The Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign was founded in 1994 by a small group of activists determined to make a difference to the lives of women affected by breast cancer throughout Scotland. Our aims are to lobby the government for adequate funding for essential services thus ensuring that all breast cancer patients throughout Scotland receive the best possible treatment and service. We also lobby government for research into the possible environmental causes of breast cancer and for a policy of primary prevention i.e. stopping breast cancer before it starts.
In 1995, a “pink postcard” campaign was presented to the Westminster government (pre-Devolution). This was followed by a petition of over 50,000 signatories to the new Scottish Executive in 1998. In 1999, SBCC was recognised on the world stage when one its directors, Moira Adams, addressed the Second World Conference on Breast Cancer Advocacy in Brussels.
In 2000, we launched a national questionnaire aimed at capturing the views of breast cancer patients and determining where, in the opinion of the patients, government funding needed to be directed. The results of Questionnaire 2000 were presented to the Minister of Health, Malcolm Chisholm MSP, in April 2002.
Our “pink lady” campaign, in 2003 took us to the Scottish Executive on the Mound where we displayed eight pink wooden ladies and one white lady representing the 1 in 9 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. In 2004, the ladies – which by this time had grown to 6 feet tall! - were taken to Dundee and displayed in the city for a week. The display highlighted the work of the Campaign and the need for equality of services across the country – not just in the central belt.
By 2005, our attention had turned to the ever-increasing rise in the incidence of breast cancer and we started to ask “why?” In view of the mounting evidence of environmental links to breast cancer, the Campaign contributed to the publication of “Breast Cancer: an environmental disease. The Case for Prevention”. This publication collated years of research linking environmental pollution with breast cancer and made a strong case for the implementation of the Precautionary Principal.
A copy of “The Case” was presented to the Minister for Health, Andy Kerr. The publication was well-supported by many MSP’s but failed to persuade the Minister or his colleagues in the Department of Health to acknowledge the link between breast cancer and the environment. To reinforce our message and to “make a statement”, we again displayed eight pink ladies and one white lady – this time outside the new Scottish Parliament building at Hollyrood.
In 2006, as a comparative study and follow-up to Questionnaire 2000, another questionnaire was undertaken. With a similar format, it was designed to highlight improvements or to identify areas where no improvement had been made to breast cancer services during the six years of last Scottish Executive. The results of this questionnaire are at present being formatted and will be available on line in the near future.
Ever mindful of there being strength in numbers, we work alongside other cancer charities, most especially, Breast Cancer Care (Scotland). We are members of the Scottish Cancer Coalition and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer. SBCC is also a member of Europa Donna UK and currently hold a position on their Board. Europa Donna UK is a member country of Europa Donna, an umbrella organisation for the breast cancer advocacy movement across Europe. By joining forces with our European sister organisations, not only can we learn from each other experiences, but, hopefully, we can influence health strategy across the European Union.
In addition to the above campaigning, we have regular fund-raising and breast cancer awareness activities. This usually takes the form of mounting displays in shopping centres or at local fairs where we can distribute information leaflets, collect much-needed funds for our campaigning overheads and, most importantly, listen to the views of the women of Scotland.
To find out what’s on the agenda for this year, please click on “Latest News”.
If you would like someone to speak to your organisation about the Campaign or would like to fund-raise for us please contact us by phone or by e-mail to info@scottishbreastcancercampaign.org.