We're No Dummies

In the last two decades, more American women have died of breast cancer than all Americans killed in Korea, Vietnam and both world wars. Of the 180,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer this year, about 46,000 will die of the disease.

With all the evidence of a full-blown epidemic happening under our noses, why do researchers focus more on detection and treatment than on prevention? The answer might be written on the bottom line. Besides Zeneca's vested interest in breast cancer, General Electric sells upwards of $100 million annually in mammography machines; Du Pont supplies much of the film used in those machines. These companies aggressively promote mammography screening of women in their 40s, despite the risk of its contributing to breast cancer in that age group. Another corporate partner-in-grime, biotech giant Monsanto, sponsors National Breast Cancer Awareness Month's high profile event, the Race for the Cure, but also produces a number of pesticides that have been linked to cancer.

Let's face it: We're no dummies, and it's time to expose companies that, by producing environmental poisons and providing breast cancer services, get us coming and going.

The Toxic Links Coalition stages an annual Cancer Industry Tour, a march on breast cancer profiteers, in San Francisco each October. Call 510/548-9286 or see http://toxiclinks.net/ for more information.

- By Tracy Baxter