Guest Blogger: Allen Braude - Behind The Curtains Of Breast Fest Part 4

Living Downstream

Sunday November 21 at Breast Fest offers a dynamic line up of films and panel discussions featuring expert speakers. The day begins with a screening of Living Downstream, a documentary based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Dr. Sandra Steingraber. The film follows a year in the life of Dr. Streingraber as she works to raise awareness about the environmental links to cancer. At the same time she shares her personal experiences with cancer when worrying results following a routine screening leads to uncertainty about her health.

Canadian director Chanda Chevvanes has made an excellent film, one that is visually engaging, and whose images support the eloquence of Dr. Sandra Steingraber. A scientist, who was 20 when diagnosed with bladder cancer, Dr. Steingraber brings openness, intelligence, passion and dedication to her work raising awareness of the role pollutants in the environment play in causing cancer, and asserting that cancer prevention is a human right. Living Downstream is a highly informative film about a very important subject and an inspiring portrait of an extraordinary woman.

Following the screening there will be a discussion featuring Professor Janet Gray, Vassar College. Professor Gray is renowned as an expert and leading researcher on the environmental links to breast cancer. Her talk will provide us with the most up to date information about carcinogenic pollutants and the work being done to eliminate these substances. All of us at Breast Fest are extremely excited that Professor Gray is take part in the festival and we can’t wait to hear her speak.

Healing & Hope 

A quick lunch and then I’ll be back for an important panel discussion on an issue to which Rethink Breast Cancer, who present Breast Fest, is working to draw attention. Women of Colour & Breast Cancer: Naming the Issues and Exploring Culturally Appropriate Responses to Education and Support will examine the complex issues that women of colour often encounter when dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis - from myths, stigma and privacy concerns to systemic barriers that impact their access to information and treatment.  I am looking forward to what promises to be an enlightening and dynamic discussion on how to better serve and support women in our diverse city who are experiencing breast cancer.  Prior to the panel, there will be a screening of the short film Healing and Hope which tells the story of six breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I really enjoyed each of the stories from the diverse group of women, which opened my eyes about the varied lives of women in the UAE.

April Bride

Brest Fest concludes with a moving love story from Japan. April Brides was a box office sensation in its home country. Based on a true story, the film looks at Chie, a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer, and her relationship with two men in her life: her boyfriend, who refuses to allow her illness to stop their relationship from growing, and her father who lost his wife (and Chie’s mother) at a young age to cancer. It was interesting to see Chie help raise awareness In Japan about young women with breast cancer, but the ‘heart’ of the movie is the love both men have for Chie. The strong performances from the three leads draw us in and engage us throughout. One note, you may want to bring tissues. 

It will be hard to believe that when April Brides ends, the third annual Breast Fest will be over. I hope to see you at the festival and that you have a fantastic time. I also want to thank all the volunteers and the staff at Rethink Breast Cancer for putting together and running this outstanding festival – the only one in the world dedicated to breast cancer awareness and education.

Allen Braude
Founding Member – Breast Fest, the world’s only film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness