Expert challenges 'corporatization' of breast cancer

October 12 2006

Queen's expert challenges 'corporatization' of breast cancer research
(press release)

http://www.newstarget.com/020747.html

New research by a Queen's University researcher questions the
effectiveness of privately funded efforts to stop the epidemic of
breast cancer among North American women.

"Breast cancer has been transformed into a market-driven industry,"
says Kinesiology and Health Studies researcher Samantha King. "It has
become more about making money for corporate sponsors than funding
innovative ways to treat breast cancer."

Dr. King's research, just published by University of Minnesota Press in
a controversial new book, Pink Ribbons Inc., traces breast cancer's
transformation from a stigmatized disease and individual tragedy to
what she describes as "a market-driven industry that feeds off breast
cancer survivors".

According to her research, only 64% of the money raised from one high-
profile corporation's walk for breast cancer actually went to breast
cancer organizations.

Dr. King documents how the event and its logo have become products
brought and sold by North American corporate sponsors and "the extent
to which fundraising for breast cancer has become a highly valued
commodity in itself."

"Fundraising for breast cancer has developed into a highly competitive
market in which large foundations and corporations compete with one
another to attract the loyalty of consumers - in this case, well-
intentioned members of the public wanting to do their part in the fight
against the disease," she says.

Contact: Lorinda Peterson lorinda.peterson@xxxxxxxxxx 613-533-3234
Queen's University

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_University



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