Disease rates plummet to lowest point since 1988

Where does Marin, once home of the worst breast cancer rate in the world, stand now?

I've been waiting a year for yet another shoe to drop.

That, I learned long ago, is what happens with almost every bit of research, but especially those concerning breast cancer. 

Flip-flopping in the cancer industry has become de rigueur.

The most recent shoe drop came at the tail of 2015 when a then-new report indicated breast cancer rates in Marin County — which previously had been believed to be a cluster of the disease — had plummeted to their lowest level since tracking began in '88.

That decreased rate, a county report had noted, matched (instead of topping) the statewide average.

That study, of course,  contradicted earlier reports dating back to the first fallen clodhopper in 1994. The Marin rate then was called the highest in the world, according to a study by the Northern California Cancer Center (since renamed the Cancer Prevention Institute of California).

Marin's rate actually peaked in 2001, when the numbers for non-Hispanic white women had climbed 60 percent. 

Since that year, it's dropped 31 percent.

Why? 

Well, risk factors for Marin's white women have been listed as outgrowths of their being affluent — including higher alcohol consumption and the delayed age of childbearing, not necessarily in that order. 

And, until 2002, a heightened use of hormone therapy (especially an estrogen/progestin combination).

When those hormones were abandoned as treatment, the cancer rates began to descend. 

Quickly.

Despite the obvious connection, few would risk verbally pinpointing why the severe dips had occurred — or why the rates had actually been so high in the first place.

Dr. Mary Mockus, a principal researcher with the Marin Women's Study, long-term, county-led breast cancer research involving nearly14,000 women, did say she thought earlier detection and increased patient awareness had helped.

At the same time, authors of the study discounted any influence changes in mammography screenings might have had. 

Rose Barlow

The decade-old Women's Study, according to its website, is currently researching established risk factors, effects of pregnancy, adolescent risk factors, environmental agents and risk prediction.

That research organization, not incidentally, won a reprieve last year after my adopted home county chose not to finance additional work.

Dr. Mark Powell of Greenbrae rescued it by leaning on crowdfunding and the Avon Foundation — and partnering with several groups, including Zero Breast Cancer, a Marin nonprofit headed by Rose Barlow that I wholeheartedly endorse. 

Still, there's been no updates from the researchers recently, so I wait.

And wait. And wait.

I have a vested interest in knowing if there's a root cause in Marin — monolithic or not — because here's where my wife was diagnosed with the disease more than two decades ago.

Meanwhile, frequent flip-flopping results stemming from cancer research are well documented in "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at caregivers.

Recurrence prevention becoming a priority

Zero Breast Cancer launches new website and logo, plugs 'Rollercoaster,' healing event 

Zero Breast Cancer, a Marin County nonprofit, has launched it new website.

With a spanking new logo and brighter color palette.

All that, according to Rose Barlow, its executive director, reflects the organization's commitment to the next generation and an ongoing search for the most effective ways to help young women and men learn about the environmental causes of breast cancer — as well as to assist folks in becoming "aware of ways to reduce breast cancer risks."

A mouthful, perhaps, but critically important.

Regarding its mission, ZBC also notes that "in addition to primary prevention…recurrence prevention is becoming a priority."

Although the site is new, Zero Breast Cancer is still, thankfully, promoting "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a VitalityPress book that I, Woody Weingarten, aimed at male caregivers.

That item appears on the ZBC site under the headline "Male caregivers need support, too" — and can be found by clicking on goo.gl/821pi7.

Marilyn Kwan, Ph.D.

If you check out the home page, by the way, you'll find another important plug — for a 6:30 p.m. April 6 talk by Kaiser Permanente researcher Marilyn Kwan, Ph.D., with the elongated title of "Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Survivors: What's at Risk and New Information on Racial/Ethnic Disparities."

And the ZBC blog contains such informative items as "High Fiber as Teen Equals Lower Breast Cancer Risk," "New Study Shows Big Benefit of Breast Cancer Survivors Stopping Smoking" and "Feeling Bad about Our Weight is Unhealthy!"

May 10, the organization will hold Honor Our Healers (a name change for the annual signature event from Honor Thy Healer).

KGO's Cheryl Jennings will once again be the emcee, and the keynote speaker, Dr. Louise Greenspan, co-author of the book "The New Puberty," will reprise her recent TEDMED talk.

Zero Breast Cancer, which just turned 21, is using its year-long anniversary to celebrate the fact that "breast cancer rates in Marin and California have continued to decline."

In a personal email, Barlow told me this: "As we are now telling everyone — the very good news is that Marin breast cancer rates are way down. The bad news is that they are now just as bad as everywhere else in CA, the USA and in line with rates in other advanced societies with our first world lifestyle."

Zero Breast Cancer, under its original name, Marin Breast Cancer Watch, twice honored me with awards — once as a healing partner for my wife, Nancy Fox, and once as a leader of the Marin Man to Man support group.

Cavallo Point event honors awareness month

Woody Weingarten, author of 'Rollercoaster,' will speak at benefit for Zero Breast Cancer

Finally, I, Woody Weingarten, have worked my way out of the primordial slime that encases a novice book author and climbed into a world of public appearances.

Next up, I will be the prime speaker at a charity event that will benefit Zero Breast Cancer, a San Rafael-based nonprofit dedicated to identifying environmental factors that may trigger the diseases.

