First it was just bottled water in those bisphenol A (BPA) plastic bottles. We were told not to drink water that "smelled like plastic" or that had sat in sun-warmed bottles. They told us that the BPA in hard plastics could cause prostate and breast cancers, diabetes and heart disease, as well as reproductive problems. BPA is everywhere: baby bottles, toys, and packaging for some microwaveable foods. So now we use BPA-free bottles, toys, and nuke our food in glass containers. That's good!

But what if your food is already tainted with BPA plastic? Well, next time you look into a can of beans, soup, tomatoes, or baby formula, check out the inside of the metal can. If it has a white coating on the inner surface, you may be seeing BPA right in there with your food. Now, aside from heating a can of bean directly over a campfire in case of emergency, most of us don't cook food right in the product cans. But when canned foods are processed and sealed into those cans, what happens to the BPA in contact with your beans, soup, or Similac Infant Forumla?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a man-made hormone that acts like estrogen, binding to the same receptors that Tamoxifen or natural estrogen would target in your body. So canned foods packaged with epoxy and BPA coatings are like getting sex hormones in a can. Most cases of breast cancer are fueled by estrogen, which is why we need to be aware of products that may look innocent and healthy, but may be potentially harmful. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control say that low levels of BPA exposure are safe for humans. The American Chemistry Council agrees with the FDA and the CDC, but they also speak for the plastics industry - a significant economic power, as so many products in our world are formed of plastics, wrapped in plastics, or blended with polymers.

Consumer Reports magazine did a study, published in December 2008, that revealed levels of BPA in Del Monte Fresh Cut Blue Lake Green Beans, Progresso Vegetable Soup and Campbell's Condensed Chicken Soup. You'll also find BPA in cans of Nestle Juicy Juice, tomatoes, citrus products, and acidic drinks like cokes. BPA may also be used to line canned alcoholic beverages, so in addition to alcohol raising your estrogen levels, the BPA may be kicking in, too.

Current FDA guidelines, which were formulated in the 1980's, state that the upper limit of safe exposure to BPA is 50 micrograms of BPA for each kilogram of body weight. Word has it that the FDA is revising their BPA guidelines and will get those out to us soon. Dr. Steven G. Hentges, of the CDC, says that our average exposure to BPA is about "1,000 times below government safety limits." But Dr. Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports thinks that if a young child is drinking several servings of canned Nestle Juicy Juice every day, "a child still could exceed a level that Consumers Union thinks would provide an adequate margin of safety."

I can remember when canned food came only in glass jars. Milk was delivered in glass jugs. Fresh fruit and vegetables might arrive in wooden boxes or burlap bags. Meat was cut to order and wrapped in paper. Were we as a nation healthier then? Perhaps we were. Nowadays, I use a stainless steel travel mug, a BPA-free water jug, and I microwave foods in paper or glass containers. But I will also be looking for foods that are not packaged with BPA epoxy coatings, because I just don't want to put my health at risk. Just as I try to live green and detoxify my personal environment, I'll try to keep my food and drink as pure as I can.

Does the idea of BPA in your canned or bottled foods bother you? Leave a comment or visit my Forum to discuss BPA, diet, and cancer risk.

Medical Marijuana Photo © Getty Images

President Obama has changed the policy that allows federal prosecutors to pursue those who sell and use medical marijuana, when the state laws permit. At present, only 14 U. S. states have legalized the medical use of marijuana - which means you need a prescription for it, and access to a pharmacy certified to dispense it. This does not relax the laws governing recreational use of pot, so don't head out to your greenhouse and start harvesting a little extra weed to sell, even in a state where medical marijuana is legal. The new policy on pot simply says that federal prosecutors should stop targeting people who use or sell medical marijuana, when it is done so within the boundaries of state laws.

