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releases > May 11, 2006
Meet Bay Area’s New Breast Cancer Organization:
Zero Breast Cancer
Marin Breast Cancer Watch Expands, Changes Name at 10th Anniversay
Celebration
(San Rafael, CA) — Since its founding in 1996, Zero
Breast Cancer (formerly Marin Breast Cancer Watch) has
grown from a grassroots group of women concerned about the high
breast cancer incidence rates in Marin County to a nationally-recognized
community organization that collaborates with scientists and policy-makers
in breast cancer research. Through this expansion, now Zero
Breast Cancer represents Marin, Alameda, and San Francisco
counties.
The evolution from Marin Breast Cancer Watch to Zero
Breast Cancer was multifaceted. The organization progressed
in its ability to attract community-based breast cancer research
grants from local sponsors to major foundations and federal
funds. This progress has accelerated particularly in the past
three years as
Zero Breast Cancer has established a solid reputation
for leadership.
Adolescent Risk Factors Study
1997–2002 — Zero Breast Cancer partners
with scientists to conduct the first breast cancer study in Marin
County to investigate the period of adolescent development and
environmental exposures associated with breast cancer. (Funded
by the California Breast Cancer Research Program.)
2003 — The Adolescent Risk Factor Study, which compared
300 Marin women with and without breast cancer, is published in
a peer-reviewed scientific journal, Breast
Cancer Research. The
data from this study continues to be examined by regional and national
breast cancer researchers.
Bay Area Breast Cancer and Environment Research Centers Network
2001–2002 — Zero Breast Cancer assumes
a local and national leadership role in obtaining a multi-year
federal grant for several scientific institutions in three Bay
Area counties (Marin, San Francisco, Alameda) to study breast
development and the effects of environmental factors on early
puberty. Early puberty is associated with an elevated lifetime
risk for breast cancer.
2003–2010 — Zero Breast Cancer was
named as the national leader of the community outreach and scientific
translation steering group. Bay Area partners include the UCSF Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, Lawrence
Berkeley National Lab, and Marin, San Francisco and Alameda county
health departments.
Biomonitoring
2004 — Zero Breast Cancer organizes and
co-sponsors a regional conference called Critical Issues in
Biomonitoring.
Nationally renowned speakers and public health professionals meet
at UCSF Mission Bay to explore scientific and ethical concerns
on this emerging technology.
Diversity
2004 — Zero Breast Cancer institutes the
Diverse Communities Outreach Program to expand partnerships with
groups and organizations working to address breast cancer disparities
and prevention. Zero Breast Cancer builds relationships
with breast cancer advocacy groups in the greater Bay Area.
Education
2003–2006 — Zero Breast Cancer organizes
the Adolescent Breast Cancer Prevention, Risk Reduction and Education
Program. Zero Breast Cancer conducts a peer education
pilot project to disseminate developmentally appropriate and
culturally sensitive breast cancer messages to adolescent boys
and girls. The program goal is to establish an effective education
model for use by other schools and communities to persuade adolescents
to practice healthy behaviors.
Breast Cancer Survivorship
2005–2010 – Zero Breast Cancer is
named as a partner in the Kaiser Permanente Pathways: Study of
Breast Cancer Survivorship, the largest and most comprehensive
study of how factors like diet, exercise and complementary care
may influence the health of women with breast cancer.
“Our name and visual identity change is a call to action,”
said Janice Marie Barlow, Executive Director of Zero Breast
Cancer. “It is a call to resist becoming complacent
or accepting of the increasing rates of breast cancer; a call
for more research on the causes of breast cancer; and a call
to do everything we can to prevent and end this life threatening
disease for everyone: women at risk, women with early breast
cancer, women with metastatic breast cancer, black, white, tan,
old, young, daughters and granddaughters.”
Zero Breast Cancer celebrated their 10th anniversary
during Honor Thy Healer, an awards celebration on Thursday,
May 11, 2006. The celebration honored healthcare professionals
and special individuals who have played pivotal roles in helping
people in their experiences with breast cancer. Marin County Supervisor
Harold C. (Hal) Brown served as Honorary Chair.
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