7 February 2008 - Cancer is often caused by environmental factors including toxic chemicals added to household goods, pesticides and poor air quality, local Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas will tell a Brighton cancer-prevention event this Saturday, February 9th.

Dr Lucas said: “Levels of breast cancer are rising across the EU – especially in eastern Europe and the UK, where one woman in nine will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives.

“An increasing number of scientists are pointing to the link between toxic chemicals – especially so-called gender-bending hormone-disruptors – and breast cancer, which kills more than 10,000 people each year in the UK alone.

“Similarly links are being found between pesticide use and cancers. Yet these technologies are all growing apace – the Government and EU simply must exercise caution, and put human health above the profits of their friends in the companies that manufacture them.”

‘C’s the Day’, which has been organised by Brighton and Hove Green Women’s Network, is free – and promises a series of talks followed by a question and answer session with the assembled experts and even a piano recital by professional musician and city councillor Rachel Fryer.

As well as a discussion on cancer and the environment by Caroline Lucas, talks will include psychologist Catherine Cameron on meditation, Beata Bishop on how to recover from cancer, and a workshop on breast and prostate cancer by Professor Jane Plant.

The event looks set to attract cancer-prevention, environmental and women’s groups from around the county. It has been organised in conjunction with Breast Cancer UK, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and The Women’s Environmental Network.

Dr Lucas, who hopes to become Brighton Pavilion’s Green Party MP at the next general election, added: “I am delighted to be speaking at such an important event, which I hope will increase the pressure on the Government to do more to tackle cancer.”

Full details are available at Green Women.

ENDS