|
Press Release - Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc
24 January 2008
Breast cancer prevention strategies recommended by Health Select Committee a vital step forward for New Zealand women and future generations
Breast Cancer Network NZ is extremely pleased with the recommendations of Parliaments Health Committee in its report on a petition from the organisation. The petition calls on the Government to develop a breast cancer strategy focused on risk reduction, and to recognise the role of synthetic environmental chemicals in breast cancer.
Committee Chair Sue Kedgley reported that the committee agreed on the need for research into breast cancer prevention, particularly in the area of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and that this research should be given high priority in the allocation of Government research funds. A majority of the committee called for the establishment of an expert advisory panel to initiate research into breast cancer prevention, particularly in the area of endocrine disruption.
Breast Cancer Network considers that an expert advisory panel of scientists, as recommended by a majority of the committee in the report, would be hugely beneficial in assessing the evidence linking endocrine-disrupting chemicals to breast cancer. The expert panel would recommend what people can do in their daily lives to minimise exposure to harmful chemicals. Such information would be welcomed by large numbers of New Zealand women. At the recent First National Conference for those who have experienced breast cancer, there was a high level of interest from delegates in gaining information about lifestyle and chemical impacts on breast cancer incidence.
The Health Committee also agreed that the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 and other regulations needed to be amended to require the inclusion of endocrine disrupting effects in the registration and reassessment of hazardous substances. Breast Cancer Network strongly supports this recommendation.
Breast Cancer Network comments that until now, government's attention and funding have been targeted largely at breast cancer diagnosis and treatments. This must continue as they are absolutely necessary to save women's lives. But it makes good sense to also work on the vital area of reducing the incidence of the disease. If adopted by Government, the Health Committee recommendations can make a major contribution to the prevention and understanding of breast cancer.
The effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals are intergenerational. For the sake of this generations daughters and granddaughters Breast Cancer Network NZ strongly urges Government to take these recommendations forward.
Contact:
Gillian Woods ph NZ 09 489 5470
Barbara Mason ph NZ 09 625 4186
**************************************************
Update 7th September 07
At Parliament on Wednesday (5 September)07 , Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc submitted evidence in support of their call for a breast cancer risk reduction and prevention strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease.
Gillian Woods and Barbara Mason, together with Dr Meriel Watts, addressed the committee on behalf of the 10,969 signatories to the petition.
While acknowledging that the causes of breast cancer are an interplay of familial, environmental and lifestyle factors, Breast Cancer Network called for better information for the public, research into the links between environment and breast cancer, and regulation to reduce exposure to substances that show links to breast cancer in laboratory studies.
Much is already known about risk and we are calling for this information to be more widely shared with the public, Ms Woods and Ms Mason said. When people are informed of risk they are better equipped to make safer choices.
In her submission, Dr Watts discussed the many chemicals in the environment that affect breast cancer risk in laboratory studies and are likely to similarly affect people, and provided the Select Committee with a prepublication copy of her new book which provides evidence that 42 pesticides still in use in New Zealand may be contributing to the risk of breast cancer.
Scientifically it is impossible to prove that a particular pesticide does or does not cause breast cancer. It never will be proven. Regrettably this does not mean that the pesticides arent causing breast cancer, Dr Watts told the Select Committee. She went on to say that policy makers had a decision to make, suggesting that they could apply the precautionary approach to the uncertainty in the scientific evidence and reduce the risks that women face, of developing breast cancer, by stopping their exposure to these pesticides.
As well as the concern about pesticides, Breast Cancer Network raised the issue of endocrine disrupting hormones, such as those chemicals that mimic the female hormone oestrogen. Breast Cancer Network believes the precautionary approach is particularly important for endocrine disrupting chemicals and environmental oestrogens, as life-time exposure to oestrogen is a known risk factor for breast cancer.
In their submission, Breast Cancer Network identified younger women, especially those starting families, as those who most need information about reducing their exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. These are found in the home in everyday items ranging from food, plastics and furnishings to insecticides and garden chemicals. The foetus and the young child are very vulnerable to low levels of chemical exposure that may adversely affect their cancer risk in the long term.
In addition, young women are subject to lifestyle influences such as alcohol, obesity and smoking, which increase risk, and exercise and longer breastfeeding which reduce risk., said Ms Woods.
Dr Watts concluded the submission by telling the committee that: It is vital that the government develops a specific breast cancer strategy which recognises the role of synthetic chemicals in breast cancer, and includes testing of New Zealand women for body burdens of chemicals linked to breast cancer and lastly and most importantly adopts a precautionary approach to chemicals for which there is evidence of a link with breast cancer, ensuring their replacement with safer alternatives.
The importance of the Breast Cancer Networks request for action was simply put: without a multi-faceted breast cancer strategy and a concerted effort to reduce breast cancer risk for New Zealand women, it is predictable that our incidence rate of breast cancer will continue to rise.
Breast Cancer Network (NZ) Inc
P.O. Box 62 666
Kalmia St, Greenlane, Auckland
Phone 09 526 8853
Fax 09 526 8860
Email: brcanz@xtra.co.nz
www.breastcancernetwork.org.nz
Media inquiries to
Sue Claridge 09 445 2966
.............................................................................................................................................
