Breast Cancer Linked to the Environment

Yes, as many have hypothesized for a long time, there is plenty of conclusive evidence that breast cancer is linked to things in our everyday environments.

The Breast Cancer Fund’s State of the Evidence 2010 report recently came out. Among other things, it discusses “the scientific evidence linking exposures to chemicals and radiation in our everyday environments to increased breast cancer risk.”

As Shannon Coughlin of the Breast Cancer Fund wrote in an email to me:

It catalogues the growing evidence linking breast cancer to, among other factors, synthetic hormones in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and meat; pesticides in food; solvents in household cleaning products; BPA in food containers; flame retardants in furniture; and radiation from medical treatments. The report also highlights impacts on the most vulnerable populations (including infants, pregnant women, African-American women and workers), and outlines the policy initiatives required to develop a national breast cancer prevention plan.

To raise awareness about breast cancer, the fund also has a new 2.5 minute video Breast Cancer Prevention Starts With Us “that helps connect the dots between breast cancer and environmental exposures” as well as “a daily campaign running on Facebook and Twitter to share the latest science from State of the Evidence, tips, action opportunities and things people can share with family and friends.”

Check those out.

You can also read more about breast cancer’s links to the environment via the Breast Cancer Fund website.

Photo Credit:  C. Regina via flickr under a CC license


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