Tag Archive for "breast cancer"

Posts Tagged breast cancer

Quick hit: How sequestration screws over breast cancer researchers

At TPM Cafe today, there’s a great piece about how sequestration cuts are making it harder for scientists to do research on lifesaving medical treatments:

The sequester was supposed to be so draconian that it would drive politicians to accept some alternative budget compromise. Unfortunately compromise seems to be a dirty word in Washington, and it has become almost dogma for some that any government spending is inherently wrong and should be opposed on principle. But does that really extend to scientific biomedical research that can save lives?

Some types of government spending are crucial and necessary. These investments include not only breast cancer research, but all avenues of basic scientific research funded by agencies such as the National Institutes ...

At TPM Cafe today, there’s a great piece about how sequestration cuts are making it harder for scientists to do research on lifesaving medical treatments:

The sequester was supposed to be so draconian that it would ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Breaking: Supreme Court rules human genes cannot be patented

The New York Times reports:

Isolated human genes may not be patented, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The case concerned patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that correlate with increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

The patents were challenged by scientists and doctors who said their research and ability to help patients had been frustrated. The particular genes at issue received public attention after the actress Angelina Jolie revealed in May that she had had a preventive double mastectomy after learning that she had inherited a faulty copy of a gene that put her at high risk for breast cancer.

The price of the test, often more than $3,000, ...

The New York Times reports:

Isolated human genes may not be patented, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The case concerned patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that ...

By Alexandra Brodsky • 10 years ago

Quick Hit: Angelina Jolie writes about her double mastectomy, preventing breast cancer

Angelina Jolie published a op-ed in this morning’s New York Times detailing her double mastectomy. Because of her family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Jolie chose to investigate her own risk through genetic testing. When her doctor determined she had an “87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer,” the actress and director decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy, reducing her chances of cancer significantly.

Jolie’s piece is more than a personal narrative that denies stigma its power–though it certainly is that, too, and a particularly powerful confession given Hollywood’s obsession with the perfect, young female body. Jole wrote the op-ed, she explains, so other women will be aware of ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Are mainstream breast cancer awareness initiatives hurting more than they’re helping?

Ed. note: This is a guest post from Verónica Bayetti Flores. Verónica is the Assistant Director of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy program (CLPP) at Hampshire College. She has worked to increase access to contraception and abortion, fought for paid sick leave, demanded access to safe public space for queer youth of color, and helped to lead social justice efforts in Wisconsin, New York City, and Texas.

Yesterday the New York Times featured an article in its Sunday magazine about breast cancer, awareness initiatives, and what the real effects these initiatives have had on the lives of women. It’s on the longer side, but one that’s framed around the personal narrative of the author – a breast cancer survivor herself ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

The gene patent case before the Supreme Court is hugely important to women’s health

Ed. note: Katie is off this week, so Arikia Millikan is guest blogging in her place. Arikia is a Brooklyn-based journalist and former Wired editor who writes about science and technology. She was Nate Silver’s research assistant for the NY Times bestseller The Signal and the Noise.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a precedent-setting case regarding the patenting of human genes, specifically the two genes that are most closely linked to breast and ovarian cancer. When Myriad Genetics aided in the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, they patented the discovery, securing a monopoly over use of the genes for decades. Now, a group of researchers and medical groups, including the women’s health collective Our Bodies Ourselves, have sued.

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

Breaking: Komen apologizes, says they will continue funding Planned Parenthood

The Komen Board of Directors and Founding CEO Nancy G. Brinker just released a statement in response to the massive outcry following their decision to stop directing funds to Planned Parenthood, most of which went to breast cancer screenings. Komen claims the decision was not political, and that they will continue funding Planned Parenthood:

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

Women’s health care shouldn’t be at the mercy of Komen or Bloomberg

As Samhita mentioned yesterday, in response to the Komen fiasco, Mayor Bloomberg is matching donations to Planned Parenthood up to $250,000. While he’s probably contributing the biggest chunk of change, Bloomberg is hardly the only supporter rallying to Planned Parenthood’s aid. Just 24 hours after Komen announced they were pulling their funding, Planned Parenthood had raised nearly enough to offset the loss.

That’s wonderful. Bloomberg is kind of the worst on some issues, but he has been a strong and consistent defender of reproductive rights. I’m thrilled he put some of his money where his mouth is in this case. And it’s also been truly heartening to see how quickly and passionately regular folks have mobilized to defend Planned ...

By Lori Adelman • 12 years ago

Breaking: Komen Foundation pulls breast cancer screening funds from Planned Parenthood

What sad and disturbing news. From the Washington Post comes breaking news that will affect hundreds of thousands of dollars in women’s health funding:

“The nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.

The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams.” [Emphasis mine.]

The infamous pink Bible “controversy” (in which pink bibles that were being sold to benefit Susan B. Komen for Breast Cancer Awareness were pulled from the shelves because of ties to Planned Parenthood) most likely ...

What sad and disturbing news. From the Washington Post comes breaking news that will affect hundreds of thousands of dollars in women’s health funding:

“The nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is ...