Author: Erin Steigleder, MSW - Director of Programs

Last week, the website “Eat This, Not That” shared an article on breast cancer that VBCF finds misleading and, frankly, insulting to women. Their article “8 Bad Habits Leading to Breast Cancer” sets a disappointing tone from the beginning. This title suggests that women are to blame for their breast cancer diagnosis, that their illness is their fault, and that their fate could have been avoided if they had “followed the rules.”

May is Mental Health Month and National Cancer Research Month. Recently, the two have coincided as researchers continue to learn more about the mental health of those dealing with breast cancer, not just cancer’s effect on physical health.

When you read about “false positive” rates in mammograms, what comes to mind? Or about breast cancer “overdiagnoses”? There have been a few articles on those topics lately, so below is a brief explanation of what false positives and overdiagnoses are and what the latest findings mean to mammography screening.  In “research speak,” a false…
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BMI is being used as an “easy” but murky indicator of health and how the relationship between overweight, obesity, and breast cancer is not as clear-cut as it is often made out to be. 

Women and alcohol have a complicated relationship, so we’re going to take some time to try and review that relationship in the U.S. for Dry January.

From the temperance movement that led to Prohibition to “Mommy Wine Culture,” women and alcohol have a complicated relationship, and now with the increasing availability of evidence connecting alcohol consumption and breast cancer, it’s becoming more complex. Here’s a breakdown of some of the latest research on how alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer so you can make the best decision for yourself and how you want to live your life.

In honor of Juneteenth, VBCF would like to highlight some African American medical pioneers and their roles in the field of cancer and in the state of Virginia. Thanks to these men, women, and institutions, medical advances have been made and continue to be made. Without their contributions, medical care would likely not be what it is today. Their influential contributions have had profound impacts in their respective fields.

Which Screening Guidelines are the “Right” Ones? We want to unpack this conversation a little bit, and hopefully provide some clarity in what YOU should do with this information.

Being the main caregiver for a loved one with cancer, expectations for the holidays, or the challenges of Covid are a lot to deal with individually, but we know that many people are dealing with all three right now. We have some suggestions on how to ease your burden during this season, including ways to…
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Are you aware of medical cannabis and its use for breast cancer-related issues? With the recent legislation passed in Virginia decriminalizing medical cannabis and four dispensaries now open in the state, medical cannabis products can serve as a new aid for medical conditions and symptoms. Dr. Terel Newton shares information on medical cannabis and its…
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The latest Healthy People national report was recently released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People identifies public health priorities to help individuals, organizations, and communities across the United States improve health and well-being. Healthy People provides data-driven, measurable public health objectives – and…
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