The Art beCAUSE Blog: Breast Cancer and the Environment

A Place At The Table

Ladies and gentlemen….the future is near…We are very excited with the progress that has been made…as we head to the future: let me just point out to all of you…what the price has been…

Notice the reserved table over here………

Who is this table reserved for? And how does one get a “place at this table? It looks so pretty…all shiny and pristine..so.. who is there…

WELL…Candy’s Mom has a place at the table ….so does Wendy’s mom

And Konrad’s mom
 
Susan Zimmerman has a place at the table
 
Toby Fox at age34 has a place at the table

And Todd English, his sister has a place at the table
 
Yes, many people we have known have had a place at that table… that represents all of our family, our friends and loved ones whose lives were cut short, at whatever age, by having a “place at the table” from which there is no return 
But, I need to tell you……that this is not an honor..a place at this table..
I do not want to have that honor; and I don’t want anyone else to have that honor given to them…

We are working so hard so that the table will go away..

This year, 40,000 women and men will lose their lives to breast cancer; in Mass alone, 900 will.  That table is already so large and so filled with non-survivors of breast cancer…..if I multiply the number of 40,000 per year by any number of years…the outcome is just too staggering to look at…

But…lets not talk in terms of lives lost. We remember and cherish those we’ve lost…Let us honor our friends and make a strong commitment to solve the problem…

We are working on it. Lately. there seems to be discussion about a change in the death rate, …because of earlier detection, new and better treatments, and the huge number of women who have, in the last three years, stopped taking hormone replacement therapy…. There seems to be a change in the death rate….

But the statistics are still the truth…243,000 will be diagnosed in the next year; thank means the diagnosis rate is continuing to climb 200,000 is to many; 225,000; too many…this year.. 243,000 too many…

Art beCAUSE is about solutions; our funding at Boston University has already helped in some potential discoveries and early publishing of findings… this,  in a new study is quite unique..so we are very encouraged.
But, do we want not breast cancer to become a chronic disease….I would certainly prefer that our kids, grandkids, and loved ones don’t deal with a chronic disease…Preventation is the word…

Art beCAUSE is committed to funding research looking at the environmental causes of breast cancer..that is, as you have heard, somewhat like looking for a needle in a haystack…it could be anywhere;

It is now obvious that there is a  connection between the environment and us….our bodies, our community; and what we eat, breathe and take into our bodies, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Is it possible to find the answers; we just heard Dr.Sherr say that there is a solution..but the search is very expensive…And, until we find the causes, we haven’t prevented breast cancer and  the places at the table will continue to fill up…

Will you help us??

At Art beCAUSE, we have just the one goal..to raise money to fund research…we keep our overhead simple, and we give away the raised funds in a direct line to basic scientific research….

Basic biology…just following the road…keeping our eye on the solution; and closing down the call for “places at the table.”

Please feel comfortable giving us, on your pledge cards, whatever will help us to continue funding: Research is going on all over the world; we were able this year to have several applicants looking for our help; and although we have a small amount to give , our aspirations and goals are to give away a lot more in grants…that desire is immense…

Let’s close down that table..Dismantle the napkins, the chairs, the centerpiece…the chairs…and work toward preventation….

Can we fund another grant or two tonight…they…the scientists.. are lined and waiting for $$$$...and they rely on private foundations like Art beCAUSE for help…

Can we help in this fight to eradicate breast cancer…will you help me do that??

In front of each of you is a pledge card…as you know, we take all credit cards, checks, cash….whatever currency you have …..wouldn’t it be amazing to fund two more projects just tonight…

Thanks so much to all of you for your devotion to Art beCAUSE and to the eradication of breast cancer…..

Studies Show Low-Fat Dieting Doesn't Prevent Breast Cancer

There is always research being conducted on many topics in the breast cancer arena.  One of the theories recently studied involved low fat diets.  The results of that study are highlighted in a new article in the July 18th edition of the Boston Globe, "Low-Fat Diet Didn't Halt Breast Cancer" by Carla K. Johnson, which refutes any evidence that eating high servings fruits and vegetables can help prevent breast cancer.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/18/low_fat_diet_didnt_halt_breast_cancer/

Some select texts from the article appear below:

"Hopes that a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables could prevent the return of breast cancer were dashed yesterday by a large, seven-year experiment in more than 3,000 women."

"For now, the message for the 2.4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States is that they don't need to go overboard on veggies, researchers said."

While we are encouraged to see that general studies, such as that above, are being conducted to study breast cancer, we believe it is important to also fund research which probes the potential environmental causes of the disease as well.

