NOW Foundation Joins Campus Breastival

October 9, 2007

Astonished! That was the reaction of many students at the American University "Breastival" event on Tuesday, October 2, when NOW Foundation activists handed them a questionnaire and fact sheet concerning health problems with breast implants.

Most students had no idea that breast implants will make diagnosis of breast cancer much more difficult. In fact, about 55 percent of breast tissue is obscured by implants, on average, resulting in up to 67 percent more tumors being missed in mammography exams. And, many did not know that insurance companies often refuse or restrict health care coverage to women with implants.

NOW Foundation's Women's Health Project managed a table at this event which attracted 60 organizations and was attended by an estimated 1,200 students. The idea of the Breastival was developed by Johns Hopkins University Medical School and is carried on at many campuses across the country during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The AU Breastival also had many tables of information that were put together by women's organizations to provide information on a range of health topics, including diabetes, breast cancer, cancer screening and cancer support networks.

NOW Foundation focuses on breast implants to inform women that, contrary to what popular culture tells them, breast implants are unglamorous and decidedly unhealthy. Our table was a big hit, with many people signing up for action alerts, while learning about breast implants and their negative effects on women's health.

The students were often surprised when they filled out our questionnaire and found out how many women in the United States get breast implants annually (329,000 in 2006 alone), the serious health risks that come with breast implants, and the common complications experienced by many women with breast implants. Local activists anywhere can use this model as an opportunity to draw attention to breast cancer awareness and the risks of breast implants; check to see if there are similar events in your community or on nearby campuses and use our questionnaire and fact sheet to distribute useful information. NOW Foundation's upcoming annual Love Your Body Day on October 18 is a great opportunity to spread the word on these topics. Read more about breast implants and NOW Foundation