The Canary Report

Reports on breast cancer and chemical exposure

Posted on Sep 16, 2008 by Susie Collins in Blog, Research, Susie Collins

I’m a breast cancer survivor. In 2000, I was diagnosed with one very small cancerous tumor and one in situ cancer, both in the same breast. Protocol for finding cancer at two sites in one breast is to remove the breast, so that’s what I had done. I was extremely grateful to have found the tumor while it was so tiny because it meant I did not need chemo or radiation. It was a traumatic experience, but a life changing experience for the good and I feel very lucky about the way the whole thing turned out.

I’ve often wondered if my multiple chemical sensitivity and breast cancer are related. If it’s true that MCS is triggered by exposure to toxic chemicals, which makes total sense to me, I often wonder if I was exposed to toxic chemicals that triggered both the MCS and the cancer. I’ll probably never know the answer, but I am heartened that research is being done to explore the connections between breast cancer and chemical exposure.

By the way, I’d just like to say that I am not a subscriber to the notion of finding a cure for cancer. I do not give money to any group with that goal, and I do not participate in anything sponsored by the American Cancer Society. I prefer to focus on groups that are promoting prevention and the discovery of cause.

Here are the reports and leaflets on breast cancer and chemical exposure, courtesy of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment:

From the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and CHEM Trust, here are several new publications about breast cancer and chemical exposures. The documents have been translated into multiple languages. We regret that not all the documents are available in every language.

Breast cancer and exposure to hormonally active chemicals: An appraisal of the scientific evidence
A report by Professor Andreas Kortenkamp, head of the Centre for Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of London and a leading European researcher in the field of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
>>English [PDF]

Factors influencing the risk of breast cancer – established and emerging
This briefing summarizes the key information on all the risk factors and breast cancer with particular focus on the potential role of certain chemicals in the environment. It is written in language accessible to the general public.
>>English [PDF]
>>French [PDF]
>>Spanish [PDF]
This briefing will soon be available in Italian, German, Polish, Czech and Russian.

Breast cancer: Preventing the preventable
This leaflet briefly describes the evidence that hormonally active chemicals may be implicated in breast cancer. It is written in a language to reach sufferers and a wide public audience.
>>English [PDF]
>>French [PDF]
>>German [PDF]
>>Spanish [PDF]
>>Russian [PDF]
This leaflet will soon be available in Polish and Czech.

These publications were launched at a high-level scientific presentation and policy debate – “Breast cancer: Preventing the preventable” – held on 2 April 2008 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Hosted by Avril Doyle, a member of the European Parliamentary group MEPs Against Cancer, the discussions led to policy recommendations by several parliamentarians for greater EU action to reduce exposure to certain chemicals.

To order hard copies, please send an email to Hana Kuncova hana@env-health.org or visit the Chemicals Health Monitor or CHEM Trust websites.

Link

Photo credit: From a case of metaplastic (sarcomatoid) carcinoma of the breast, by euthman at flickr.

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Tags: Cancer, Chemicals, Research, Toxic