Thirty years ago, when my husband's mother was taking some experimental chemotherapy for a relapse of breast cancer, she was very ill with side effects. There were not many premedications to help ward off nausea and vomiting back then, but there were drugs that could be taken after these symptoms began. She wanted to live, to be there for her newly-engaged daughter, her newly-wed son, her devoted husband, and her elderly mother. Already petite and slender, she lost weight from side effects and loss of appetite, and said that one of the drugs she was given impaired her perception of colors. The world seemed to look black and white, itself a hard thing for an artist like her to bear, so she stopped taking that drug. But her other side effects continued as she soldiered on, making as little complaint as possible. Her husband said admiringly, "She's tough!" But a couple of her wilder nephews thought they could help. They put out the word that a little marijuana was needed, and the next time they visited her, they hustled into her room and closed the door. She accepted some home-made marijuana cigarettes as graciously as she could and promised to try it. Later, she said that it didn't help her side effects, but was fun while it lasted. She finished chemotherapy and used her last six months doing things that were very important to her - spending time with loved ones. After she died, just before her 50th birthday, we found some leftover marijuana in a jacket pocket - I don't remember how it was disposed of - but it gave us a chuckle. My mother-in-law was a beautiful, elegant, well-mannered educator and artist, and the thought of her lighting up a curled paper of pot doesn't seem to go with my image of her.

As for her being caught and prosecuted, can you see the cops coming in and busting a 90-pound sick, bald, night-gown swathed breast cancer patient? Her husband was in the Police Reserves, so perhaps he could have gotten some leniency for her. But if she had been arrested, they would have had to take her down to the cop shop on a gurney. That would not have made the local police look very good, now would it?

For some cancer patients, medical marijuana may be a real blessing. For others it may seem like a legal loophole for addicts to claim a medical necessity. I never wanted to try it, myself. How do you feel about medical marijuana? Leave a comment or take a poll to voice your opinion. Is it still the "evil weed" - or is it time for a change, at least for medical marijuana?

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Michelle Obama Photo © Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla

"In this country, getting sick shouldn't mean going bankrupt," declared Michelle Obama to members of the House and Senate as well as cancer survivors. "If you've already fought cancer, you shouldn't also have to fight with insurance companies to get the coverage that you need at a price that you can afford." Speaking to a group gathered in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden on October 23, the First Lady said that it is "unacceptable" that insurance companies can charge higher rates or refuse to cover people with pre-existing conditions, like breast cancer. Sharing the spotlight with Second Lady Jill Biden, Mrs. Obama addressed a gathering held to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Usually a BCAM event focuses on the basics of breast cancer - like prevention, early detection, raising awareness, and promising new research, all details that Jill Biden, who helped found the Biden Breast Health Initiative would have been familiar with. The BBHI is raising awareness and providing education about breast health, breast self-exams, and healthy lifestyle choices - all aimed at prevention. Perhaps Mrs. Biden spoke about the basics, but her speech didn't get as much attention.

Michelle Obama used the occasion to talk about healthcare reform - a hot topic and one her husband wants very much to drive through the legislature. I'm glad she cares about insurance issues, even though she and all the First Family are on the presidential private insurance plan (possibly the world's best coverage). I'm glad she knows that having cancer treatments can cause financial stress and sometimes ruin. It's nice that she wore a pink ribbon and had big pink ribbons hung on the North Portico columns for the weekend.

But Mrs. Obama chose to skip all the basic information about breast cancer, and instead did her own spin on the event, using breast cancer as an issue to help sell healthcare reform. I understand, she is the First Lady and she's got to support the President. That's all fine and good. But as the headliner at a Breast Cancer Awareness event, couldn't she set aside the debate over legislation long enough to talk about the drop in deaths from breast cancer and the increase in survival rates? As a black woman, couldn't she have mentioned the exciting new research on Triple Negative Breast Cancer? I think she could have talked about new imaging technology, or about making early detection safe and affordable.

Michelle Obama's emphasis always came back to healthcare reform and insurance issues. "We have a health care system in this country that simply is not working for too many people with breast cancer and too many people who are surviving with breast cancer," said Mrs. Obama, "That's why it is so critically important that we finally reform our health care system that is causing so much heartache for so many people affected by this disease. Now is the time."