Elizabeth Edwards

I am appalled by the media’s recent “attacks” on the choices Elizabeth Edwards and her family made to bravely confront her sobering breast cancer diagnosis. Not only is she a courageous woman for exposing her private health battle in such a public way, she is an inspiration to all of us who have faced cancer. I am one of those women. I’m a fifteen-year breast cancer survivor, so I can speak with some authority regarding the desire and strong will to go right back to work and enjoy some level of normalcy after a diagnosis like this. I embrace the Edwards family’s decision because I know the value of keeping your head and heart moving forward. My breast cancer diagnosis drove me to focus on a full and active life devoted to eradicating breast cancer for our children’s generation.

Every woman has a right to deal with a cancer diagnosis in her own way. How dare the media pundits—most of them men—condemn the Edwards family for continuing their lives in light of her illness? Do they really expect Elizabeth to quietly accept her fate and fade away? Instead of criticizing this incredible family, why can’t the media support them and all of us who are working like crazy to try and solve this problem through a better understanding of causes, prevention methods, treatments and cures? Just think of how our media could help propel breast cancer research and education, so fewer and fewer women would have to hear the frightening news, “Your cancer has metastasized, and you’re now living with an incurable but treatable disease.” Elizabeth Edwards is one of 140,000 women who will be diagnosed this year with breast cancer, and the millions who are survivors, like me.....who live with the thought at any given time that "it" can come back. We’re all brave and courageous women who would never dare to think that Elizabeth should just give up and wait to die.

If the media would take a moment to review the tape of the Edwards family’s announcement, they might see the haunted look in John Edwards’ eyes as he considers that there’s nothing he can do to change the destiny of his family. He must continue to keep a sense of purpose and “business as usual” for himself, for Elizabeth, and certainly for their family who are somewhat helpless in steering the course of the disease.

I challenge the media to stop criticizing and start helping. Please visit www.artbecause.org to see how we can all help change this destiny for the next generation.

Ellie Anbinder, Founder/Executive Director, Art beCAUSE Foundation (because breast cancer must be eradicated) www.artbecause.org

Art beCAUSE is expecting big things in 2007

I’m happy to say that there are many good things to report as 2007 begins.

Seed the Scientist

As part of our Seed the Scientist program Art beCAUSE presented $10,000 to grant winner and principal researcher Dr. Xinhai Yang, M.D., Ph.D, Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health.

Through our Seed the Scientist program, Art beCAUSE funds research projects that deal with the links between breast cancer and the environment.

To learn more about our Seed the Scientist program click here.  To learn more about Dr. Yang, click here.

New Board Chair

Ed Westerman has been name the new Chair of the Art beCAUSE board. Ed has been with Art beCAUSE since 2005 and has successfully chaired 2 Wine Dinner committees.  For Ed’s full bio, click here.

We’re in the News

Boston Women’s Journal just featured Art beCAUSE.  Check it out <link>.

We are expecting big things for 2007 as we push forward in our efforts to fund research dedicated to eradicating environmental causes of breast cancer.  Check back soon for more updates on the Art beCAUSE website http://www.artbecause.org  and on our blog http://blueskycollaborative.typepad.com/art_because/.

Strategic Partnership

Hi Everyone,

I am very excited to announce that Art beCAUSE has just extablished a strategic partnersip with a recycling company.  ComputerRecyclingUSA, a company which is interested in perserving the environment through the recycling of electronics, has adopted Art beCAUSE as their charity of choice as we are aligned in philosphy about the future of the earth.

If you or your company have electronics which need to be recycled, please call ComputerRecyclingUSA: 1-877-PC-Waste ext 704 and make arrangements; be sure to mention Art beCAUSE Foundation.

Thanks so much...

Ellie

Introduction to Ellie

Hello everyone...this is my introductory presentation;I just wanted to introduce myself and Art beCAUSE Foundation.   Art beCAUSE is an organization dedicated to funding research in the area of breast cancer and the environment; we are committed to saving the future generations of women from having to hear a doctor say: "you have breast cancer".

My name is Ellie Anbinder and I am one of the founders of ArtbeCAUSE..and we are earnestly working toward maintaining the beauty in life.

Hello World

Welcome to the Art beCAUSE BLOG!

Art beCAUSE is a non-profit foundation that funds research into the environmental causes of breast cancer.

Our Goal is to find breast cancer risks that we can change - for ourselves, for our daughters, and for all families everywhere on Earth.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will use this blog as a forum to share our goals, accomplishments, concerns, and news.  We hope that this helps everyone learn who we are and how we are doing.  Please check back often.