Maureen Lafrenière

Beginning in 1991, five Montreal women joined forces to raise awareness about breast cancer, to gather and provide information on treatment options, to learn about the possible causes of the disease and to be a voice in decisions related to cancer policy, advocacy and research.

By the time Breast Cancer Action Montreal became a registered charitable organization in 1993, it had presented several successful public lectures and discussion panels, and many more would follow. That year, the group also organized its first Awareness Rally to mark the opening of a National Forum on Breast Cancer. Since 2001, the Prevention Is The Cure march has been an annual public event.

BCAM has brought to Montreal audiences internationally-renowned lecturers to speak about timely and challenging topics, including Dr. Susan Love in 1996 (on breaking cancer myths), Dr. Sandra Steingraber in 1997 (on synthetic chemicals and cancer hot spots), Dr. Samuel Epstein in 1999 (on the politics of cancer and cancer research), Dr. Janette D. Sherman in 2001 (on cancer clusters related to exposures to hormones, chemicals and atomic radiation), Barbara Brenner in 2004 (on cause marketing and pink ribbon campaigns), and Elizabeth May in 2006 (on personal and political action to reduce environmental toxins).

Other important BCAM projects involving education, advocacy and research have attracted grants from governments and resulted in partnerships with various organizations and institutions. These include a skills-training and network-building program involving immigrant and aboriginal women (1996), the development of educational materials about breast health aimed at young women (1997), a study circle on cancer and the environment (1998), a ground-breaking art exhibition related to breast cancer (2000), and a health and environment awareness project in partnership with McGill University involving a number of community organizations to develop public education tools and events focusing on pesticides and pollutants, hormone disruptors, chemoprevention and its risks, and the impact of cause marketing on public awareness of breast cancer (current).

Activism in policy-making has been another strength of BCAM's from early on, with member participation in public hearings, meetings with government officials, policy committees and national and international conferences. The executive also release statements taking a public position on relevant government reports, policies or urgent public issues in a timely way.

The BCAM speakers' bureau responds to requests for volunteers to make presentations or participate in meetings, roundtables, groups of patients and public events. Other community services include providing an expert presence at health fairs, conferences, or public hearings and providing sponsorship for film presentations and other events.

Members and non-members benefit from the organization's growing collection of books, articles and videos, not to mention information that may be provided by phone or through the web site. The BCAM Bulletin, published three times annually, provides members with articles, news briefs, announcements and updates on events and activities, book reviews, opinion pieces and acknowledgments.

Breast Cancer Action Montreal is, so far as we know, the only breast cancer group in Canada that has a clear policy disallowing donations or contributions from pharmaceutical, chemical, oil, and tobacco companies, biotech and agribusiness, and any other facility that in any way profits from cancer-related diagnosis or treatment.

BCAM continues to gain membership and to forge relationships with other groups and movements - health, women, environment, education, food and others — that share its goals. Is there such a thing as too much education, networking, advocacy, or political action?