Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

• What is your mission?

  Breast Cancer Prevention Partners works to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease.

• How are donations used?

  BCPP analyzes and translates the science linking chemical exposures to breast cancer, educates consumers about how to reduce their risk, convinces businesses to make safer products, and works to enact public health policies that reduce chemical exposures to protect everyone.

• What progress has been made already thanks to your donors?

  Since our founding, BCPP has worked to implement our Theory of Change which employs multiple strategic activities that result in reduced exposure to toxic chemicals with a goal to greatly reduce rates of breast cancer. As seasoned advocates, we constantly work to build the base of public support necessary to convince policymakers to oppose the powerful chemical industry, get the supply chain cooperation needed to change markets, and educate consumers on why they should want and demand safer products. Each year we see a steady increase in consumer demand for safe products, a growing market to meet that demand, and positive change on the legislative and regulatory front.

  Over the past decade and a half, we have made significant progress. We’ve published 33 major scientific studies and reports and secured passage of 11 local, state and federal laws. Through our market campaigns and advocacy efforts, we’ve banned phthalates from kids’ toys and pressed for the removal of BPA – a commonly used endocrine disrupting compound – from water bottles, baby bottles, and food can linings. The personal care products industry has been transformed through the demand we generated for safer products, resulting in the significant reduction in the use of toxic chemicals – such as phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, toluene, and triclosan. This consumer pressure has also led to commitments from 3 major multinationals – and hundreds of smaller and medium-size cosmetic companies -- to voluntarily disclose fragrance ingredients.

  We have worked to advance the awareness and science of breast cancer prevention through engaging scientists, legislators, regulators, funders and the public on the issue. Our State of the Evidence and other scientific publications have been instrumental in raising the awareness of chemicals and radiation in our environment linked to increased breast cancer risk and have provided us with a solid scientific credibility when advocating on prevention. We have worked closely with federal agencies (e.g. through the IBCERCC process) and funding bodies such as the CBCRP to help shape their programs to have a greater focus on prevention. Through our current work, particularly the ground breaking California Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Plan, we continue to press for research and action to reduce exposures linked to breast cancer, in particular, for vulnerable and under-represented communities.

  We believe that our many successes have proven that incremental change can result in important victories for environmental health, even if it takes a decade to realize them.

• What is the history of your organization?

  Founded in 1992, as the Breast Cancer Fund, the original mission of the organization was to raise awareness about the breast cancer epidemic and support for programs that would lead to the eradication of the disease. In 2001, following a robust strategic planning process, Breast Cancer Fund refocused the mission to working to prevent breast cancer by eliminating our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease. This unique mission addressed the need to understand the underlying causes of the disease in order to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
  In 2017, the organization name was changed to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners to better reflect our work. The name now highlights our prevention mission and the impact of leveraging partnerships to effect powerful systemic change. As the only national advocacy organization focused solely on breast cancer prevention, we are part of a broad environmental, public health and justice movement. Collaboration among organizations, government agencies, and businesses is an important part of this movement and a significant factor in the success of BCPP in our work to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals and radiation in order to protect public health and reduce the incidence of breast cancer over time.