| November 19, 2003
WCRC NEWS
Administrative Assistant job available at WCRC
The Women's Cancer Resource Center Art Gallery Presents:
Artists By Nature
Photography by Sophia Antipas, Raku Sculpture by Barbara
Strauss, Pastels by Yoshiko Tagami, and Acrylic Paintings
by Melissa West. The show runs November 21 - December 24.
Please join us for a reception with the artists, Friday,
November 21 from 6- 8 PM. For more information 510-601-4040
x111 or margo@wcrc.org
Have you lost someone you love to cancer?
Come to one of our new Grief Information Sessions. 2nd and
4th Monday of every month 6-7:30pm, beginning November 24th.
Offers gentle guidance through the basic steps of grieving.
RSVP 510-420-7900.
Daytime Support!
We are starting a second Women with Cancer Support Group
Mondays 11:30am-1pm. Please call one of the facilitators
before attending: Mary 510-685-7473 or Janet 510-524-6116.
Volunteer Orientation
The next volunteer orientation will be held on December
8 from 6-8 pm. Contact Emily at emily@wcrc.org
for more information.
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND RESEARCH
HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT
NEW SURVEY Finds: 100 Percent of Responding Hospitals
Use Pesticides in or Around Facilities
Report highlights San Francisco General Hospital as a Model
Practitioner of Least Toxic IPM and Urges Move to Safer, Proven
Pest Control Methods
A first-of-its-kind survey of top U.S. hospitals found many
major hospitals are regularly spraying toxic pesticides, and
unnecessarily risking the health of patients, staff and visitors.
"Hospitals are intended to be places of healing, yet
many are using hazardous pesticides unnecessarily in a ‘spray
and pray’ approach to pest management, when safer and
more effective methods are available,"said Catherine
Porter, Public Policy Advocate at the Women's Cancer Resource
Center.
The survey results are detailed in a new report, "Healthy
Hospitals: Controlling Pests Without Harmful Pesticides"
released by the health advocacy groups Health Care Without
Harm (HCWH) and Beyond Pesticides (available at http://www.noharm.org).
The report includes suggestions and resources to assist hospitals
in managing pests least toxically.
"Obviously patients and staff should be protected from
pests, but they also need to be protected from pesticides,"
said Gina Solomon, MD, MPH, a Senior Scientist at the Natural
Resources Defense Council and clinical faculty member at UCSF.
"Pesticides have been linked to an array of health problems
that are particularly relevant to pregnant women, developing
children, and people with asthma" Dr. Solomon added.
"Pesticides used at some hospitals cause cancer and birth
defects in laboratory animals, as well as neurological and
reproductive disorders. Alternative approaches that reduce
or eliminate exposures to patients and staff can and should
be used."
The survey also offers good news: Some hospitals are having
great success managing pests with no or very few hazardous
pesticides by using proven, safer Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) techniques. San Francisco General Hospital's IPM program
is highlighted in the report as a model for least toxic
pest control practices.
"Hospitals should be leaders in implementing reduced-risk
pest management if they are serious about the medical profession's
commitment to 'First, Do No Harm,'" said Deanna Simon
of San Francisco Department of the Environment's IPM Program.
"Managing pests while protecting people's health
requires IPM, and that means prevention and non-chemical
controls come first, reduced risk pesticides are used only
as a last resort, and effectiveness is not sacrificed."
A good IPM program includes reducing pests' sources of food,
water and shelter; proper maintenance of buildings, lawns
and landscapes; using a least-hazardous pesticide only when
other options have failed; and notifying patients and staff
of any pesticide use.
"Hospitals are like schools in that we expect them
to be safe havens from harm. Just as schools in California
are turning toward safer approaches to pest control, it
is time that hospitals move in the same direction,"
said David Chatfield, Director, Californians for Pesticide
Reform.
POLITICS AND LAW
EVENTS
Lesbian Health Hearing
San Francisco Board of Supervisors City Services Committee
Public Meeting - Public Testimony Welcomed
Thursday, November 20th, 10:00 AM
San Francisco City Hall, Room 263
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
A hearing to consider health issues affecting the lesbian
community of all ages. For more information about the Lesbian
Health Research Center: http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org
Ohlone Center
Herbal Cancer Support Clinic - The First Tuesday of each
month.
Evenings 7-10pm
Tuesday December 2, 2003
www.ohlonecenter.com
Lesbian Health Salon Series Announced by the Lesbian
Health Research Center
New Salon Series Brings Lesbian Health Information into
the Community. Each Salon in the series will include a meet
and mingle hour followed by an informal, interactive discussion
on a selected topic led by LHRC medical and research leaders.
There is no charge to attend. At each event the question
of how lesbian health differs from women's health in general
will be briefly addressed. Timeframe for each Salon is 7:00
PM - 8:30 PM. For details on salons and their locations,
contact Betty Sullivan: LHRCenter@aol.com or 415-861-1637.
Schedule of Salons
Thursday, November 20: Lesbian Health in Australia. Tour
of the Center's facilities will also be available.
December - NO SALON - LHRC Holiday Benefit (Dinner/Concert/Dance)
- Saturday, December 13th, featuring lesbian jazz great
Suede with DJ Page Hodel. For more information and to
order tickets, visit: http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org.
Thursday, January 22 - Comparison of Same-Sex Couples
in Civil Unions and Their Lesbian/Gay Friends without
Civil Unions and Their Married Heterosexual
Thursday, February 26 - Heart Disease Risk Among Lesbians
Thursday, March 25 – Mental Health Issues Among Lesbians
The Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) is specifically
and uniquely concerned with the health and wellbeing of
lesbians, bisexual women, transgendered individuals and
their families; and with the health care available to them.
We believe that every lesbian has the right to be fully
informed about her health, health care should be sensitive
and relevant to lesbians and lesbian health research is
critical. LHRC has begun to bring lesbian health information
out of the closet and into the hands of community members
and health care providers through its on-going activities
and services. For information, visit http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org;
or e-mail: info@lesbianhealthinfo.org.
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