Breast cancer, it's a woman's issue, a family issue and a political issue.

Before the 1980's breast cancer slowly gained awareness, breaking through the quiet of whispers when Shirley Temple Black, Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller announced they had breast cancer. In 1979 Rose Kushner wrote a thoughtful book titled Why Me? This book and Kushner's advocacy was influential in changing the surgical procedure to a two-step process where women had the opportunity to learn their diagnosis and have time to deal with the emotional burden of breast cancer before deciding to have their breast removed.

The issue of breast cancer and efforts to push awareness to the forefront of the country's agenda was modeled on the AIDS movement. Throughout the US, groups of women, primarily lesbian organizations, began addressing the political implications of women's cancers. Why was so little money spent on research into women's cancers...coupled with employment inequities and insurance bias? The questions caught the attention of the 60's activists and together, women fueled each other's fire for advocacy. In 1990 Susan Love, M.D. gathered together women who had leadership roles in several national organizations and drafted a plan for a national Breast Cancer Coalition to address the need for education about the disease to Members of Congress and to women. Volunteers were sought from throughout the country and the first task was to collect signatures on a letter to then President George Bush representing the number of women expected to be diagnosed in each state, totaling 175,000 nationally. The ground-swell of support for this advocacy was evident when a total of 600,000 letters were signed. This "Do The Write Thing" campaign started the impressive and powerful grassroots movement in every state. Congress recognized the movement and the national coalition leadership directed attention to increasing research funds for breast cancer. They invited scientists from around the country to a meeting to discuss what was needed in breast cancer research and how much money it would take to accomplish the science. Dr. Love took these scientists to meet with Members of Congress to tell their story of under- funded breast cancer research.

The first amount the coalition advocates asked Congress for was $433 million. The total cancer research budget for 1992 was $93 million. The National Cancer Institute did not welcome the advocates' initial efforts. The NCI gives the President their expected figure for cancer research and the advocates' request was considered unreasonable. However, the women responded to the politicians' claim that there wasn't any more money by reminding them they found money for the Savings & Loan bailout and the Gulf War. Why not for breast cancer research? They testified and the grassroots bombarded their Members of Congress with calls and faxes demanding the money. At the same time, the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings were going on and Members were sensitive to "looking bad" on women's issues. Saving women's lives seemed a safe bipartisan cause to embrace.

Senator Tom Harkin chaired the Appropriations Committee. His two sisters had died of breast cancer and he was sympathetic to the cause. He recognized money previously allocated in the Department of Defense budget to be used for breast cancer and proposed $210 million of the defense budget for breast cancer research and it passed. But the glow of success was nearly dimmed when President Bush challenged the decision because medical research funding was domestic spending and Department of Defense funding was military spending. The advocates organized a vigil in front of the Senate while they met to determine the fate of the money. Ultimately, the $210 million in the Department of Defense budget and the extra $220 million in the NCI budget equaled a total of $430 million. The breast cancer advocates had succeeded.

From the desk of Marlene McCarthy, H.L.D., co-founder and volunteer chair of the Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition. Diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago, she serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She has been an integral participant in the breast cancer grassroots advocacy movement since 1991. This story is her first-hand account of the events initiating the National Breast Cancer Coalition. McCarthy also serves on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Cancer Council.

(Part 1 of a two-part series - Click here for Part 2)

For more information and answers to specific questions contact the Rhode Island Cancer Council at info@ricancercouncil.org or call us at (401) 728-4800 or toll free 866-879-4100.

IT IS EASIER TO PREVENT CANCER THAN TO TREAT IT.

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