CPAT CA Access News - October 2007 Issue


October 2007 In this Issue: Health Care Feature \| Partner Spotlight \| Calendar \| Welcome New Partners \| In the News \| Interesting Information

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment – What form it takes under healthcare reform is up to you! *This guest editorial is written by Christine Granger, Executive Director of the Northern California Affiliate of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.* Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. For women in California aged 65 and younger, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Nearly 20,000 Californians will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone and more than 4,200 will die from the disease. As we celebrate and educate during breast cancer awareness month it is important to pay attention to how the current health care reform proposals will affect breast cancer screening and treatment. How will these decisions affect the many people suffering from this disease today and our daughters and granddaughters who will be diagnosed with it in the coming years? Read more about Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment... BREAST CANCER LINKS: Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization National Breast Cancer Coalition California Breast Cancer Research Program California Department of Health Services: Every Woman Counts program

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Northern California Affiliate Mission The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. About Y-ME was founded in Chicago in 1978 and has since grown to a network of information and support resources in 15 sites nationwide. Among the programs offered by Y-ME and their affiliates are the National Breast Cancer Hotline, Match Programs for patients and their families, the Wig & Prosthesis Bank, early detection, teen programs and programs for medically underserved women. Y-ME does not raise money for research, choosing to place their focus on those currently affected with breast cancer by providing emotional support and information about breast cancer, procedures and treatment options. Website: http://www.y-me.org/northerncalifornia/

CPAT Health Disparities Luncheon San Diego October 30 Be sure to check out the CPAT Calendar of Events to find out about upcoming partner conferences, seminars, fundraisers, and other activities in your area. If you would like your event listed, please contact Janet at janet@perrycom.com


AIDS Services Foundation, Orange County Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Markstein Cancer Education Center American Indian Health Project Bakersfield Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center Blanche Katz, RN California Health Collaborative Community Health Centers, Central Coast Elementary Institute of Science Fresno American Indian Health Project Gardner Family Health Network Great Beginnings for Black Babies Korean American Family Health Services La Verne Chamber of Commerce Long Beach Black Chamber of Commerce MACT Health Board MCC Breast Health Center National Council of Negro Women Inc, Southern California Area, View Park Section Orange County - NAACP Pacific Free Clinic Project Independence Recovery International – Southern California Recovery International – Northern California San Jose Foothill Family Community Clinic Schultz & Associates South County Seniors, Inc. St. Luke’s Campus, CPMC Turning Point TSS Warner Mountain Indian Health + 8 individuals


New Clues to Breast Cancer Development in High-risk Women Science Daily, September 11, 2007 Physicians who treat women with the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 often remove their patients’ ovaries to eliminate the source of estrogen they believe fuels cancer growth. Yet they also know that anti-estrogen therapies don't work to treat breast or ovarian cancer that might develop. Read more... Why the silence on cancer? Although cancer has touched the lives of several presidential candidates, the disease is almost a dead subject. LA Times, September 9, 2007 Cancer annually kills about 560,000 Americans, and it remains the No. 1 killer of people under 85. Yet the leading 2008 presidential candidates, as in previous electoral cycles, have been relatively silent on how they would lead a fight against the disease. None of them has made research funding and treatment of the disease a signature issue despite the fact that cancer has affected nearly half of the candidates' lives. Read more... Gene May Influence Breast Cancer-Estrogen Link Targeting this DNA might improve treatment, researchers say HealthDay, September 17, 2007 U.S. researchers say they've found a gene that plays a crucial role in the ability of breast cancer cells to respond to estrogen which may lead to improved therapies for hormone-responsive breast cancer and help explain differences in the effectiveness of current treatments. Read more... Workouts a Boon for Breast Cancer Patients Exercise, yoga improve quality of life, even chemotherapy compliance, studies find HealthDay, September 6, 2007 Exercise may be the last thing breast cancer patients want to do, especially if they're fatigued. But workouts can improve quality of life, boost self-esteem during a difficult time, and even help women get through their chemotherapy treatments on schedule, two new studies find. Read more...


Breast Cancer Awareness Factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer: age – risk increases as you get older genetic predisposition family or personal history of breast or ovarian cancer starting your period at a young age and/or starting menopause after 55 prolonged use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control obesity or post-menopausal weight gain Breast cancer racial and ethnic differences: breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among nearly every racial and ethnic group rates of developing and dying from the disease differ among ethnic groups. Some of the reasons for these differences include possible differences in specific risk factors, differences in the biology of the breast cancer or differences in breast cancer screening rates A woman’s chance of getting breast cancer increases with age. Chance by age is: age 20 - 1 in 1,985 age 30 - 1 in 229 age 40 - 1 in 68 age 50 - 1 in 37 age 60 - 1 in 26 age 70 - 1 in 24 age 80??? - 1 in 8 Source: American Cancer Society Surveillance Research, 2005. CA Access News welcomes contributions from our partners. Please contact us if you have suggestions for future events and stories by calling CPAT at (916) 658-0144, Attn: Janet or e-mail Janet at janet@perrycom.com.

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