The “Make a Point for Good” event — in support of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month — will be held from 11am to 4pm, Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Cavallo Point store, The Mercantile.

I will be speaking at 3 p.m,. about male caregiving and my VitalityPress book, “Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner’s breast cancer.” A book signing will follow my talk.

The charity event also will spotlight complimentary Luzern mini-facials, a Kathy Komei Designs trunk show and a cooking school display.

Cavallo Point — which features a spa, restaurant, lodge and cooking school — plans to donate a portion of its entire month’s proceeds to ZBC. The facility is located at 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker, in Sausalito.

Later that day, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., another benefit for Zero Breast Cancer — as well as for the To Celebrate Life foundation, a second Marin County nonprofit that helps with breast cancer research — will be held at the Marin County Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 

That event, the 17th annual "Wine Women & Song," starts with wine, beer, cocktails and a buffet at 5:30, followed at 7 by a rock 'n' roll concert, dance party and live auction.

Featured will be music composed or made famous by artists who have battled breast cancer. 

Rose Barlow, executive director of ZBC, and I previously appeared together on a weekly KPIX-TV interview show, “Mosaic,” that’s been rerun twice, most recently on Oct. 11 as another bow to the awareness month.

Anyone wanting to see two of the four segments of the ‘Mosaic” show can click on: Mosaic, and Mosaic 2 for the second half.

Earlier this month, I also spoke to about 40 members of the North Marin Breakfast Club in Novato, a men's group.

Sure, these are unpaid gigs, but protect your podiums Tony Robbins, Richard Branson and Bill Clinton, I'm slowly working up to replacing you.

Woody Weingarten interviewed on 'Mosaic'

'Rollercoaster' author appears on half-hour KPIX-TV show you now can watch on YouTube

San Francisco's KPIX-TV turned a cliché on its head a short while back, so the new chestnut became "The early bird catches…the Woody."

How'd that happen?

Woody Weingarten (right) and Rose Barlow
appear on KPIX-TV's "Mosaic." 

Well, you see, it occurred because I, Woody Weingarten, was interviewed on the station's weekly program, "Mosaic," which airs when only bigwigs and insomniacs watch — at 5 o'clock in the morning on Sundays. 

Prime time for early birds, night owls and network execs.

The televised half-hour conversation was affably hosted by Rabbi Eric Weiss, who heads the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center and who at the same time spotlighted Rose Barlow, new executive director of San Rafael-based Zero Breast Cancer.

Unfortunately, only two of the show's four segments are available so far on YouTube, but you can catch them now by clicking first on https://goo.gl/0OO7le and then on https://goo.gl/wcuk5I.

If half a loaf is better than none, surely half a TV show must be better than none as well.

For those who are keeping score, I readily admit that Rose's much prettier than I am, and her native South African accent is much more alluring and ear-catching than my New Yawk intonations.

But we both come off well, I believe.

Actually, I think this is the best interview I've done so far, most likely due to Eric's soft but evocative questioning — aided by my perception that he was a perfect on-air audience, too, truly invested in learning more about the subject.

The most comprehensive quickie course about male caregiving, of course, is to read my new VitalityPress book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer."

South African native to lead Marin County agency

Nonprofit breast cancer agency gets new headquarters — and a new executive director

Rose Barlow

Zero Breast Cancer, a nonprofit that focuses on identifying the role environmental factors play in breast cancer, has a new home. 

And a new leader.

The Marin County organization moved its California headquarters on June 1 to 30 N. San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael, CA 94903 from its previous headquarters on Redwood Highway. 

And Rose Barlow, a South African native, has taken the executive director reins from Janice Barlow (no relation), who retired after 15 years as chief exec.

Rose Barlow has lived in Marin 20 years. For the past 15 she's been working with nonprofits. 

She carries a BRCA1 breast cancer gene mutation, so she knows about — and works closely with her local doctors to minimize — the risks involved.

ZBC's 13th annual Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer has been scheduled for Sept. 26. Information on that fundraiser, or anything else pertaining to the agency, can be obtained by calling 1-415-507-1949.

Zero Breast Cancer, which collaborates with scientists on studies designed to recognize the causes and recurrence of the disease, has given my book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a prominent push on its website.

Under the headline "Men caregivers need support, too," the article says that "when it comes to breast cancer, men — especially prime caregivers — are often a forgotten part of the equation."

And it notes that I, Woody Weingarten, wrote the book to remedy that situation.

It quotes me as saying that "Rollercoaster," which your favorite bookstore can order in hardcover or paperback, "will benefit male caregivers because 'even if they mistakenly believe they require zero help and can fix anything, they need support.'" 

Simultaneously, the quote continues, "a woman reader can learn what a man goes through while she's locked in a life-threatening battle."

The article also cites the fact that I've been running Marin Man to Man, a drop-in breast cancer support group for guys, for 20 years — since shortly after my wife, "who’s doing well indeed, was diagnosed."

ZBC was founded in 1995 as Marin Breast Cancer Watch. It became Zero Breast Cancer in 2006. 

I've been the only person so far to earn its healing award twice — once for being the caregiver for my wife, Nancy Fox, and later along with Marv Edelstein and Dan Goltz as longtime members of our weekly support group, Marin Man to Man.