| December 17, 2003
WCRC NEWS
And now back to our regularly scheduled program…
Thanks for all of the "get well"wishes from some
of you! We’re (relatively) over the flu by now and
are happy to return to the publication of this weekly bulletin!
WCRC Holiday Hours
The Center will close early on December 24th and remain
closed on the 25th and 26th. We will be back in full operation
on the 29th, and closed on New Year’s Day.
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.
For more information 510-601-4040 x111 or margo@wcrc.org
Volunteer facilitators needed for two WCRC peer-led support
groups:
- Lesbians with Cancer
- Friends and Family of Women with Cancer.
For the Lesbians with Cancer group, we are looking for
a lesbian who has completed cancer treatment to co-facilitate
the group for lesbians with various types of cancer. Group
meets 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 6 to 8pm.
For the Friends and Family Group, we are looking for someone
to co-faciliatate who has had a loved one at some point
in their life who has had cancer. Group meets 1st and 3rd
Thursdays from 7-8:30pm. Please contact Emily for more information:
510-601-4040 x109 or emily@wcrc.org.
Have you lost someone you love to cancer?
Come to a Grief Information
Session. Monday December 22nd 6-7:30pm. 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.
Wish List
WCRC needs a larger screen TV (the one we have is 20"
and only picks up Laverne and Shirley reruns) for group
showing of movies and training materials to our clients.
If you have one in good working order that you no longer
need, please contact margo@wcrc.org or phone 510-420-7900
x111. Thanks!
ACTION ALERT
Workers Poisoned in Colombia
On November 25, 2003, approximately 200 Colombian flower
workers were poisoned at Flores Aposentos north of Bogotá.
The workers, primarily women, were taken by ambulance from
the worksite in Sopó to five surrounding hospitals,
all with symptoms consistent with pesticide poisoning. Untraflores,
a Colombian labor organization, reports that some workers
were ill for days, and has called on people to contact Colombian
officials asking for more information on the causes of the
poisoning, and improved worker protections.
The affected workers experienced symptoms such as strong
headaches, nausea, swelling, rashes, diarrhea, and sores
inside and around the mouth shortly after arriving to work.
Untraflores reported that the company did not seek medical
help for the workers until later in the morning, when dozens
of workers began fainting. Twenty ambulances carried workers
to a hospital in Sopó, as well as hospitals in three
surrounding towns and a clinic in Bogotá.
The pesticide involved in the poisoning has not been disclosed.
Colombian news sources speculated on the causes of the accident,
which remain unexplained. Untraflores reported a large pesticide
application had taken place the evening before and speculated
that the morning sun may have caused chemicals to volatilize.
Workers say the company called workers back to work later
in the day on November 25, despite a strong chemical smell
in the greenhouses.
Within days of the poisoning, Colombian health officials
announced an investigation. Untraflores has asked people
to contact Colombian officials, asking for public information
on the chemicals involved and the long-term consequences
to the workers. PANNA has joined the International Labor
Rights Fund to circulate the Untraflores appeal.
The company involved in the Colombian poisoning has also
been criticized by labor groups for underpaying workers.
Flores Aposentos uses a system known as the "little
school" in which they pay new workers a reduced salary
for the first month (less than 100,000 pesos, or US $37)
with the explanation that workers are gaining skills. At
month's end, the company selects only a few workers to continue,
taking advantage of thousands of workers each year.
To contact Colombian health officials via fax:
Health Minister: Ministerio de la Protección Social
Cra. 13 #32-76 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Fax: 011 571 336 0182
Please also send a copy to Untraflores via email
or via general mail to: Cra. 2 Nº 6 A
25, Barrio Cartagenita, Facatativa, Colombia.
A sample letter and more information are available on the
International Labor Rights Fund website: http://www.laborrights.org/
TREATMENT OPTIONS AND RESEARCH
Human Papillomavirus Tied to Oral Cancer
By David Douglas
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 10 - Human papillomavirus
(HPV), the causal agent of cervical cancer, also appears
to be involved in cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx,
researchers report in the December 3rd issue of the Journal
of the National Cancer Institute.
In fact, lead investigator Dr. Rolando Herrero of the Costa
Rican Foundation for Health Sciences, San Jose, told Reuters
Health that it's possible that "HPV vaccines currently
under development could be effective at preventing HPV-related
oral cancer."
Dr. Herrero and colleagues conducted a multinational, multicenter,
case-control study. Initially involved were 1415 patients
with cancer of the oral cavity, 255 with cancer of the oropharynx
and 1732 controls.
HPV DNA was found in biopsies of 3.9% of oral cavity cancers
and 18.3% of oropharyngeal cancers that met inclusion criteria.
Such findings were more common in subjects who reported
having more than one sexual partner or who practiced oral
sex.
Overall, DNA for HPV 16, the most common HPV in genital
tumors, was found in 94.7% of HPV DNA-positive case patients
Antibodies against HPV 16 L1 were associated with an increased
risk of cancers of the oral cavity (odds ratio 1.5) and
the oropharynx (odds ratio 3.5). Corresponding odds ratios
for antibodies against HPV 16 E6 or E7 were 2.9 and 9.2.
Thus, the researchers conclude that, "HPV appears
to play an etiologic role in many cancers of the oropharynx
and possibly a small subgroup of cancers of the oral cavity."
Summing up, Dr. Herrero added that "antibodies against
HPV 16 E6 and E7 need more evaluation as potential screening
or follow-up tools for this subset of cancers."
"When additional studies are completed, characterizing
an oral/oropharyngeal cancer in an individual patient as
HPV-related could be useful for management and definition
of prognosis."
ENVIRONMENT
EVENTS
Ohlone Center
Herbal Cancer Support Clinic - The First Tuesday of each
month.
Evenings 7-10pm 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, 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.
SAVE THE DATE!
"Unite for Change: New Approaches to Pesticides and
Environmental Health" - the 22nd National Pesticide
Forum, 2004. Please join us for the 22nd National Pesticide
Forum in Berkeley, April 2-4, 2004. The forum will be filled
with workshops, national and international speakers, and
plenty of time for networking with other pesticide and environmental
health activists from North America. There will be a lunch
or dinner devoted to California issues and campaigns.
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Date: Friday, April 2nd thru Sunday April 4th, 2004
Sponsored by Pesticide Action Network North America, Beyond
Pesticides, and Californians for Pesticide Reform. More
information or contact John Kepner at 202-543-5450,
jkepner@beyondpesticides.org.
Urban IPM Conference
Save the date: the 8th Annual San Francisco Urban IPM Conference
will be on January 27th, 2004 from 8am to 4pm in San Francisco.
The conference will include a general Urban IPM session
plus two breakout groups focusing on vegetation management
and vertebrate management. $35 includes lunch, free for
SFCity employees. For details and registration information
visit SF Environment at www.sfenvironment.com
or call
415-355-3700.
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