Subject:  1ST WORLD CONFERENCE ON BREAST CANCER
Date:     Mon, 21 Jul 1997 193252 -0500 (CDT)
From:     Lorna Wilson <lorna.wilson@sympatico.ca>
To:       Multiple recipients of list <emf-l@mail.llion.org>
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Gang:

Well it was a very long, hot week, but also very exciting and packed with
information.

The Conference started on Sunday night and ended on Thursday around 5pm.

Bella Abzug is a great activist for our cause.  She is very witty, very
concerned, and not afraid to speak her mind.

The numerous news reports were not very favorable.  Most of those
commenting in a negative way didn't even attend the Conference.

When I first made my mind up to attend, it was because I was in need of
information so I could make informed decissions.  I now feel empowered.
I finally rubbed shoulders with "believers" instead of my employer saying
"there's no proof" these people actually preach the prudence avoidance
approach.

My speach went very well according to those who called me to congratulate
me.  I have never done any public speaking.  When I first arrived at the
conference, one of the first things they give you is a delegates list.
Once I realized how many people the Company had sent to hear me speak, I
became totally confident that I could do this in front of the World.  AND
I DID.  The Company rep then asked for a copy of my speach, which I
didn't give them.

Once I was back home, the real fun began.  I had 30 e-mail messages.
My parents had cut out every news article on the Conference and taped all
TV Newscasts.  I also bought a copy of my speach, hoping to learn from my
mistakes.

I have been interview by two newspapers and a Liberal MPP from Windsor,
Ontario called to say there was $100,000. sitting in a fund waiting for a
subject to be studied.  I guess she thinks that should be US.

I also learned that when we filed for Workers Compensation, we were
advised that our case took so long because it had to be sent to the
Occupational Disease Panel because the Senior Adjudicator who handled our
claim did not have a Scientific background.  Well, during the Conference,
I met the Chair of the Occupational Disease Panel and she said that our
case never crossed her desk.  Isn't that interesting!

Anyway, now that I am home, I have been sending photocopies of all the
newpaper reports to the members of my Breast Cancer Prevention Coalition.
I also intend to write to these journalists and give them the true facts.

They kept portraying us a hysterical, plaque carrying radicals.  The
Conference was not that way at all.  There were a couple of sessions,
where the women got angry because Dr. Narod said that women who had the
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, should have a profolactic mastectomy to help
prevent breast cancer.  He also suggested removal of the ovaries so that
the production of estrogen is reduced thereby, further reducing the
chances of breast cancer.  The problem with his theory is that Jewish
women carry these two genes.  If we remove all their ovaries, this will
wipe out the Jewish race.  Do you see why they reacted to his "helpful
suggestions"?????

Sometimes, scientists only look at solving what "they" think the proplem
is and not what the "survivors" feel the problem is.

Besides, only 5% of breast cancers are linked geneticaly.  When we
suggested that perhaps 85% were environmentally linked, the scientific
community decided we didn't know what we were talking about.  Well they
can't decided what causes breast cancer, but there pretty sure its not
the food we eat, the air we breath, the water we drink or electromagnetic
pollution.  I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LEAVES US.....

At least we have an idea.  Why do we keep handing over our money to
scientists who don't even have a clue where to look?  The women want more
money spent on PREVENTION and alternative medicine.  Scientists don't
listen.  WHY DON'T THEY GIVE US WHAT WE NEED, INSTEAD OF WHAT "THEY"
THINK WE NEED?  Believe me, no one had any trouble expressing "our needs"
at this event.

Another very interesting angle that came out of this Conference is the
way we try to help underdeveloped countries.  First of all, they don't
want our hand-me-down mammography equipment.  They know that mammography
is a possible cancer causing device.  If we don't want it, why would they
want it.  It doesn't save lives.  The majority of breast cancers are
found by the women themselves.  Besides, in third world countries they
don't have the technicians to read the mammographs, & no the money to
maintain the equipment.  What they say they want is educational tools.
Lots of printed matter which can be easily disbursed.

In some countries, where medical care is paid for by the patient, if a
women is diagnosed with breast cancer, only the men in her family can
have the choice of whether to spend money on making her well.  Usually,
they don't value women and therefore, it is easier to let her die and
replace her with another wife.  Also, in some countries, getting breast
cancer is viewed as punishment for sin, so the women is pushed out of the
family circle.

AND I THOUGHT I HAD PROBLEMS.  At least I have medical coverage and a
supportive family.

Well I guess that's the story I have to tell.

Any questions, please feel free to write me at lorna.wilson@sympatico.ca

or 23 Lynden Hill Crescent, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, N3P 1R1

See you all!

Lorna Wilson


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Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html