CBCRP and CBCRP-Funded Research in the Media
Online Groups Offer Support
BAY AREA (KRON)—Millions of American regularly use the Internet to search for medical information. But now going online could have another medical application, offering support to people battling deadly diseases.
Researchers wanted to see if online support could help women with breast cancer. A small pilot study found it could.
“They found that taking part in the group, women showed a significant decrease in depression, their reactions to pain were lessened, and they saw increases in well-being,” says Dr. Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch of the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
—From a September 27, 2002 segment of the evening news, KRON 4 TV, San Francisco. The study of online support groups was conducted in collaboration between The Wellness Community; the University of California, San Francisco; and Stanford University. It was also profiled in a March 21, 2002, article in the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal.
Revolutionary Research is Critical
OAKLAND—An Oakland nonprofit group this week announced $15 million in grants to scientists seeking innovative approaches to preventing, treating and curing breast cancer.
Among the recipients are five Bay Area researchers, who received $1.2 million among them from the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
“Revolutionary research is critical” in the quest to reduce the incidence of the disease, said Dr. Marion Kavanaugh- Lynch, director of the program.
—From an August 22, 2002 article in The Oakland Tribune.
Higher Breast Cancer Risk for Lesbians Not Borne Out
SAN FRANCISCO—Almost 10 years ago, a National Cancer Institute researcher said a new study showed that lesbians had a 1-in-3 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. “It sent shock waves through the lesbian community,” said Suzanne Dibble, Professor of nursing at the University of California's Institute for Health and Aging in San Francisco.
The study took known risk factors for breast cancer and looked to see whether they occurred more often in the lesbian population. They most certainly did. But did this really mean there was an epidemic of breast cancer among lesbians? Dibble decided to find out.
With a grant from the California Breast Cancer Research Fund, “We found about a 1 percent added risk for lesbians,” she said. In other words, if 10 straight women out of 100 were likely to get breast cancer during their lifetime, the number would be 11 out of 100 for lesbians.
—From an April 28, 2002, article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Californians Lead Tax Checkoff Donations
SACRAMENTO—Few welcome the annual chore of filling out tax returns and sending the government money.
So it may come as a surprise to learn that while Californians are wrangling over their taxes and cursing what they owe, they are increasingly contributing to medical research or other charitable organizations.
The state's “check-off program,” in which taxpayers can designate a portion of their refund or even boost their tax payment for a particular cause, has steadily grown since its creation in 1982. Last year $3.8 million in donations checked off on tax returns went to 15 groups ranging from the California Breast Cancer Research Program to the National World War II Veterans Memorial Fund.
—From a March 21, 2002, Associated Press article in the Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, and seven other California newspapers.
A Stronger Sense of Self
OAKLAND—Something many survivors of breast cancer say they've gleaned through this arduous physical journey is a stronger sense of self, of individuality, and even spirituality, moving beyond bodies.
Some women have expressed this inspiration through thoughtful pieces of wearable art, each with its own personal meaning.
A “fashion show” of these works was a visual and emotional highlight of Saturday's session of the California Breast Cancer Research Symposium.
—From a March 10, 2002, article in The Oakland Tribune.
Art, Close to the Heart
OAKLAND—Kelli Towns wore the plaster breastplate like a soldier's arms to symbolize the war she fought against breast cancer.
She first wore the piece three years ago, at age 28, soon after a doctor told her she was the fourth pre-menopausal woman in her family to be diagnosed with the disease.
On Saturday, Towns donned the wearable art once again, this time to strut across the stage before hundreds of the state's top cancer doctors and researchers.
“Just because you're diagnosed with breast cancer, doesn't mean you can't be beautiful,” Towns told the audience at the 2002 California Breast Cancer Research Symposium.
—From a March 10, 2002, Associated Press article than ran in the Marin Independent-Journal, Monterey County Herald, The San Bernadino Sun, the San Luis Obispo Tribune, and six other California newspapers.
Breast Cancer Patients Help in Study
SANTA CRUZ—A county breast-cancer counseling program was honored this week in Oakland.
The Peer Navigator program has received $600,000 from the California Breast Cancer Research Program since 2000. Women recently diagnosed with cancer, called sojourners, are helping to find out if counseling from a breast-cancer survivor, called a navigator, will improve their quality of life.
“Almost every breast-cancer program throughout the country has some kind of buddy system, but nobody has very much research about their effectiveness,” said Caroline Bliss-Isberg, director of the board of WomenCARE, which manages the program along with Stanford researchers.
—From a March 8, 2002, article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
