BCA E-Newsletter September 2005

Hello! It's time for another installment of Breast Cancer Action's monthly
e-newsletter-- a collection of news, notices, and action alerts for people concerned
about the breast cancer epidemic. Welcome to any new e-alert members! If you think
you've been added by mistake, please follow the directions at the bottom of the
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WE PUBLISH A SNAIL MAIL NEWSLETTER TOO - We just can't get enough of you ...and hope
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love to send you our bi-monthly newsletter filled with information on treatment,
diagnosis, politics, and true prevention updates. Check out the archives:
http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/GetInformed/Newsletters.html You can subscribe online at
http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/GetInformed/Subscribe.html


In this issue...

1. IN THE NEWS: FDA Issues Warning on Herceptin; FDA Official Resigns over Emergency
Contraception Delay; New York Passes Legislation for Healthier Schools
2. TAKE ACTION: Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to Sign the California Safe Cosmetics
Act; Register to Vote
3. SAVE THE DATE: Celebrating Activism – a Benefit for Breast Cancer Action’s
15th Anniversary, October 15, San Francisco; San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium,
December 8-11, San Antonio
4. FAQ OF THE MONTH: What's the difference between estrogen positive versus
progesterone positive?

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1. IN THE NEWS: FDA Issues Warning on Herceptin; FDA Official Resigns over Emergency
Contraception Delay; New York Passes Legislation for Healthier Schools

FDA Issues Warning on Herceptin

On Wednesday, August 31, the FDA issued a warning on heart problems associated with
the breast cancer drug Herceptin. The warning was accompanied by a letter from the
drug's manufacturer, Genentech, detailing the outcome of a recent trial
investigating the effects of Herceptin on the heart. In this randomized phase III
trial, women taking Herceptin were found to have 3 times the risk of congestive
heart failure and cardiac death than women receiving chemotherapy alone. A recent
news article about the warning can be found at
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/01/firm_says_its_anticancer_drug_can_increase_risk_of_heart_problems/
The warning itself is available on the FDA website:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2005/HerceptinDDL_0805.FINAL.pdf


FDA Official Resigns over Emergency Contraception Delay

The FDA women's health chief, Dr. Susan Wood, resigned last week over the agency's
delay in emergency contraception approval. The decision on whether or not to
approve the sale of emergency contraception without a prescription has been
postponed indefinitely by FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, even though FDA
scientists have recommended
its approval. In her resignation memo, Dr. Wood expressed her disappointment in the
agency's delay. Read more about Dr. Wood's resignation at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-31-fda-official-quits_x.htm


New York Passes Legislation for Healthier Schools

The governor of New York signed legislation last month that will require the state's
schools to use environmentally friendly cleaning products. This is the first
statewide initiative mandating the use of safer alternatives. It builds on an
executive order signed by the governor in January that would require state agencies
to use healthier cleaning products. This exciting news will help protect the health
of millions of students, teachers, and custodians and will serve as a model for
healthier schools across the nation. For more information visit
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--pataki-bills0824aug24,0,3766799,print.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

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2. TAKE ACTION: Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to Sign the California Safe Cosmetics
Act; Register to Vote

Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to Sign the California Safe Cosmetics Act

The California Safe Cosmetics Bill, SB 484, won a huge victory last week when the
California State Assembly voted 43 to 35 in favor of approval. The next step for
this bill is the governor's desk; Governor Schwarzenegger has 30 days to either sign
or veto the bill before it becomes law.

Thank you to all of our California members for supporting this bill--your letters,
phone calls, and legislator meetings helped make this success happen. Now that the
bill will be headed to the governor, members all across the country have the
opportunity to take action. We need all of our members, no matter what state you're
in, to contact Governor Schwarzenegger and let him know that you support SB 484.

Here is a sample text you can send the Governor by e-mail, fax, or snail mail. You
can also use this as talking points if you'd like to call his office.

