The Assertive Cancer Patient

Eliminate Co-pays for Mammograms

A study by researchers at Brown and Harvard universities found that even a small co-pay reduced the likelihood that women will get regular mammograms to detect breast cancer, Reuters reports.

A co-pay as low as $12 was a deterrent to getting the screening exam, the researchers found.

Mammograms may save lives by detecting breast cancers at an earlier, more curable, stage--and it also makes economic sense for health insurance companies to eliminate the co-payment because breast cancer is much more expensive to treat at later stages.

Read the Reuters article:

Even small copay deters mammogram use, study says

Read more to find out how expensive breast cancer treatment can be:

The (High) Cost of Cancer Treatment: I

The (High) Cost of Cancer Treatment: 2

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Join the Sister Study

This October, in addition to boycotting products and companies that exploit women with breast cancer, do something positive to help: Join the Sister Study. (And sign your sister up too.)

From the Sister Study Web site:
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women aged 35 to 74 whose sister had breast cancer. It is a national study to learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. In the next three years, 50,000 women whose sister had breast cancer, and who do not have breast cancer themselves will be asked to join the study.

Note that the study will be looking at environmental factors--something that is sorely needed.

Read more: Sister Study

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What Really Causes Cancer?

My blogger buddy Sara sent this along yesterday. She was planning to attend and has promised us a report.

I haven't devoted much space on this blog to cancer prevention, since I've already got it (two kinds), but maybe it's time for me to start. For now, don't eat those pink M&Ms--they're bad for you! Instead, use them to make political art.

October 17, 2007

7:30–9:30 pm
104 Harvard Hall

While treatments are better for cancer and survival rates higher, there are significantly more newly diagnosed cancers than ever before. (Komen? Where's that "cure" you're always running for? Note: most of the money Komen collects goes to fund treatment, not prevention. See Samantha King's book for more.)

Devra Davis, cancer epidemiologist and environmentalist, and author of a new book, The Secret History of the War on Cancer, will discuss how the toxins in our environment are contributing to this surge in cancer, how scientists are influenced by the companies who fund their research, and her vision for a healthier environment. After the talk, The Secret History of the War on Cancer will be available for purchase and signing.

Devra Davis is the director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The event is sponsored by the Harvard Extension School’s Environmental Management program.