I agree that our health care system needs help - and that uninsured people especially need better care, regardless of income - cancer ignores your position on the social ladder as well as the size of your wallet. But the heartbreak of breast cancer is that we still have no cure, no effective prevention, no clear understanding of why genes mutate and allow cancer to develop, no strong measures to protect our environment from toxic pollution that correlates with cancer outbreaks, and not enough targeted treatments that kill cancer without wrecking the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of women and men that are diagnosed every year. I'd rather hear Mrs. Obama boost more research and praise what progress we have made, than have another pitch for healthcare reform, especially at an event honoring survivors of breast cancer. What do you think? Should she have stayed on the topic of the day? Or should she keep touting insurance legislation? I know it's hard to tease these two things apart, but gee Mrs. Obama - pin on your pink ribbon and please stick to the basics. We still have a long way to go for the cure.

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Pink Fountain, Pittsburgh Photo © Karl D. Stephan

Pittsburgh kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by turning it's fountains pink. The Pennsylvania Commission for Women is sponsoring this display of pink water, in Pittsburgh and in cities all across the state of Pennsylvania. PCW isn't just about outdoor decoration though - they also work year-round to advocate for health needs of women and girls, provides information, education, and opportunities for improvement of quality of life.

The pink fountains certainly get your attention - they aren't a sweet, shy, pale shade of pink - these are hot pink surges of spray, coursing into the air at fountains that are already landmarks. You can't ignore something as showy and fabulous as these! "These pink fountains are truly a spectacle, but our mission in turning fountains pink is a serious one: we want to raise awareness about breast cancer and, in turn, save lives," said Leslie Stiles, executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. "We hope that the pink fountains will serve as a reminder for women to do their monthly breast self exams, schedule their yearly mammogram, and for those women and families affected by the disease, we hope the fountains let them know that they are on our mind," said Stiles.

You can celebrate BCAM in October or all year, by being proactive about your health:

• Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
• Upgrade Your Diet
• Drop a Few Pounds
• Put Out The Fire
• Less Alcohol, Less Risk

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Swiffer Pink Limited Edition Photo © Procter & Gamble

Don't look now, but your Swiffer is blushing Pink. Yes, the traditionally apple-green sweepers have come out this October in Breast Cancer Awareness Pink. This is the first time Swiffer has created a limited edition Pink sweeper or Starter Kit (sweep, dust, and mop). Procter & Gamble, makers of the popular cleaning tools, is going Pink on many products this year to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. They also want to encourage early breast cancer detection; a happy coincidence, because some hospitals actually use Swiffer Dusters to clean their mammogram machines.

The pink dusters will be around only during October, and will cost $4.99, just like the regular green dusters. "We know that research and education can help change the lives of many, which is why P&G is contributing a minimum of $50,000 through the sale of our limited edition pink Swiffer Sweeper and Swiffer Duster," said Victoria Maybee, of External Relations, Procter & Gamble.

You'll see many pink-labeled products all this month in grocery stores, big box retailers, almost everywhere except, perhaps, auto parts stores. Some of these pink products raise money for the cause, and some are just pink. My bottom line on this annual tide of pinkness is this: if you like pink, this is your lucky month. Read the product labels, if you're really interested in whether or not your pink purchase actually generates a contribution to breast cancer support, or if it's just pinked up to sell a product. The economy is still pretty tight right now, so choose your purchases carefully - if you were going to buy a duster anyway, why not get a pink one? Procter & Gamble will actually donate funds to two large breast cancer support organizations this year. I'd like to see them keep at least one pink product on the market, generating donations all year. Sure, it wouldn't be a limited edition, but it would serve as a constant reminder that the battle against breast cancer never stops, and that research and support is always needed.

If you want to donate directly to the cause, write a check to a responsible charity - that's something you can do all year long.

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AmeriBag Cause Bag Photo © AmeriBag

Margery Gaffin took 18 months of treatment for breast cancer, and has been giving back to the cause ever since. Gaffin is the co-founder of AmeriBag, which makes the The Healthy Back Bag® Cause Bag. Having trouble with standard bags after back surgery, Gaffin worked with health professionals to design the distinctive one-strapped back pack. But after recovering from breast cancer treatment, Gaffin designed the Cause Bag - a sleek black bag sporting a pink ribbon outside and a pink lining inside. Sales of the "Cause Bag" have generated substantial donations from proceeds of its sales to deserving charities in 2008, and AmeriBag expects donations will increase in 2009. "I am very fortunate," says Gaffin. "I had wonderful support from family and friends, and tremendous encouragement from some very special organizations." In their honor, she decided to "give back."

