1. Breast Cancer and the Environment What do we know and what can we do?

2. Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) To focus science on the factors in our environment that may increase women’s risk of developing breast cancer. To bring together laboratory scientists with clinical researchers and community partners to determine risk factors for breast cancer. To study windows of time over a woman’s lifespan when she may be more vulnerable to environmental risks, or “Windows of Susceptibility”.

3. BCERP Study Sites

4. The “Environment” ANY NON-INHERITED FACTOR Lifestyle and behavioral factors: physical activity, body weight, dietary foods and beverages Menstrual and reproductive factors: age of first menstruation, use of postmenopausal hormones Chemical agents: pesticides used to kill bugs, ingredients in cosmetics, materials in food containers Physical agents: radiation, metals, and chemicals Social factors: how the government regulates chemicals, where you live, access to fresh foods, and access to health care etc

5. Windows of Susceptibility (WOS) Key Times of Hormone Changes/High Cellular Activity: Prenatal Puberty Pregnancy Menopause

6. The Puberty WOS Hiroshima and Nagasaki studies – girls exposed to radiation were much more likely to develop breast cancer than were older girls or women During puberty: – Cells are rapidly growing and dividing – New blood vessels are forming – Hormones are circulating

7. What are we learning? Early puberty is a risk factor for breast cancer –Girls today are starting puberty earlier than girls in the past. –Earlier onset of puberty is strongly associated with greater body mass index –There are concerns that early puberty is also associated with exposures to chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors

8. What are we learning? In animal studies, chemical exposures in utero resulted in marked differences in mammary gland development: Timing of development Density of tissue Development of tumors

9. What are we learning? Studies indicate that exposure to BPA increases risk – and suggest that there may be multiple potential windows of susceptibility to that risk, beginning prenatally. Exposure to a natural hormone-like agent found in some fruits and vegetables –phytoestrogen— may delay breast development

10. BCERP Toolkits for Parents/ Caregivers, Healthcare Professionals and Outreach Organizations are available for download at Info.bcerp.org

11. Individual choices are great – but advocacy makes a bigger impact WBCC tracks legislation – be sure you’re on our email list Join us for lobby day: April 20 in Madison Contact your legislators – they need to be educated about the science!

12. Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition wbcc@wbcc@wibreastcancer.org 414-963-2103 www.wibreastcancer.org