Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

This pamphlet, written by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC), describes the historical treatment of breast cancer and provides criticism of the traditional approaches taken to treating breast cancer by Western medicine (which are invasive, mutilating, experimental, and risky). The pamphlet traces the development and use of the radical mastectomy, a procedure that removes the entire breast(s) and often lymph nodes and chest muscle, as the singular treatment for breast cancer for over 80 years. The pamphlet discusses some of the risks associated with reconstructive surgery and implantation following breast cancer and mastectomy. it also describes radiation and chemotherapy, two other common treatments for breast cancer. The pamphlet outlines some of the risks and complications involved in radiation and chemotherapy, and also defines and describes treatments including hormone manipulation, hyperthermia (heat therapy), and immunotherapy.

A pamphlet prepared by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC), which details the association of abnormal pap smears and DES daughters (women who have been exposed to Diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero), with fears of higher rates of cervical cancer. The pamphlet suggests that while DES daughters have higher rates of abnormal Pap smears than women not exposed to DES, there is no evidence to suggest that DES daughters are at a higher risk of developing squamous cell cancer of the cervix. The pamphlet points to errors in diagnosis of abnormal Pap smears, resulting in a high number of mis-diagnoses of dysplasia (abnormal cell growth which may progress to cancer), when DES daughters experience normal cell changes as a result of exposure which may look like dysplasia but are not, in fact, a sign of potentially-cancerous cells. The pamphlet warns against treatment for abnormal Pap smears for DES daughters, since research indicates that cryosurgery and cone biopsies can create complications in healing and may lead to cervical stenosis, which can cause pain and infertility, in DES daughters.

A pamphlet describing several breast conditions, excluding breast cancer, prepared by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC). The pamphlet describes conditions including fibrocystic breast disease, benign neoplasms, fat necrosis, and breast infections.

"Menopause: A Collective Perspective" contains the proceedings and summary handouts from the forum celebrating International Day of Action for Women's Health, an event organized by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC). The document includes a menopause quiz presented by Dr. Jerilyn Prior, instructions for a daily menopause diary, facts on menopause, traditional therapy for menopausal symptoms, and alternative and herbal treatments for menopause symptoms. The proceedings also include some information on osteoporosis and heart disease.