The AmeriBag was developed with help from a doctor and a chiropractor and can be carried comfortably on either shoulder or across your back, even after breast surgery. This one-strap bag distributes weight asymmetrically instead of hanging from one point on the shoulder which reduces stress to your neck, shoulders and back.

The Cause Bag has a retail price of $25.00 and may be ordered from the AmeriBag site, or by calling 888.758.1636. The majority of proceeds from the sales of the Cause Bag will be donated to a charity in support of breast cancer initiatives.

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Pink Ribbon Pumpkin Photo © Kellie Walenciak

Are you big on heart - but low on cash? Have time, materials and some creativity? Then you can make a gift to support and encourage a breast cancer survivor. Today marks the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the 25th Year of BCAM!

I've always enjoyed sewing, knitting, ceramics, cooking and gardening - those are skills I can use to give support to anyone who is fighting, or recovering from breast cancer. I was given small comfort pillows to use during my treatment - those were made by a church sewing group. My hair went on vacation when I started chemo, so I needed fitted caps and scarves - if you knit, there are many free patterns out there for these. Speaking of knitting, have you seen the knitted breasts? I haven't had the nerve to work on these while watching football with my father.

Whatever your craft, this month is a good time to dig out your stash of fabric scraps, unpack your leftover skeins of yarn, or paint a pumpkin pink! What will you do to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? If you're a survivor in recovery, this is a good time to give back to other cancer patients, and if you're a creative person, whip up something good to share with someone that needs their spirit lifted. Your gift will be appreciated, no matter how little the cost, because it shows your love and support.

Have you made a gift for a breast cancer survivor? Please share your story and a photo of your craft with me. Your gift may inspire others to create something of lasting value that gives support when it is needed most.

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Cool-Jams Pajama Set Photo © Cool-Jams

You with the hot flashes and night sweats - talk to me. You know you've tried different things to help get some solid sleep despite the disruption of your body's thermostat. First you're comfy under the sheets, then your inner heat lamp turns on. As you warm up, you develop night sweats and then wake up - not hot, but cold this time - from damp sleepwear. You've reviewed some of my other sleepwear tests, the DryDreams and the Wildbleu nightgowns, both made of wicking fabric. Well, now I've tried Cool-Jams as well.

Have you tried natural fiber sleepwear, like cotton or bamboo? Cool-Jams feel that good, that smooth, and that light. I tried a three-piece pajama set this time, on the advice of a reader who reviewed my review. You can do that too - review my product reviews, I mean. If you read what I've written about the Cool-Jams and you have an opinion or suggestion, just look under the headline for the little blue link that says "write a review."

Cool-Jams were dreamed up by Anita Mahaffey, who is a three-time, ten-year brain cancer survivor. Her company annually donates 20% of its profits to selected charities worldwide. They sponsor The Foundation For Women (microloans to impoverished women), Voices for Children, Necessities Bag (for women facing a mastectomy), as well as other charities. Those are all good reasons to check out some Cool-Jams, but to find out how my test went, read my review, and perhaps write your own take on it. As for me, I'm waiting for some daytime wear made from their fabric - staying cool and dry all day!

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Mike Partain Photo © The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten

Mike Partain, male breast cancer survivor and former resident of Camp Lejeune, is back in the news again. Tune in to CNN on Thursday and Friday night (September 24th and 25th) at 8 p.m. EST. That's when you can see a two-part special about the 22 men who developed male breast cancer - most likely as a result of having lived at and consumed water from the base's supply from 1957 to 1987.

