Stop Cancer Where it Starts

What is ‘Stop Cancer Where it Starts’?
This Breast Cancer Network project works towards measures that will reduce breast cancer risk in New Zealand. Action includes sharing information about what women can do to make beneficial lifestyle changes for themselves and the next generations.

Other activities have included a petition to Government to reduce the impact of environmental chemicals on breast cancer risk, submissions to the Health Committee, and addressing the Cancer Control Council. We continue to inform the public about reducing exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals that we encounter daily.

Reprint and wider distribution of BCN booklet
The BCN booklet Reduce your risk – everyday actions for New Zealand Women has been updated and redesigned for young women. It is for individuals, groups, breast care nurses and organisations working with young women. It is now available in some Plunket clinics and as a resource for midwives.

Canada declares bisphenol A dangerous for babies - watch those baby bottles, toys and teething rings
Following news that Canada has declared bisphenol A dangerous for baby items, BCN wrote to the NZ College of Midwives and Plunket asking them to incorporate the information into training courses. Upfront 79 featured the risks of bisphenol A and other plastic additives, and similar articles by BCN have appeared in other publications.

And in August 2010 we see that Canada is in the process of a historic move to add bisphenol-A to its list of toxic substances.

The chemical used in making plastic has become increasingly controversial since Ottawa promised two years ago it would designate it a toxic substance. Its oestrogen-like effects are suspected of creating havoc with hormone levels. The government did ban the sale of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain bisphenol A in 2008. But any further action has been challenged fiercely by the chemical industry. Toronto Star 26 Aug 2010

Ban on Endosulfan 
In December 2008 ERMA announced a complete ban on the use of Endosulfan in New Zealand. This chemical is acutely toxic and has hormone-mimicking qualities that are of great concern to BCN. Early exposure of our children and young people to endocrine-disrupting compounds may play an important role in New Zealand’s high incidence of breast cancer. Endosulfan has been used very widely so that it is not only in our food and water, but is a contaminant of animal tissues all over the world. By banning endosulfan, ERMA has taken a step towards protecting the health of our population, especially its most vulnerable members. In June 2008 Breast Cancer Network sent a submission to ERMA regarding the reassessment of Endosulfan, so we are delighted with the eventual outcome.

Low key Government response to BCN petition disappoints but Network will continue to press for change
Government has reported back on the Health Committee’s recommendations relating to the 2006 BCN petition. Government said that processes already exist for the performance of some recommendations. Three recommendations were referred to the Cancer Control Council. BCN had an initial meeting with the Cancer Control Council and will continue to pursue these matters.

Progress with conference recommendations
BCN wrote to Plunket and the College of Midwives about the oestrogenic properties of bis-phenol A in plastic baby articles. Upfront U Kaiora has also featured information about the likely harmful effects of plastic additives on breast cell development. We have prepared guidelines for people to use in approaching their local government body to reduce use of toxic chemicals. Download here

BCN has brought the challenging question of “pinkwashing” into the public arena by way of an article in Upfront U Kaiora and discussion amongst breast cancer groups.

We have reviewed the books Pesticides and Breast Cancer – a Wake Up Call by Meriel Watts, and Breast Care, by surgeon, Trevor Smith. We have written about prevention in Upfront U Kaiora and sent a press release and submissions about Endosulfan.

We have featured bisphenol A, safer cosmetics and household cleaners in Upfront U Kaiora. We recommend the website http://lesstoxicguide.ca

BACKGROUND TO ‘STOP CANCER WHERE IT STARTS’

This Breast Cancer Network project works towards measures to reduce breast cancer incidence in New Zealand. Even with the best of efforts, individuals cannot easily change the wider environment. Synthetic and oestrogen-mimicking chemicals are very widespread so that action is needed from governments to adequately assess their impact and reduce exposure. Our project has a focus for the individual and for central and local government.

There are examples of overseas local bodies and governments tackling the problem of cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals. In Canada more than 80 cities and towns banned "cosmetic" spraying of lawns, in an effort to reduce their citizens' exposure to toxic chemicals.

In Europe the REACH programme is designed to protect people from harmful chemicals and those which have not been fully tested. The European Cosmetics Directive is working to reduce harmful chemicals in cosmetics. In UK there is an informative website at www.nomorebreastcancer.org.uk. In USA, two large breast cancer organisations are raising awareness of the environmental links to breast cancer, and taking long-term action to get the risk reduced. The Breast Cancer Fund website can be accessed at www.breastcancerfund.org and Breast Cancer Action at www.bcaction.org These groups have funded a major report called State of the Evidence 2006, edited by Nancy Evans, available on the Breast Cancer Fund website. We recommend the report for being thorough, well-referenced and up-to-date.

Underlying Stop Cancer Where it Starts is the knowledge that less than 10% of breast cancers can be attributed to faulty inherited genes. Researchers have stated that environmental factors are probably responsible for well over half the incidence of breast cancer. Modern industrialised nations have the highest incidence. While people can reduce their risk to a degree by making personal life-style changes, they cannot easily control their exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing materials) and synthetic oestrogen-disrupting chemicals in the modern, industrialised environment. Stopping cancer where it starts involves a precautionary approach. If there is accumulating evidence that a factor is harmful, action is needed now, rather than waiting for many years for fully documented evidence to accumulate.

In San Francisco, an area of very high breast cancer incidence, women from Breast Cancer Action decided to take on a new slogan for breast cancer awareness month - "We're already aware, it's time to act - Stop Cancer Where it Starts." Working first with the Berkeley City Council the group was instrumental in a resolution being passed, endorsing many clean-up guidelines for the city. The Council also resolved to develop fact sheets outlining the links between cancer and the environment, promoting alternatives, and raising awareness by signage of pesticide-free zones. Breast Cancer Action successfully took the project to other councils following the initial success at Berkeley.

Stop Cancer Where it Starts
brochure

Dr Meriel Watts

Dr Maricel Maffini

Sue Kedgley MP
receives BCN petition

Presenting the BCN petition
to parliament