Several weeks ago I received a strongly worded e- mail from Judy Brady, a long-time WCRC supporter and activist who let me know that promoting activities organized under the aegis of Breast Cancer Awareness month ran counter to the founding vision of the center. (See the August E-Bulletin).

I took her words to heart and checked in with staff, volunteers and Board members to share her perspective. We talked about the responsibility we feel to alert under-served women about free services such as mammography screening without creating a false sense of security about the efficacy and cancer risks of these tools. We confirmed her belief that our primary focus today is on direct service and that our political advocacy efforts have taken a back seat while we have worked to regain financial stability. Instead, we collaborate with other organizations (Breast Cancer Action and Breast Cancer Fund) for which this is the focus.

It’s not enough and we know it.

2006 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Women’s Cancer Resource Center. Planning is underway to organize a year of reflection and revisioning through a community-wide needs assessment that will enable us to talk with clients, supporters, referral sources and community partners about the work we’ve done during the past 20 years and the work that is needed for the next 20 years. We’ll revisit the values and aims that created WCRC and translate them into the context of 2006 and beyond.

Our aim is to embed this dialogue into everything we do.

So our thanks to Judy for the reality check. You’ve got our attention.

Let’s keep talking.

We hope that you like the new format of this e- bulletin and welcome your feedback. We are working towards a more limited use of paper in our newsletter publications, so please forward this on freely and let us know what you'd like to see in this publication.

We are seeking a name for the publication other than the obvious "E-bulletin" or "newsletter." Please send us your ideas!

-- Peggy McGuire, Executive Director, WCRC

Produced by WCRC in collaboration with the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic

Frida by María Sanchez

This Latino Heritage Month event features a health and art fair with cancer and health information in English and Spanish; a visual art show with art by eighteen local Latino artists; free delicious Mexican food from Cancun taqueria; South American and other Latin American music by Rafael Manriquez & Ingrid Rubis and a Bim Bom, Brazilian music trio; a free raffle and other information from local Latino organizations.

VISUAL ARTISTS: Cristian Guerrero, David Tafolla, Gabriella Nuñez, Gina Dominguez, María Sanchez, Mica Valdez, Rachel Palacios, Roxanne Zuniga, Ericka Yanina, Sally Rodriguez, Gabriela Guerrero, Gloria Cabrera, Michelle Gutierrez, Pete Villaseñor, Kara Andrade, Angela Villegas, Irene Perez and Eduardo Diaz

• DATE: Saturday, September 17th, 2005
• TIME: 10 AM – 2 PM
• LOCATION: Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) -- 5741 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
• FREE, Wheelchair accessible

This event is intended to promote awareness of health and cancer in Latino communities and to promote Latina Services at both CMCC and WCRC including support groups, information, social services and a variety of complementary treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and herbs. We also want to celebrate our culture and community.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Contact: Margo Rivera-Weiss at 510.420.7900 x 111 or margo@wcrc.org.

Sponsored by the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) of Oakland, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center, and the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center

A new program, "Cancer in So Many Words," will kick off September 22, with an event featuring acclaimed authors from across the nation who will empower cancer survivors to use the written word to express their thoughts and feelings.

Cancer in So Many Words will feature authors including:

Lori Hope, author of Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know

Geralyn Lucas: Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy

Marc Silver, author of Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond

Jeff Kane, MD, author of How to Heal: A Guide for Caregivers

and Rebecca Katz & Marsha Tomassi: One Bite at a Time

Special guests include:

Araceli Theatre Presents: Excerpts from "Humoring the Tumor" with Nicole Schapiro

Kelly Corrigan, Creator of Circus of Cancer

• Thursday, September 22, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
• Samuel Merritt Fontaine Auditorium, Health Education Center
• 400 Hawthorne Avenue, Oakland, CA -- Get map.
• Suggested Donation $10.00 at the door -- no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
• Proceeds will be used to fund writing programs for cancer survivors.
• For more information, email Marcie Beyatte.

FREE Educational Workshops in Spanish with refreshments and a raffle / GRATUITO - Taller Educativo con Aperitivos y Rifa

You and your family are invited to attend these educational workshops on cancer. / Usted y su familia están cordialmente invitados a asistir a este taller educativo en español para pacientes con cáncer.

• Nutrition and Cancer / Alimentación y Cáncer
• Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 6-8pm / Miércoles 28 de Septiembre, 2005 - 6-8PM
• Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA)
• 130 North Jackson Avenue, San Jose

For more information and to RSVP, please call Lesger Talavera at (408) 271-8327 or email TalaveraL@lls.org

Para más información y para hacer una reservación, favor de llamar a Lesger Talavera al (408) 271-8327 o por correo electronico TalaveraL@lls.org

• Breaking the Silence About Cancer / Rompiendo el Silencio Sobre el Cáncer
• Saturday, October 15, 2005 12-2 pm / 15 de Octubre, 2005 12-2 pm
• Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church / Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario
• 703 “C” Street, Union City

For more information and to RSVP, please call Lupe Nuñez at (510) 471-5880 x1121.

Para más información y para registrarse, favor de llamar a Lupe Nuñez al (510) 471-5880 x1121.

In 2005, an estimated 12,500 people who reside in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Francisco counties alone will be diagnosed with cancer.* Two out of every five Californians will eventually be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.* Cancer affects not only the individual, it affect their family and our communities. Cancer affects ALL OF US.

*Source: 2005 Cancer Facts and Figures, excluding prostate cancer.

Here's What You Can Do About It:

• Swim!
• Pledge!
• Volunteer!

...at our 10th annual Swim a Mile for Women with Cancer.

Ohlone Center Herbal Cancer Support Clinic / 7-10 pm / the first Tuesday of each month. www.ohlonecen ter.com

Healing Body Movement - Softening the Silence in Ourselves / A FREE movement & meditation support group for Caregivers and Women Living with Cancer and Other Life-Threatening Illnesses / Wednesdays from 10 - 11:30 am, JCCCNC (Japantown), 1840 Sutter St, San Francisco

Purple Moon Dance Project in association with Zeum & Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents the Bi-Annual Community Healing Garden Festival / Saturday, September 24, 2005 / 11am - 4 pm / FREE / Children's Rooftop at Yerba Buena Gardens located near 4th and Howard Streets in San Francisco

A Benefit Yoga Workshop for the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Memory of Katie Allen (1952- 2002) / Taught by Bonnie Maeda & Gay White / Saturday, October 1, 2005 / 2-5 pm / The Yoga Room / 2640 College Ave, Berkeley.

See our Calendar of Events for more information.