FDA, a disease that is dominated by the pharmaceutical industry and not patients.
Join us. Get your FREE Cancer Sucks button now.
There's nothing about cancer that is pretty or pink or soft or fluffy. Cancer sucks and Breast Cancer Action has never pretended otherwise. It's time we all told the truth about breast cancer.
BCA Remembers Jill Gallagher
Kathleen Jill Gallagher – known as Jill to her many friends – served as the Treasurer of BCA’s board for many years, and continued to be a friend to BCA and to everyone with cancer after she left the board of directors. Tragically, Jill died of lung cancer on July 4th, 2010, a day before her 60th birthday. Her intelligence, warmth, and inclusiveness – not to mention her zany sense of humor -- will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.
The Summer issue of The Source is now online!
Check out the latest issue of BCA's newsletter, The Source!
In this issue: BCA's updated screening policy, toxic chemical reform, a look back at 20 years of breast cancer activism, and more.
Want the Source delivered to your inbox four times a year? Sign up here.
UPDATE on methyl iodide approval in California
Update: Thank you to BCA's members for being part of the 50,000 people who weighed in on California's methyl iodide decision. You were part of history, part of the largest number of people ever to submit public comment on a pesticide regulation issue. Thank you for your advocacy-- a decision is expected in the coming months and we will keep you posted on what happens.
Methyl iodide is so toxic that chemists use it to induce cancer cell growth in labs. Yet CA state regulators are about to approve the use of methyl iodide as a pesticide on strawberry fields and other crops. The verdict on methyl iodide will have national consequences. While it is currently legal in 47 states, the US Environmental Protection Agency has said that they will consider banning this toxic pesticide--depending on what California does about it.
Safe Chemicals Act Introduced in Congress
BCA signed on in support of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, which would modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The bill requires safety testing of all industrial chemicals, and shifts the burden to industry to prove that chemicals are safe in order to stay on the market.
Read more about the bill here.
Tell Congress to pass this much-needed law.
BCA in the News: The Colbert Report
Check out Stephen Colbert's hilarious and spot-on cause marketing commentary--with a hat tip to Breast Cancer Action! (starts around 1:14)
A Win for Patients, Judge Rules Against Myriad
Filed by the American Civil Liberties Union with Breast Cancer Action as one of the plaintiffs, this lawsuit challenges Myriad Genetics' patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2, the “breast cancer genes.” Read about the ruling and check out BCA's recent e-alert about it.
Watch this video to learn more about gene patenting and its impact.
Barbara Brenner on KQED Perspectives
Executive Director Barbara Brenner was featured on KQED as part of their Perspectives series. Listen to her Perspectives below (each approx. 2 minutes)
Click here to listen to Barbara's Perspective on "Understanding Risk." (July 13th)
Click here to listen to Barbara's Perspective on gene patenting. (April 13th)
Click here to listen to Barbara's Perspective on the term "survivor." (Feb. 4th)
Think Before You Pink wins 2009 BENNY Award
BCA's victorious 2008 Think Before You Pink campaign, "Yoplait: Put a Lid on it" won the first place 2009 BENNY Award from the Business Ethics Network. The annual BENNY Awards recognize outstanding corporate campaign victories. Learn about the campaign here.