Governor Schwarzenegger,

I urge you to sign SB 484, the California Safe Cosmetics Act, into law. This
important piece of legislation would set a national precedent in consumer health and
worker safety. Americans use an average of 10 personal care products daily, and
we're
entitled to know that the products we use are safe. Your leadership on cosmetic
safety can set a model for the country. Please support the health and safety of
millions of consumers and beauty care workers in California by signing SB 484. Thank
you.


Register to Vote!

One of the best ways we can all take action for women's health is to vote for
policies and political leaders that will put public health first. Remember to
register to vote now if you've recently moved or if you aren't registered. Find
voter registration information for your state at
http://www.vote-smart.org/voter_registration_resources.php. Voting regulations and
registration deadlines vary by state, so be sure to check with your state's
Department of Elections if you have questions about the process. You can even
register online at http://www.rockthevote.com. Just remember to print out the form, sign
it, and mail it in.

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3. SAVE THE DATE: Celebrating Activism – a Benefit for Breast Cancer Action’s
15th Anniversary, October 15, San Francisco; San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium,
December 8-11, San Antonio

Celebrating Activism – a Benefit for Breast Cancer Action’s 15th Anniversary,
October 15, San Francisco

On Saturday October 15, 2005, Breast Cancer Action will celebrate its fifteenth year
of activism to save women’s lives with an evening of festivities at the Yerba
Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco. We expect more than 400
friends and supporters to gather for a unique evening of music, spoken word, fine
art, dance, food and entertainment as we revisit our successes and re-commit
ourselves to working for a future free of breast cancer.

Saturday, October 15th, 2005 6:30 – 11:00 p.m.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Forum
701 Mission Street, San Francisco

featuring:
Holly Near with Adrienne Torf
Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir
Alix Olson
Rene Hicks
Dance Brigade
Anne Lamott

Photographic Exhibit by Stefanie Atkinson
Film Screening: “Heart of the Sea”

Sponsorship opportunities available.

For more information contact Laurie J. Earp & Co. at 510-839-3100 or visit
http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/TakeAction/15thAnniversary.html


Join BCA at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dec 8-11, San Antonio, Texas

The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium is the largest annual medical conference
dedicated exclusively to breast cancer research. Participants will include
physicians, researchers, advocates, and other health care providers. BCA will be
there again this year, and as usual, we'll report back on our experience. For more
information and to register, visit http://www.sabcs.org.

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4. FAQ OF THE MONTH: What's the difference between estrogen positive versus
progesterone positive?

Both progesterone positive and estrogen positive tumors respond to an
over-expression of these hormones. In the case of progesterone positive, there is
an abundance of progesterone present and in the case of estrogen positive, there is
an abundance of estrogen present. Breast tumors can be sensitive to either estrogen
(ER +) or progesterone (PR +), sensitive to both (ER/PR+), or sensitive to neither
(ER/PR). Estrogen positive and progesterone positive are viewed equally as far as
treatment options; they are both thought to respond to hormonal treatment.

-- YOUR INPUT WANTED: Is there a question you want answered, or an issue that you
want BCA's opinion on? Send it to pojea [at] bcaction.org and we'll try to answer it
personally or feature it in a future e-newsletter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's it for this edition! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or
comments about this listserv.

Thanks for your continued support of BCA. Until next time,

Pauli Ojea, Community Organizer
Toll free at 877-2STOPBC (278-6722)
http://www.bcaction.org
http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org

Our members are the driving force behind our efforts to end the breast
cancer epidemic. Because Breast Cancer Action does not accept funding from
the government or the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, we need
your support. You can donate on-line at
http://bcaction.org/Pages/SupportUs/Donate.html, or call 415-243-9301, or
toll-free at 1-877-278-6722. All gifts are deeply appreciated.

Breast Cancer Action has received the highest four-star rating from Charity
Navigator, America’s premiere evaluator of charities. To view the details of our
rating, visit
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/8165.htm


Breast Cancer Action is funded in part by a grant from the California Wellness
Foundation (TCWF). Created in 1992 as an independent, private foundation, TCWF's
mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for
health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention programs.


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