Update 4th Sept 07
Health Select Committee to hear submissions on reducing the incidence of breast cancer in New Zealand.
At Parliament tomorrow (5 September), Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc will submit evidence in support of their call for a breast cancer risk reduction and prevention strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease.
On November 9 2006, Barbara Mason and Gillian Woods of the Breast Cancer Network presented a petition to Sue Kedgley on the steps of Parliament calling for action on breast cancer. The petition was immediately referred to the Health Select Committee and tomorrow Ms Woods and Ms Mason, together with Dr Meriel Watts, will make a strong representation on behalf of the 10,969 signatories to the petition, and the New Zealanders affected by breast cancer, for the government to act to reduce the incidence of the disease.
The incidence of breast cancer in this country is among the highest in the world. We can no longer justify any delay in tackling the rising incidence of the disease.
Breast cancer remains a killer disease for more than 600 women every year in spite of earlier diagnosis, new surgical techniques, anti-oestrogenic drugs, new chemotherapeutic agents and a falling mortality rate. Those who experience the disease suffer major physical, emotional and financial impact on their lives, as do their families.
The Breast Cancer Network NZ submission will ask government for a breast cancer strategy focused on reversing the rising incidence of breast cancer in New Zealand. They will ask that government acknowledge that synthetic chemicals in the environment have a role in the development of breast cancer and that New Zealanders be tested to establish the level of residues carried in their bodies. In addition, they will request that a precautionary approach be adopted with all chemicals where there is evidence of a link with breast cancer
UPDATE 16th November 06
BCN Petition is presented to Parliament - and is referred to the Health Select Committee.
On November 9th, Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc presented a 10,971-signature petition to Parliament calling for a breast cancer strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease. The petition was received by MP, Sue Kedgley. Gillian Woods addressed those who attended, on behalf of Breast Cancer Network NZ, and MPs from the Green Party, National, Labour, NZ First and United Future parties spoke in support of the petition. All agreed that a prevention strategy is needed. MPs from the Health Select Committee who attended said they looked forward to addressing the issues when the petition comes up on the agenda.
Wellington turned on what Sue Kedgley described as the worst weather she had ever seen for the presentation of a petition. While wind, rain and hail raged, the petition was handed over by Barbara Mason and Gillian Woods. BCN founder, Barbara Holt, was present for the presentation and helped with photography. BCN members held the BCN banner, and with other supporters carried placards, balloons and pink flower badges. The press was present and reports have appeared on Scoop and in NZ Herald.
On November 10th the petition was referred to the Health Select Committee. Breast Cancer Network is now preparing a submission and gathering support for the next step of the process.
Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has helped to get the petition to this stage. It is immensely encouraging to have such a large number of people getting behind the call for a prevention strategy. With all political parties expressing support we have every reason to be hopeful that an effective strategy will be set in place. Moving forward together, we will work to keep the momentum going - and together we will make a difference.
Breast Cancer Network (NZ) Inc
PO Box 62 666, Kalmia St,
Auckland, NZ
email brcanz@xtra.co.nz
PRESS RELEASE:
Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc Media Release November 9th 2006
Today Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc presented a petition to Parliament calling on Government to bring down the incidence of breast cancer in NZ.
At Parliament today, Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc presented a 10,700-signature petition calling for a breast cancer strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease. The petition was received by MP, Sue Kedgley.
The incidence of breast cancer in this country is among the highest in the world. We can no longer justify any delay in tackling the rising incidence of breast cancer. There will always be a need for more research to be done, and breast cancer is a complex disease. But there is substantial body of evidence that shows that environmental and lifestyle factors influence breast cancer risk; this evidence is sufficient to provide sound, comprehensive information to the public, and it can form the basis for government action to reduce harmful environmental exposure.
Breast cancer remains a killer disease for more than 600 women every year in spite of earlier diagnosis, new surgical techniques, anti-oestrogenic drugs, new chemotherapeutic agents and a falling mortality rate. Those who experience the disease suffer major physical, emotional and financial impact on their lives, as do their families.
The Breast Cancer Network NZ petition asks government for a breast cancer strategy focused on reversing the rising incidence of breast cancer in New Zealand. Additionally, it asks that government acknowledge that synthetic chemicals in the environmental have a role in the development of breast cancer, and asks that New Zealand women are tested to establish the level of residues carried in their bodies. Finally, it requests that a precautionary approach be adopted with all chemicals where there is evidence of a link with breast cancer.
A prevention strategy is a long-term strategy that will have greatest impact on our daughters and granddaughters, but can also reduce breast cancer risk for women today. For the sake of our women, present and future, we call on Government to do all within its power to reduce the incidence of this disease.
Gillian Woods ph 489 5470
Barbara Mason ph 625 4186
Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc, P O Box 62-666, Kalmia St, Auckland
Breast Cancer Network NZ Inc is an independent group of New Zealand women, most of whom have experienced breast cancer. We promote the issues and needs of those affected by breast cancer, advocate for improved treatment and care, and work towards the prevention of the disease for the benefit of the whole community. More about Stop Cancer Where it Starts, and breast cancer and the environment is available on line at http://www.breastcancernetwork.org.nz.
| 
