A local organization has a grant from RIT to educate young women about how their exposure to certain chemicals can increase their risk of breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester will be making appearances this summer at festivals and health fairs, as well as some work places.
Holly Anderson, executive director of the Breast Cancer Coalition, says they’ll focus on areas that are considered high risk. "Things like going into nail salons and talking to workers there. There are young women there of Vietnamese and Laotian origin who may not know that there are things they can do to limit their exposure to these chemical exposures."
Anderson says there is mounting evidence that certain endocrine disrupting chemicals found in household products and personal care products can increase a woman's risk for developing the disease. "We think that these exposures over time are contributing to younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer. We also know that exposures in utero can influence how cancer develops later on, as well."
Endocrine disrupting chemicals can be found in every day products including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, cosmetics, and pesticides.
