A project of the National Institute of Environment al Health Sciences (NIEHS), BCERP held its annual conference in NYC this year (it rotates around the country). It brought together breast cancer advocates, students, scientists, and Judith Enck of the US EPA to discuss the latest research on such chemicals as PDBEs (Flame retardants), BPA (bisphenol A), and high fat diets in relation to breast cancer. Top scientists from around the country, who are funded by NIEHS, reported their recent findings. Not surprisingly, chemical exposures especially during infancy and puberty, and high fat diets were in most cases indeed found to increase breast cancer risk. They are also increasingly finding breast development in girls earlier than normal. Interestingly, consumption of healthy unprocessed soy foods was found to reduce risk.

To me, the real question now is how to get this information out to the general public so they can make healthier choices — through physicians, school lunchrooms, restaurants, etc. that influence our decision-making. We are starting to do so bit by bit…. See hbcac.org and ribbet.org.