Now I would think that the Marines would protect their own water supply, wouldn't you? But during the time in question, dry cleaning chemicals were dumped into at least two water distribution systems at Camp Lejeune. Many Marines, Sailors, their families and civilian employees have been affected by the contamination. We're talking about drinking water that contained Tetrachloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene. I wonder how anybody could stand to drink it, but perhaps it was a matter of people becoming accustomed to it over time. Trichloroethylene is used to degrease metal parts - my husband used to use it to clean broken tape recorders and VCRs when he worked in a repair shop. Benzene is used for lots of industrial processes, including petrochemical production. Xylene is a cleaning solvent - I used it to clean photostencils off of silk screens in college art classes. Toluene is used to make benzene and urethane - stuff that is used in paint, rubber, insulation, and golf balls. These things are commonly used in dry cleaning, and they do not belong in anyone's drinking water!

The Marine Corps still hasn't notified everyone who drank that water at Camp Lejeune - but the people who developed many kinds of cancer - including male breast cancer - as well as birth defects and miscarriages need to know, and to have their rights protected. These Marines are the folks that go out into danger to protect and defend this country - they should also be protected and treated well, and given the whole truth about their health risks.

Men have only a small amount of breast tissue, especially compared to women, so a man's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is quite rare. In fact, only about 1% of all breast cancer cases are diagnosed in men. When men are diagnosed with breast cancer, it's usually later in life, not when they are just 39 - like Mike Partain - and not in clumps of 22, as at Camp Lejeune. We know that cancer gets started as the result of mutated DNA, but we don't always know what breaks a person's DNA, and why it doesn't repair itself. Our modern diet, lifestyle, and environment seems to play a part in contributing to a rise in cancers of all types. But what if all the people that were exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune could be identified, informed, and surveyed - so the full extent of the effects of this health disaster could be properly studied? Would it lead to a new discovery about the development of cancer?

Mike Partain learned of the water contamination almost by accident, after his diagnosis. Turns out the Marine Corps had known about these chemicals in the base water supply since 1980. Mike parents were consuming the contaminated water in 1967, when they were expecting him. He was a small baby, born with a persistent skin rash, and developed other health problems as he grew up. His parents, along with many other base residents, have developed more than the average number of health problems. Camp LeJeune's water supply was contaminated for 30 years. This preventable water problem and the resulting health disaster may have affected an estimated 800,000 to 1 million former Marines and their families. It takes my breath away!

To learn more about this, tune in to CNN on Thursday and Friday night (September 24th and 25th) at 8 p.m. EST to hear Campbell Brown reporting on this story. Feel outraged that the Marine Corps hid this from their own people for at least 27 years? Leave a comment below or visit this site - The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten - and join their Discussion Boards. Did you served or live onboard Camp LeJeune from 1957 and 1987? Contact the other survivors to register illness information, or learn how to join the fight for your health and legal rights. Meanwhile, let's thank Mike and others like him, who are standing up for the victims of this chemical contamination, and hope that somehow, we will all learn something worthwhile from this disaster.

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Debbie Stallings Photo © Tracy Stallings

Debbie Stallings didn't have breast cancer in her family, and had never had a friend that was diagnosed with the disease. But she was interested in supporting the cause - not knowing that one day, she would need that support for herself. Debbie was doing well in life, she had a good husband and two college-age sons, and was content doing good in her own way. But when a delayed mammogram revealed a worrisome spot, her life changed. She quickly processed her emotions upon receiving her diagnosis, and a firm resolve blossomed. She would endure the journey, as well as find ways to help others in her same situation.

As soon as she recovered from surgery, Debbie started out on a new path. She became a Pink Ribbon Entrepreneur. I love stories like this - instead of being flattened by a diagnosis of breast cancer, some people become energized and work to turn their situations around. Like Kathy Adams of Confident Clothing and Anne Best of DryDreams, and Marybeth Haydon of Practical Pockets, Debbie joined the ranks of breast cancer survivors who turned their breast cancer journey into an opportunity to help other people. Each of these ladies is a breast cancer survivor, and have put their experience to good use, designing products that make you look and feel good while dealing with treatment, side effects, and recovery. There's just nothing like "been there, done that!" to make you into an expert on the topic of comfort and care.

You can read Debbie's Survivor Story, or send in your own story to be considered for publication on this site. Likewise, you can sound off on how you define a breast cancer survivor.

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