Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
"What causes cancer?"
2/26/00: This question was asked in the alt.support.cancer.breast newsgroup. We are fortunate that we have the Chief of breast surgery from Johns Hopkins drop in and help us out, virtually, every day. This physician gave the most thorough, easily understood answer I could imagine. It must be remembered, that this answer is exactly why we need to support genetic research, as well as pathology, and immunology. Why? Because our bodies do respond to changes, and threats to its homeostasis (look at my glossary page). This is the reason I kept questioning why the protocol for treatment was "three positive nodes." Three out of what? I was told every woman has a different number of nodes. Ok, I'll accept that, but there's a reason why, in my opinion.
The immune system responds to any threat against the body. Just look at a cut on your finger. The tissue becomes somewhat inflamed (red), and there's a whitish environment around it (like blood isn't there). The lymphocytes and phagocytes move in to protect your...even your little finger.
So, here is what this kind friend of ours said, last night, when we know he was tired (and believe me we don't always agree in the newsgroup with him, but we're grateful!). Here was his challenger:
Vicki wrote in message news: Here is a big question...."Have any of you ever been told the WHY?" Why do you have cancer? What is/was the initial cause? If you can believe it there IS the technology available to find the answers!
"There are two levels at which this question could be answered.
1. All cancer is to a major extent the "erasure" of the DNA encoded message that tells a cell to live for so many generations and then to die. In other words we all come with a built in self-destruct sequence in our DNA. What exactly causes this "erasure" is still hotly debated and the reason is probably different in different kinds of tumors and different in different individuals. It is clear that some accumulation of genetic hits through life ( including any you might have inherited) increase the probability that this "erasure" occurs.
2. Why yours specifically is harder-- the best models of colon cancer for instance suggest that it takes a number of hits occurring over many years to finally complete the "erasure" and let the cells grow un-checked. The cancer cells grow in a very selfish way - eating all they can get and where possible denying nourishment to the normal surrounding tissue. Since cancer cells are then basically immortal if they continue to be fed, they just continue to wreck havoc in their search for better living conditions and more "luxurious" quarters. You just had a very unlucky series of exposures and or inherited genes that predisposed you more than others your same age.
Take heart though - many cancer researchers think that if anyone lives long enough cancer will eventually get you.
William Dooley, MD, FACS
Director , The Johns Hopkins Breast Center
Thank you, Dr. Dooley! We appreciate you, very much! - Dr. Dooley is now Chairman, Board of Trustee, PROJECT! OUTREACH and Chair, Surgical Oncology, University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center, and has been as Vice Chair of "The PROJECT!'s Scientific Affairs, began the effort to hold no cost breast screening seminars for large groups of the public, through collaboration with breast cancer groups. The women examined were given coupons for free mammograms, and followed up by physicians, at all times regardless of income.
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reviewed Sunday, June 26, 2005