May 2019 Newsletter - Zero Breast Cancer

The Search Goes On!

Dear Reader,

The search for the cause of breast cancer and the ultimate prize of primary prevention!

Many of you recall the storm of consternation in Marin County in the mid-1990s when breast cancer rates seemed alarmingly high and vigorous efforts to search for the cause were launched by breast cancer patients, advocates and medical professionals. As a result of their awareness-raising efforts County, State, Federal and corporate money started to be made available to fund research into the environmental causes of breast cancer.

So where are we now more that two decades later?

We know much more about this complex disease - many diseases actually. Just because this is a cancer that occurs primarily in the breast does not mean that the causes are clear-cut, that the nature of the tumors are all the same, nor the outcomes assured simply because vast strides have been made in treatment options.
We know a lot more than we used to about a lot of risk factors based on population studies and this is complicated too.
The rates of breast cancer in Marin County are NO LONGER an aberration. That is cold comfort when one considers that 1 in 8 women are still impacted by this disease during their lifetime (in line with the national average and the average in other similarly developed and wealthy communities around the world).
Of the $2 billion spent on cancer research each year, less than 10% is dedicated to primary prevention. And no, screening for breast cancer is not breast cancer prevention!

On May 15th 2019, Zero Breast Cancer staff attended the California Breast Cancer Research Program's (CBCRP) Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer Ideas Showcase and Competition in San Francisco.

The welcome remarks by CBCRP Executive Director Marion H.E. Kavanaugh-Lynch MD, MPH were both sobering and hopeful. The emcee was JoAnne Loulan (activist and two time breast cancer survivor) and a provocative keynote was delivered by Susan M. Love, MD, MBA. You can access the entire program from that event here.You can catch up on the bold ideas presented by 10 finalists including long-time ZBC colleague and partner, Barbara A. Cohn, PhD, Research Director at Child Health Development Studies, Public Health Institute.

If you have the time and would like to watch the full proceedings, you can do so here.

So in all honesty, I don't know if I am glad to report, or sad to report, that the search for the cause and really big disruptive ideas for primary prevention still continue.

Zero Breast Cancer Executive Director Search

I am certainly glad to report that this search continues but the forecast for a successful outcome is looking very good. We will keep you posted!

Prevent Sun Damage AND Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Wishing you all a healthy summer (which might finally arrive in Northern California this weekend) and remember to use sunscreen but to choose safe and effective products. The best guide out there comes from EWG.org. Check it out before you buy and before you head off into your backyard, down to the beach or out on the hiking trails...

Talking of hiking please remember that registration for the 2019 Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer opens on Monday June 3rd. You can read more below. We hope to see you there. Thank you for your support!

Yours in health,

Rose Barlow

Executive Director

PS. ZBC is growing its number of monthly donors significantly and you can become one too! If you read these monthly newsletters regularly, then please consider a monthly gift of $25 or $50 (any amount helps) to help sustain the work of translating, disseminating and communicating evidence-based information about breast cancer risk reduction. It's quick and easy and you can now pay by PayPal too. Just click on this secure link and get started. Thank you!

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL DIPSEA HIKE ON 9/28/19 OPENS 6/3/19!

To read more about ways to participate and to register, click here.
Online registration will remain open through Monday September 23rd 2019.
This is Zero Breast Cancer's biggest community event and fundraiser each year.
Donations will continue to be accepted until October 31st 2019!

See last year's photos here!

We are excited to welcome you as a sponsor, a volunteer, a virtual fundraiser or a participant in the hike itself!

Long time sponsor Bank of Marin staff volunteers pictured here. Their help with checking in hikers and runners on the day of the event is invaluable!

Companies who sponsor the Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer make a difference in these 5 ways:

ONE: Help employees learn something about breast cancer risk reduction.

TWO: Take the opportunity for team building with employees or customers to show appreciation or reinforce team bonds.

THREE: Foster employee pride and engagement with corporate social responsibility and philanthropy

FOUR: Make participation in the hike part of employee health and wellness activities.

FIVE: Create brand visibility via several channels - ZBC social media, ZBC newsletters, ZBC website and in the local community on the day of the hike.

You can see who sponsored the hike or made generous in-kind donations for the 2018 hike here.

You can find more information and Sponsor Benefit Forms here. Or please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss how best to partner with us and structure a sponsorship package that is right for you!

From the Desk of Catherine Thomsen : PLACE MATTERS

An update on the work of the PATHWAYS Breast Cancer Survivorship Study

Have you heard the saying "Your zip code is a better predictor of your health than your genetic code"? Over the past few decades we have had more and more proof that where we live (and work and learn) affects our opportunities for physical activity, social engagement and support, access to healthy and affordable food, and exposure to stress and harmful chemicals.

As part of our collaborative work with the Pathways Breast Cancer Survivorship Study, a team at the University of California-San Francisco is studying how neighborhoods contribute to the length and quality of life of the growing number of survivors. Drs. Salma Shariff-Marco (pictured left) and Scarlett Lin Gomez (pictured right) are leading this effort to gather existing data about neighborhoods and match it with the place where study participants lived when they joined the study and over the years since then. They are also asking study members to tell us more about the places they live. And they are using satellite imaging to actually view the neighborhoods for health and aesthetic conditions!

We look forward to supporting their research with input from our Pathways Community Advisory Board. Most importantly, we want to use the findings to encourage positive aspects and address barriers to health in neighborhoods to improve the health and well-being of breast cancer survivors and all residents. For more information about this study, check out our blog here.

ZBC Partners : Jennifer Gress, Webmaster and Joomla Expert

This month we interviewed Jennifer Gress, owner of Snapdragon Services, in our Get to Know ZBC Partners series. Jenn has been a ZBC partner since 2012! As the webmaster for zerobreastcancer.org, she keeps our website up, running, safe and secure.

Jenn is always happy to brainstorm our website goals and then help us achieve them, whether through working her magic on the back-end or providing humor-filled training sessions for staff. We deeply value this partnership.

You can read the full interview here.

Intern Spotlight : Leslie Civil, Dominican University

Leslie representing Zero Breast Cancer at the 2019 Marin Teen Girl Summit earlier this year.

Leslie Civil served as ZBC’s Bilingual Health Education Intern from February to May 2019. From her first day, Leslie enthusiastically jumped in as part of the ZBC team and provided invaluable Spanish-language assistance. You can read Leslie's reflections here.