Barbara Brenner

Barbara Brenner (1951 – May 10, 2013) was an American activist, feminist, and lawyer, best known for her work in advocating for a more patient-focused approach to breast cancer research and treatment. Brenner served as the executive director of Breast Cancer Action (BCA), a San Francisco-based advocacy group, from 1995 until her retirement in 2010. Under her leadership, BCA became known for its critical stance on the commercialization of breast cancer and its challenge to the dominance of the pink ribbon culture. Brenner's work emphasized the importance of addressing the environmental causes of cancer and critiqued the mainstream breast cancer movement for its focus on awareness campaigns that she argued often benefited corporations more than patients.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Brenner was born in 1951. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Smith College, where she became involved in feminist activism. After completing her bachelor's degree, Brenner went on to earn a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Her legal career, which focused on public interest law, laid the groundwork for her later advocacy in health and environmental issues.

Career

Before joining Breast Cancer Action, Brenner practiced as a public interest lawyer, where she honed her skills in advocacy and policy analysis. Her transition to breast cancer advocacy was partly influenced by her own diagnosis with the disease in the early 1990s. This personal battle with breast cancer, followed by a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, deepened her commitment to health advocacy.

As the executive director of Breast Cancer Action, Brenner was instrumental in launching several key initiatives, including the "Think Before You Pink" campaign, which sought to expose the commercial exploitation of breast cancer and encourage more transparency and accountability in breast cancer fundraising and marketing. She was a vocal critic of what she saw as the corporatization of breast cancer advocacy and was dedicated to shifting the focus towards prevention and the investigation of environmental factors contributing to the disease.

Legacy

Barbara Brenner's legacy is marked by her relentless pursuit of justice and her efforts to bring a more critical perspective to the breast cancer movement. Her advocacy work has inspired a generation of activists to question the status quo and to seek more meaningful changes in cancer research, treatment, and policy. Brenner's writings and speeches continue to influence discussions around health advocacy, patient rights, and the environmental causes of cancer.

Death

Barbara Brenner passed away on May 10, 2013, after living with ALS. Her life and work are commemorated by those who continue to fight for a more equitable and patient-centered approach to breast cancer and other diseases.

See Also

• Breast Cancer Action
• Pink ribbon
• Health advocacy